Literacy and Social Transformation

Illiteracy is an impediment both to the growth of the individual and society. The main task of literacy is to bring about a process of critical reflection that leads to action and social transformation. The motives may be more oriented towards social, political and collective aims, mainly in situations of socio-political transformation. Briefly, when an illiterate becomes literate, there is a qualitative change in his life which, in turn, leads to social transformation. The eradication of illiteracy is a part of the struggle that India is waging to destroy the economic, political and social structures that have helped the privileged minority to exploit the poor. Kerala's success in the literacy campaign has shown a way to overcome some of the critical obstacles to the nation's welfare and prosperity. Literacy and Social Transformation is a book on the world-famous total literacy campaign in Kerala. The successful completion of the learning festival led to the declaration of total literacy in Kerala. The first chapter traces the historical and philosophical perspectives of the mass education efforts in India within the framework of the total literacy campaign and social transformation. The second chapter deals with the vivid and lively account of the total literacy campaign in Kerala. The inspiration and enthusiasm that radiated from the total literacy campaign in Kerala spread to the entire length and breadth of the country as a model. The subsequent chapters survey the literacy campaign studies, methodology, analysis, findings and suggestions in the light of the Kerala experiment. Being the first book on the most exciting voluntary social movement for total development literacy, the book will prove to be of immense interest and invaluable reading for academics, social and political activists, NGOs, ZSS, SRC, JSS, SLMA, planners and policy makers and will serve as a useful text for students and teachers of sociology, adult continuing education and extension, social work, rural development, history, politics and social anthropology in universities in India and the world.