“Papa, how do you know this news is true?”
My friend looked at his twelve-year-old son, then at the WhatsApp message he had just forwarded to his family group, school group, building group, prayer group and one bewildered plumber.
“It was sent by a very reliable person,” he said.
“Who?”
“Your uncle.”
“But Uncle forwards everything.”
“Exactly. That is why he is so well informed!”
The boy persisted. “Where is the evidence?”
My friend lowered his voice. “Son, evidence is what we demand when the message attacks our leader. When it praises him, it is called patriotism!”
The boy had been reading about the Times Critical Thinking Championship, founded by the Times Foundation and supported by the Times of India. In 2025, more than two lakh students from Classes III to XII, representing five hundred schools across twenty five states, participated. Five thousand teachers were also trained to encourage inquiry, creativity and problem solving. Thirty five students reached the final stage.
The 2026 AM/NS India Times Critical Thinking Championship has now been launched nationally, encouraging children to examine evidence, challenge assumptions and think independently.
What a dangerous idea!
Imagine millions of Indian children returning home and questioning their parents.
“Papa, you said petrol goes well with ethanol? Why is our car not starting?”
“Go and study!”
“Mummy, this video is from another country.”
“Do not talk back!”
“Grandpa, the television anchor has been shouting for twenty minutes without producing evidence.”
“Lower your volume. I cannot hear him!”
Critical thinking is wonderful when applied to mathematics. It becomes anti national when applied to politics.
We want children to ask questions in classrooms, but remain silent outside them. They may challenge a scientific theory, but not a political speech. They may examine a frog, but never a minister. They may investigate why an apple falls from a tree, but not why bridges fall after inauguration.
A thoughtful citizen asks, “Where is the proof?”
An obedient citizen asks, “Where is the forward button?”
A thoughtful voter remembers promises. An obedient voter remembers slogans. A thoughtful television viewer changes the channel. An obedient one increases the volume and calls the noise national interest.
I strongly believe the championship should introduce an adult category.
Most would be disqualified in ten seconds.
Politicians could have a separate round. They would be asked one unscripted question and expected to answer it without blaming the previous government, the opposition, foreign conspirators or Nehru.
That round might never end.
Two lakh children have already been taught to question assumptions. Wonderful!
Now comes the difficult part. Can we teach adults to question propaganda, voters to question promises and citizens to question power?
Our children may win the Critical Thinking Championship, and maybe they’ll start teaching us.
Or are they already?
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Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist and writes a daily column, which has graced the pages of over 60 newspapers and magazines, from a daily column in the Khaleej Times, Dubai, the Morning Star, London, and in nearly every state in India, from The Statesman in Kolkata, to the Kashmir Times in Kashmir to the Trinity Mirror in Chennai.
It’s regrettable that Times of India that supports critical thinking among students does not apply critical thinking in its reporting.
I agree
Touché !
Quote clear that the govt does not want people to question. Animal farm.
Of course we ALL agree with Bob. Questions MUST be asked, and what is discovered MUST be made public.
For example that we got Independence in 1947 NOT because of Gandhi’s non violent campaign as had been fed to us over decades, but more because the British were concerned at the police and the armed forces rebelling against them. The so called Bombay Naval Mutiny 1946, which it self was inspired by the resentment at the Trials for Treason against soldiers from Subhash Bose’s INA captured by British troops in the Burma campaign. Clement Attlee, who was PM in1947 said so on a visit to Calcutta in 1952. In his words the impact of Gandhi’s campaign in Britain’s decision to quit India was “minimal”.
Also we must question what kind of relationship Nehru had with Edwina Mountbatten who seduced Nehru into declaring a unilateral ceasefire against Pakistan in Kashmir, without consulting Sardar Patel – his Home Minister – or his Army commanders. The army generals had said that they would need only a few more months to clear the whole of Kashmir of Pak invaders. But Nehru’s Edwina inspired, ill advised and premature, declaration of ceasefire while Pak was still in possession of a large part of Jammu & Kashmir, has saddled us with a suppurating sore that has already taken more than 50,000 lives, drained our exchequer and given birth to a fifth column within the country.
We must also question why India was so slow in development in the ’60s – ’80s. And when we find the answer we MUST broadcast it loudly … that Nehru was a Fabian communist and adopted the Russian model for development with the Govt. investing in Huge projects like Bhilai, Rourkela steel plants and many other Public Sector enterprises that ran on losses for decades instead of enabling more private entrepreneurs like the Tatas and the Birlas to do what they do best. In fact Mr. Aditya Birla was so frustrated by Nehru and later Indira’s “License Permit Raj” policies that he built 15 factories abroad rather than in India.
Not only did Nehru not like entrepreneurs like Tata or Birla to flourish, but he took over what they had started – Air India is a prime example. Dozens of private insurance companies were nationalised and formd in to LIC, the ONE PSU that is performing brilliantly. Tata were allowed to produce only 5,000 Trucks when there was an annual demand for more than 10,000. Bajaj were stopped from producing more scooters when the demand was double. You had to wait for 2 – 3 years for a Telephone connection, 4-5 years for a new Gas connection and Proctor and Gamble were given the permission to make more Vicks inhalers during a flu epidemic, 45 days AFTER the epidemic was over. Of course these artificial shortages first generated a culture of underhand favours and a huge black market economy, which in fact was the source of Congress party’s funds. A client of mine, a lady entrepreneur told me of how she was asked for a huge bribe by Indira , and when she pleaded that she had no Black money, Indira apparently told her .. go and learn from Mr. Birla.
Yes we must also question why our history books are so lopsided in their narration of our glorious past. Why were the Moghul invaders given so much centre stage with only a passing reference to Shivaji or Maharana Pratap, and practically NO mention of the Ahoms of Assam, the Solankis of Gujarat, the Cholas and the Chalukyas of the South and the scores of valiant kings and queens who fought the Moghuls and the British ?
YES, we must ask questions and we MUST broadcast the answers loudly and widely.
I guess I could go on and on, but I think these are enough examples of what needs to be set right.
NO OFFENCE MEANT!
Muted Democracy