The central argument of the book is that the present education system is struggling against feudal and colonial past, based much on distinctions of natural ability as on caste, sex and class. Such a situation is bad for society and individuals. The efforts towards realizing the Constitutional commitment of "Universal Elementary Education" (UEE) for all the children must seriously address the constraints that have hitherto excluded large sections of Indian society from school education. Some of the social policies and practices are seen today systematically restricting the access of some...