India, Oct. 25 -- India's education system may be producing competent engineers, doctors and chartered accountants, but it is failing to adequately equip people with a broader understanding of history, science, literature and culture, poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar said on Saturday, warning that the 'widening gap' between professional education and general knowledge was being filled by misinformation, regressive ideas and misplaced beliefs.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the Symbiosis Literary Festival 2026 at Symbiosis Ishanya Bhavan in Viman Nagar, Akhtar called for a more holistic approach to education that enables students to look beyond their chosen disciplines. He also raised concerns over shrinking vocabulary, weakening enga...