ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to provide a refined understanding of both the current Development paradigm as applied across the world and its specific application and ramifications in the contemporary Indian context. Building on a mix of postdevelopment theory, the political philosophy of Jacques Rancière and Todd May, as well as on political ontology, I conceptualise Development as One-World world Development (OWW Development). The latter practices what we will call an ontological politics of inequality which reinforces a subjective and hierarchical worldview and thereby takes away people’s capacity to co-create their own meaningful lives. As I will show, this specific worldview, moreover, is very much compatible with and often even conducive to the Hindutva, Hindu-nationalist ‘way of life’ pursued by the current Indian government. At the same time, I will draw attention to how the mainstream education system is inherently tied to the at the time prevailing Development model. The understanding of Development as OWW Development therefore sets the scene for the next chapters to both further deconstruct how mainstream education is closely intertwined with OWW Development, as well as to envision a postdevelopmental politics and a related mode of education that can counter the hegemonic Development–education nexus and lets us build meaningful lives beyond Development.
