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‘Must’ & ‘Need’

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The Editorial Page | Today’s The Hindu

28th October 2023

Consider these three sentences -

You have to come to class. [Official]

You should come to class. [Pointing out one’s duty/obligation]

You must come to class. [Said out of personal concern]

The first sentence, could be considered an ‘official’ statement, given by a person in power/authority. You have to come to class, else you will be punished/debarred etc.

In the second sentence the speaker points to the duty / responsibility / obligation of the student.

In the third sentence, the speaker gives out a personal statement, out of care and concern for the student, in the interest of the student and their welfare.

Now coming to the second part –

The author of this 995-word editorial feature in today’s The Hindu, Arun Maira, posits a problem.

A problem needs a Solution.

I repeat!

A problem needs a solution.

The author hence, proceeds to use the word ‘need to’, or ‘needs to’ quite a few times, as possible solutions to the problem.

So the catchwords in this particular editorial piece are – ‘must’ and ‘need’.

This tells us about the importance of using the words ‘must’ and ‘need’ in the right place, for the right context, ain’t it?

So what is the problem posited by the author?

Well, the problem is –

Economic history has long been chronicled through a male lens, emphasizing the contributions of men and their viewpoints.

Now let’s look at the ways in which he tries to address this ‘problem’.

Firstly, he gives examples from the past, to support the ‘claim’ in his ‘problem’.

Just look at the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. It has been awarded to 90 men since 1969 — and just three women. 

The first, Elinor Ostrom, won in 2009 for explaining how local communities, most of them in developing countries, govern themselves. 

The second, Esther Duflo, won in 2019, for her experimental work in alleviating global poverty. 

Claudia Goldin was the third woman awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2023 for her work explaining why women earn less money than men even when they do the same work, says the author.

Secondly, the author gives research-based evidence to further authenticate his claim.

Claudia Goldin was awarded for her work explaining why women earn less money than men even when they do the same work. Ms. Goldin’s research reveals that women, who also attend to the caring work required for families at home, are considered less valuable in economic enterprises because they cannot commit to continuously working full time for their employers, which men can.

Thirdly, the author predicts major trends in the future of work in India.

Fourthly, he emphasizes on the need to invest more in care-giving services, by advocating a change in our approach. Complex problems must be solved bottom up, not top down, he says.

Sixthly, he advocates for a different paradigm, based on cooperation, equity, and sustainability, [as advocated by Nobel Laureate Ostrom] for realising the Promise of the Commons, which is the urgent need of this millennium.

Seventhly, he emphasizes on the need for a paradigm change in economics.

Paradigm changes always require a power shift which is difficult because people with power will not let go. Money gives power; political authority gives power; and formal education and science (PhDs and Nobel Prizes) give power too.

Finally, he concludes, by saying that, local communities must be given more powers for designing and implementing inclusive and sustainable solutions to their problems.