In societies like ours, where politics is popularly linked with crass opportunism and unprincipled pursuit of self-interest, it is easy to understand why the association with politics and seats of power is often derided. The lure of reward can corrupt the individuals, make them servile and compromise their judgment. While these conclusions would appear to flow from the nature of our political life, they are supported by the argument that the world of party politics and ideological affiliations are in principle different from the world of reason that intellectuals are expected to inhabit. Parties expect loyalty and ideologies are a closed system of ideas that call for faithful reiteration. If anything, these affiliations stand in the way of unbiased explanations. In contrast, public intellectuals are expected to offer systematic analysis of issues and, as Peter Ronald deSouza argues, “fair evaluations” (‘And miles to go before they wake’, IE, March 30). Their task is, in this sense, different from and incompatible with that of party ideologues and men pursuing power.

In almost all societies, intellectuals share the responsibility of shaping the collective consciousness. In our society they are often seen as conscience keepers on whom rests the duty of upholding society’s moral fabric. While this responsibility should not be placed on the shoulders of just one group there is no doubt that intellectuals are expected to play a vital role in this regard. Hence, it becomes necessary for us to reflect carefully on the role of public intellectuals and raise basic questions.

... contd.