Bharat bandh, chhoti chhuttis galore

India, we are told by reliable sources, wants to be a knowledge economy. But here's the funny thing: it doesn't really give two hoots about education. What else would explain the fact that all schools, colleges and univs in UP's Gautam Buddh Nagar, known to us fondly as Noida, were closed yesterday and will remain shut today because of two big showpiece events in town: Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show and MotoGP, both in Greater Noida over the weekend. The administration will be busy with a huge turnout of visitors and spectators. So, it's chhutti. Could the real reason be that the admin needs school buses to ferry the guests, as well as teachers seconded to say namaste to foreign dignitaries?

Understandably, parents are livid. It has upset the routine and academic schedules of their wards (many had midterms). They have floated an online petition against the state's frequent closure of schools. Even during the Covid years, India had the distinction of becoming the country with the second-longest pandemic-linked school closure in the world - next only to Uganda, even when scientific evidence went against such closures. Delhi routinely closes schools when air pollution peaks. And G20 meant an enforced holiday for many businesses that weekend. What next? School's out for the cricket World Cup?