Uploaded February 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This is the second episode of Planet Local Voices – an interview series by Local Futures – featuring thinkers, writers, movement-builders and activists from across the world.
In this episode, radical “unlearner” and rethinker of education, Manish Jain, talks about why we should rethink formal education and strive to unlearn much of what we have been taught through years of schooling. Speaking from experience as a former investment banker, Manish lands a heavy critique of the economic growth-for-the-rich model that is impoverishing the majority and degrading our ecosystems. He addresses the need to shift power and the importance of the localization movement in this process. He goes on to talk about “deadlihoods” vs “alivelihoods” and of the urgent need to redesign our learning systems and spaces, with a focus on the wellbeing of ourselves, our communities and the planet at large.
Manish Jain (India), Harvard Alumnus and former investment banker with Morgan Stanley, who has also worked for UNESCO and UNICEF among other, came to question the dominant economic model, and not least, the Western-style education model that is perpetuating destructive growth and development, and fomenting a ‘West is Best’ mindset. Manish is the co-founder of Shikshantar: The Peoples’ Institute for Rethinking Education and Development, Swaraj University, India’s first self-designed people’s university where each learner (ages 17–28) can join and work on their unique path, and the Ecoversities Alliance, a global network of alternative universities.
Watch the trailer here: youtu.be/1_QQ8chBZbw?si=h1HLfDFtSG6GLdPG
Follow the Planet Local Voices interview series: localfutures.org/programs/planet-local-voices
Listen to this interview as a podcast: localfutures.org/programs/global-to-local/local-futures-podcast
Local Futures is an international non-profit organization, dedicated to renewing ecological and social well-being by strengthening communities and local economies. To learn more about our work, visit: localfutures.org
Subscribe to our email newsletter:
localfutures.org/sign-up-to-our-newsletter
This is the second episode of Planet Local Voices – an interview series by Local Futures – featuring thinkers, writers, movement-builders and activists from across the world.
In this episode, radical “unlearner” and rethinker of education, Manish Jain, talks about why we should rethink formal education and strive to unlearn much of what we have been taught through years of schooling. Speaking from experience as a former investment banker, Manish lands a heavy critique of the economic growth-for-the-rich model that is impoverishing the majority and degrading our ecosystems. He addresses the need to shift power and the importance of the localization movement in this process. He goes on to talk about “deadlihoods” vs “alivelihoods” and of the urgent need to redesign our learning systems and spaces, with a focus on the wellbeing of ourselves, our communities and the planet at large.
Manish Jain (India), Harvard Alumnus and former investment banker with Morgan Stanley, who has also worked for UNESCO and UNICEF among other, came to question the dominant economic model, and not least, the Western-style education model that is perpetuating destructive growth and development, and fomenting a ‘West is Best’ mindset. Manish is the co-founder of Shikshantar: The Peoples’ Institute for Rethinking Education and Development, Swaraj University, India’s first self-designed people’s university where each learner (ages 17–28) can join and work on their unique path, and the Ecoversities Alliance, a global network of alternative universities.
Watch the trailer here: youtu.be/1_QQ8chBZbw?si=h1HLfDFtSG6GLdPG
Follow the Planet Local Voices interview series: localfutures.org/programs/planet-local-voices
Listen to this interview as a podcast: localfutures.org/programs/global-to-local/local-futures-podcast
Local Futures is an international non-profit organization, dedicated to renewing ecological and social well-being by strengthening communities and local economies. To learn more about our work, visit: localfutures.org
Subscribe to our email newsletter:
localfutures.org/sign-up-to-our-newsletter
