Date: 21 August 1947 — Constituent Assembly, New Delhi
The chamber of the newly independent India trembled again — not from bombs or war cries, but from voices.
The debate that had begun with calm reason soon turned into thunder.
The cause: Saraswati Devi's firm opposition to Madarsas and Missionary Schools operating as "educational institutions" under state recognition.
---
"That's oppression!" shouted one member from the benches.
"This goes against freedom of religion!" yelled another.
"You can't erase minority institutions!"
The hall filled with a rising tide of protests.
But Saraswati didn't flinch. She simply folded her papers, looked up, stand up and spoke — her voice slicing through the noise.
---
" I think I have to help you remember that India," she said, "is a country that you guys want to be a Secular Country— unlike Pakistan.If someone does not want everyone to be treated equally, they may go to Pakistan."
Gasps echoed. Even Nehru looked uneasy.
She continued, calm yet cutting.
"Neither majority, nor minority — no one will live under different laws.
That is the definition of secularism. To do otherwise is to plant the seeds of another Partition.
And if you keep crying that equality is somehow oppression, then you expose your hypocrisy.
Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, Jews — all true minorities — have never demanded special treatment. Only those who once ruled now call equality 'oppression.'"
A silence fell over the room.
Then, as murmurs started again, she added sharply:
"If you truly wish for such privileges, you have two choices —
Either go to Pakistan, which was created for Muslims,
or go back to Britain, since technically, we are still British subjects until we become a Republic.
No one is stopping you."
---
At this point, Nehru rose from his seat.
"Saraswati Ji," he said, measured but firm, "secularism means that everyone is free to practice their religion—"
She cut him off.
"No. It means everyone — regardless of religion — is equal under the same laws, has the same rights, and shoulders the same duties.
You are confusing secularism with religious freedom. The Constitution will protect the latter — but the state must not favour any one faith."
She picked up the Draft Educational Model and waved it slightly.
"You say this model suppresses minorities. Tell me — how?
It includes teaching the values and histories of every major religion, so that every child learns the truth — good and bad — of all.
And if you claim that's still suppression, then shouldn't temple education also be allowed again?"
A hush. No one answered.
"It's one or the other," she continued.
"Either everyone follows one equal syllabus,
or everyone — Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Jain — gets their own.
You can't favour two and discriminate against thousands.
This is not Pakistan. This is not Britain.
This is India."
---
When the vote for a Unified National Syllabus was called, the majority sided with her.
Even reluctant members from both sides — fearing public backlash — voted "Yes."
As one can't tolerate to seeing another getting special previlage so majority of them pass the bill.
And with that, the foundation of the Common Curriculum Act was passed.
But the real storm came next.
---
"Now," Saraswati said, turning the page, "we shall vote for the Right to Education — free and compulsory for every child from Class KG-1 to Class 5.
Parents or schools denying this shall face punishment for violating the highest degree of rights in the Constitution."
But this time, the results were disappointing.
The motion failed.
The hall echoed with excuses.
"We don't have enough money!"
"The treasury is empty!"
"It's not feasible in these conditions!"
Saraswati sighed — a quiet, tired sigh.
Then she turned to page 31 of her model.
---
"I suppose," she said, looking around, "most of you haven't read the document you're debating."
She adjusted her glasses.
"Here — I have already shown how it's feasible."
She began to read, her tone sharp, precise, practical.
"First, in the national budget, allocate at least 8% to education for the first ten years.
As literacy rises, the cost will drop naturally.
Second, reform the teacher system."
She paused, scanning the assembly.
"To teach basic arithmetic, a person does not need a degree.
For a teacher of Class 3, clearing a 'two-class-up' examination and completing a three-month internship is enough.
Minimum age: 16."
Some gasped. But she continued.
"This will create a surplus of teachers, employ youth, and strengthen the social base of education."
---
She flipped the page again.
"Next — salaries and pensions.
The British model is utter nonsense — designed by a child who doesn't understand arithmetic."
A few chuckles broke the tension. She went on.
"Let's simplify. Suppose a teacher earns ten rupees a month.
He retires at fifty.
Under the British system, the government pays the pension from the treasury — a direct drain.
In my system — modeled after the Ashram stages of life — the employee contributes from the beginning."
She wrote on the chalkboard behind her as she spoke.
"From ten rupees, two go into the Retirement Fund.
He takes home eight — and is taxed only on eight.
That two rupees — tax-free — is split into two parts:
One rupee kept for his personal pension savings.
One rupee pooled into a Pension Fund, investing in gold, oil refineries, infrastructure — stable, value-linked assets."
She turned back to the members.
"After twenty or thirty years, that one rupee grows several times over.
When the employee retires, he receives his total with returns — lumpsum, tax-free, directly in his bank.
If profits exceed three times, government retains only half a share for reinvestment."
She looked at the Finance Minister. "And the government?
It spends nothing — except logistics — while earning from the investments themselves."
She smiled slightly. "A pension that pays itself."
---
"Private schools," she continued, "will follow the same model —
Salaries from the institution, pensions shared half by the state and half by the private school.
That means: 0.5 rupee invested by each, both earning from the growth."
She closed the file.
"This way, the government stops burning money on retired payrolls and starts investing in the future of the children."
---
She raised her final example.
"In page 34, you will find case studies — Saraswati Vidyalay and Indraprasth Vishwavidyalay.
When 45 of their teachers either died, migrated, or retired, every one of them or their nominees received full pensions.
No financial burden fell on the institution.
The Foundation's funds grew — enough to build another Saraswati Vidyalaya in the North-East."
She looked around the room. "That is proof — not theory."
---
"But," she added, "we cannot build schools overnight.
So the Right to Education Act will apply only in districts having at least five government schools — north, south, east, west, and center."
She took a breath. "We need 8% from the Union Budget.
States can flex their percentages.
As for Delhi, my constituency — I intend to allocate 40% for education over five years.
The rest shall go to infrastructure, water, food, and welfare."
She put down her papers and folded her hands.
"After ten years, you may amend the budget allocation again —
but today, this is how we build a literate Republic."
---
The hall was silent.
Even her opponents stared at her with something between awe and disbelief.
Finally, the Speaker called the vote again —
and this time, 68% of the Assembly voted Yes.
The Right to Education Act, 1947, was passed.
Saraswati Devi quietly gathered her papers.
She didn't smile. But her eyes reflected the fire of a nation being reborn — not with swords, but with syllabuses.
As the bill pass Anirban See that Finance Minister is calculating something, Health minister also scribble in her note pad. He also intrigued as when he heard that Pension Fund. Because it's basically the same method that govt. Tried to implement bland some utter stupid politicians to take power say that they will implement the old pension system.If this system successfully applied then the compound rate will be astonished this will be our first Sovereign Wealth Fund. Even before kuwait.