In the literacy front, at the all-India level, there has been a steady progress – literacy rate has improved from 24%(61) to 43%(91). The literacy rate is witnessed to vary between states from 33%(U.P.) to 78%(Kerala). The number of states outperforming the all-India performance has gone up from 18(71) to 21(91). The following observations can be made on the progress of the literacy rate in West Bengal: (a) Steady increase from 29%(61) to 48%(91); (b) althrough outperformed all-India rate; (c) performance is still much inferior to that of Kerala; and (d) smaller states like Lakshadweep, H.P., Sikkim, Mizoram etc. are progressing at a faster rate than West Bengal.

Inadequacy or lacuna in the progress of literacy is better understood when examined through two indicators. These are (1) rural-urban decomposition and (2) male-female disparity. If we look at the official source of data, the following features come out imminently. Firstly, rural progress is much impressive than urban progress – during 61-91 period, rural progress is more than double whereas urban progress is less than double. Secondly, consistently at every time point, urban literacy rate is higher than rural literacy rate. The above two imply that the spread of illiterate population is more in rural areas than in urban areas. Even in 1991 almost 51% of the rural population is found to be illiterate. During the 61-91 period, we find that Kerala has maintained its leading position separately for both rural and urban literacy, but for the four most populous states – U.P., M.P., Bihar, and Rajasthan – poor literacy rates are due to very poor rural literacy rates. During the period 71-91, there has been an increase in the number of states outperforming the all-India performance, separately for rural and urban literacy rates. But the states have been found to be the same three states. Regarding relative performance between the states during the said period, relatively smaller states have surpassed all other states (barring Kerala) for rural and urban literacy rates.

Under such a backdrop of all-India discrimination in rural and urban progress in literacy, position of West Bengal can be understood from the following observations. First, rural literacy has moved up from 22%(61) to 50%(91) while urban literacy has gone up from 53%(61) to 75%(91). Secondly, consistently at every time point, urban literacy is higher than its’ rural counterpart. Thirdly, still in 1991, 50% of the rural population is illiterate, while for the urban population; illiteracy is only 25%. Moreover, in comparison to Kerala, W. Bengal is lagging far behind, especially in rural literacy – 89%(Kerala; 91), 50%(W.Bengal; 91). However, when the position of W.Bengal when evaluated in relative ranking between the states, it is observed that rural literacy is moving in the proper direction – from 11 out of 26 in 1961, it has moved upto 9 out of 30 in 1991 -; while in urban literacy, it is moving in the opposite direction – from 7 out of 24 in 1961 it has gone down to 19 out of 30 in 1991.

This last observation leaves the impression that when progress in literacy, evaluated in relative and absolute scales, is compared, separately for rural and urban population, it is revealed that urban progress is not upto the expectation as other states are moving at a faster rate. Progress in rural literacy is fast, since it is reflected in both the scales.

As stated already, like rural-urban decomposition, progress in literacy when decomposed by sex provides further insight, which may be utilised, for proper diagnosis. Findings about progress at the all-India level are as follows. Both male and female literacy has made steady progress during the period 1961-1991. However, progress in male literacy is much spectacular than that of female literacy – while female rate has improved from 13%(61) to 39%(91), improvement in male rate has been from 34%(61) to 64%(91). When performance is evaluated through the indicator – ratio of female to male literacy rates – it is observed that Kerala maintains a consistently lead position over other states along a path of steady improvement (barring Chandrigrah). The values of the ratio are always above the all-India values. What is unique of Kerala is that it is leading all other states for all the time points both in male and female literacy rates (Chandigarh is the exception in early periods). If we take separate male and female literacy rates, the number of states outperforming the all-India position is steadily increasing from 1961 to 1991.The four most populous states – U.P., M.P., Bihar and Rajasthan – are still in a very bad state; more than 80% women and around 40% men are illiterate there even in 1991.