The article discusses the definition and role of intellectuals in public life, cautioning against the misuse of the term. It suggests that true intellectuals are rare, citing the 1975-1977 period in India as an example where commoners were more creative than 'pseudo-intellectuals'. The piece quotes Mao Tse-Tung's description of intellectuals and John Stuart Mill's views on the necessity of freedom for their existence, implying that a society with numerous intellectuals might warrant concern.