BRAINSTORMING-1

Which came first, illiteracy or Poverty?

What causes the other?
Poverty causes illiteracy or illeteracy causes Poverty?

According to Hemant Beniwal, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER, Director at Ark Primary Advisors Pvt. Ltd.(JAIPUR)—“ Wealth may come to someone who does not have knowledge but it does not stay there. As they say a fool and his money are soon parted.”

According to Tirumalai Kamala, Immunologist, Microbiologist, Organizer—“In my opinion, though the primary reason for illiteracy is that the person's family was too poor to send them to school in the 1st place, it is only of the reasons behind continuing poverty. Remember, making literacy universal is a fairly recent trend in human history while poverty has been around much longer. Lack of opportunity and lack of access to opportunity (literacy being one of these) are other reasons for poverty.”

According to Joy Abdullah, Brand Strategist--Iliteracy & proverty are entwined and difficult to segregate in order to say which came first or which causes which.

Through history if we look at various societies (civilizations) we would note that there always was a class distinction of the "haves" and "have-nots". Over time, this perpetuated and given the economic ups and downs over history (which globally we witness is in a sort of cyclical manner) we find that poverty restricted obtaining formal literacy (education). With lack of formal education, improving one's financial standing in life was/is difficult resulting in that generation falling back.

As Kamala, states, formal literacy is a more recent phenomenon i.e. with the intention that formal literacy would bring about alleviation of poverty by virtue of the recipient having knowledge to do better.

Historically, as we progressed (i.e. from the industrial revolutions) specific old world civilizations fell behind and in turn their citizens fell back into poverty leading to low education/literacy.

Now as countries like China, India and Bangladesh, step up the literacy drive coupled with state assistance (financially) to improve the lives of the concerned segments much improvements can be seen. Bangladesh, in particular, has made great strides in this area and based on that example I'd have to say that poverty came first and is the cause of illiteracy.

According to Prashant Bhaskaran, Human Resources---Non uniform spread of literacy created disparity within societies. This could be due to the systemic flaws within education/awareness governance systems of the Administration of the local rulers of the olden days which favored a few over the larger population. It was also attributable through the forcibly enforced structure of the society such as the caste system.

Fortunate few held information that gave them an edge within the immediate society thus, the advantage gained by them translated into commercial terms by doing things not known to others or by doing it better in a different way. The competition that ensued killed/created uncertainty to the means of living of the unfortunate lot. Poverty & hunger was born in that society.                                                                  

The imperfections within the society continues due to same factors apart from other social & business factors adding in to the pool that ensures a cycle of “Poor to Rich, Rich to Rags, Rags to Rich….” continues affecting future generations.

“Levels of Literacy” has increased many bounds since basic awareness has lost its bearing to earn a square meal.

Literacy came first then poverty.

According to Jim Sicotte, Experienced Investor, Wealth Educator, and Mortgage Elimination Strategist with Alberta Land and Investment Brokers---You can be illiterate and still create wealth and abundance. It's your heart and drive in being alive and a part of this world that will create wealth in your life. You can also be very well educated and live a life of poverty and scarcity.

My question would be, no matter what your situation, can you find happiness in it? If not, can you find happiness in the journey of changing your situation? If still not, then you better start detaching from the things that you are allowing yourself to feel unhappy about. Because whether you are illiterate or not, poverty is a state of mind.

According to Chris Bernal, Team Leader at Stillen----A good rhetorical question, but the real issue is where to go from here. Financial illiteracy is making some of today's middle class tomorrow's poor (Some examples: Over-mortgaging personal residences and living on credit). From my personal experience working with many types of entrepreneurs over the years, education is important, but financial eduction trumps all other categories. When they need to know something they don't, they hire it in. A and B students work for C and D students all the time. A great education can set someone up to make a good living, but it would appear that *wealth creation* requires knowledge that is not taught in our (American) school system. In fact, it looks suspiciously left out to me. 

Cheers for Kongsi.......anil aggarwal