New Delhi: The education system in the country has to be secular to achieve a just and equitable society and contain widespread distress, the HRD ministry has said.

Inaugurating the 32nd Indian Social Science Congress at the Jamia Millia Islamia University, HRD Minister Arjun Singh said it is a paradox that widespread distress continues while a handful of rich enjoy the resources.

"In such a situation, it is necessary for all of us to sit together and to think holistically about how to create the India of our dreams.

"We not only need to carve out a new vision of a new democratic, just and equitable society but need to work for its realisation," he said, speaking on the theme of the Congress, The Indian Republic at the crossroad.

Singh said education is the key to new, democratic, just and equitable society.

"Is it possible to evolve a new system of democratic, scientific and secular education? If yes, how? If no, why?," he wondered.

Singh said those who participated in the freedom movement were critical of the colonial education system in the country. Rabindra Nath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi and Zakir Hussain started separate institutions, rejecting the colonial education system, he said.

"Today, the question is: Have we replaced the colonial system of education. Is present system of education egalitarian, democratic and secular? The answer is that we have a long way to go," he said.

Singh said the target before society is to achieve a world free of hunger, starvation, illiteracy, violence and disparity between the rich and the poor.

Source : Central