Odisha Manaska’s 14th edition explores role of education in shaping equal citizenship

Bhubaneswar, Sept 22: The 14th edition of Odisha Manaska, the monthly community discussion forum of All Things Odisha, was held on Sunday at Sahid Nagar, bringing together people from diverse social, cultural, and professional backgrounds. This month’s theme, “Does Education Truly Create Equal Citizens in a Diverse Society?”, sparked an engaging and thought-provoking conversation.

Participants shared personal experiences of how education influenced their identity, aspirations, and worldview. While many acknowledged education as a path to self-awareness and empowerment, others highlighted persistent inequalities, noting that access to quality education remains uneven across communities.

Several speakers argued that the present system often reinforces social divides rather than reducing them, as it remains largely job-oriented and overlooks its wider role in nurturing values of empathy, wisdom, and citizenship. The need for an inclusive and value-based education model that encourages equality and collective progress was strongly emphasized.

Despite critical reflections, the session ended with optimism, with members expressing confidence in education’s potential to build a more just society if holistic reforms are adopted.

The discussion was moderated by Sandip Kumar Bal and Sonali Priyadarsini, with notable participants including actor Partha Sarathi Ray, entrepreneur Anurag Behera, and Pranay Manjari, founder of Safe Odisha For Her.

Launched in August 2024, Odisha Manaska continues to serve as an open platform for dialogue on identity, society, and collective wisdom.