New Delhi: India is going to have elections in many states in the next few months. This is the right time to face the uncomfortable truth. 'Our democracy is as strong as the strong people we elect to power.' It is a big question whether some minimum educational qualification should be fixed for those who want to become the leader of the world's largest democracy. The answer is definitely yes.

We have for long viewed the right of everyone to contest elections as the cornerstone of Indian democracy and have downplayed the equally important need for good government and good governance.

Claiming that requiring minimum educational qualifications to contest elections is an undemocratic and elitist idea is certainly a clever argument to maintain the status quo.

There is a difference between a leader and an elected representative. A leader works at the party level, while an elected representative is involved in the law-making process. In today's world, competition is increasing day by day. In this world, policy decisions can have far-reaching effects. Will we still allow such MPs and MLAs to make laws who do not even fulfil the basic level of education?

Critics will point to stories of corruption by highly educated politicians and MPs. They are not wrong, but their argument is not sound. Education does not ensure honesty, but it is an essential tool for effective government and good governance.

For everyone from teachers to drivers... 

An MP or MLA without basic educational skills is like a well-intentioned surgeon without medical training, who is dangerously likely to go about his job without the necessary preparation. No one would want to risk going under the knife of a well-intentioned but poorly trained and unqualified surgeon.

Surely this is not about strengthening the elite political class. It is about setting a basic standard that shows the seriousness of the work our elected representatives do. All other professions in our country, like teachers, drivers, engineers, electricians, require basic qualifications. Why shouldn't this be the case for those who do very important work for the country?

It is generally said that by fixing minimum educational qualification for public representatives, a large section of the population will not be able to contest elections. This argument is correct but it lacks foresight.

Rather than using this as an excuse to maintain the status quo, we should look at it as a need to reform the educational system. By linking political representation to educational attainment, we will give communities a kind of incentive to focus on education.

The idea that only someone without formal education can understand the issues of the poor is scary and dangerous. Education broadens a person's horizons and prepares them to solve problems in more than one way.

Haryana has set minimum educational qualification for Panchayat elections. This initiative has increased people's interest in education and more women are entering Panchayat level politics.