The discussion

Over the past few weeks I have had the privilege to participate in two  discussions. One was about Karl Marx and the other one was about Sri Lankan Diaspora, Migration and Sri Lankan labor force who are in   Yet at times the discussions went off and beyond the topic. Something which usually happens in Sri Lanka. But importantly one critical fact was evidenced in both discussions. It was that we lack discussions, dialogues and forums and whatever you call it. Yes it is true that there are political, economic, cinema and book discussions here and there.

There were academicians in the both discussions and two leading academics pointed out that we have lost the culture of academic, political, philosophical, social and cultural, literary and economic discussions. One academician who a senior lecturer in the field of mass communication said we need more and more dialogues in each and every subject or field of study. 

We have to agree with the points which highlighted by those two academics. Some of the State Universities and some of the institutions in the country still give some and try their best to carry culture of discussions, dialogues and forum. There are discussions, forums and dialogues where only the Colombo elite can join. But the discussions, dialogues and forums should attract people from the lowest level. They need to know about art and craft, politics, economics, books, films etc. etc. Without a civil society or citizens empowered by knowledge whose political, economical and literary literacy is high we can't go forward. The literacy rate which is high in our country which says the ability of reading and writing does not give an idea about how our people are literate with politics, economics, literature, art and other subjects. Therefore we need bring back the culture of knowledge based discussions, dialogues and forums or whatever thing that collects people to one place at least a once month for knowledge improving circle.

Image Courtesy Getty Images

The School of Athens' , 1511 (detail). Fresco. Raphael (Rafael Sanzio 1483 -1520) Italian painter and architect. Plato and Aristotle (centre) in discussion. Ancient Greek Philosophy Science Learning  

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/the-school-of-athens-1511-fresco-raphael-italian-painter-news-photo/113494615#/the-school-of-athens-1511-fresco-raphael-italian-painter-and-plato-picture-id113494615