This paper is based on the premise that the myth of the "Twice-Born" perpetuated by the high-caste Hindus of ancient India; the metaphors of re-birth, freedom, and light used by new literatures coming out of adult literacy classes; and current socio-biological theories of human evolution all speak to the truly transformational character…

The biological need to speak a language is joined today with the social necessity to read and write. Literacy may not be in the genes, but it has come to be central to the processes of cultural transformation in all societies--developed or developing. When viewed collectively within an evolutionary perspective, those who are literate are better…