again a rather longish post - please do read through it though
My earlier post on liberalising higher education brought a sharp reaction from reader right_angle. I admire all passionate people, especially readers of this blog. Hence – let me elaborate on that piece.
First - it must be said that the current lack of world class Universities in India is a gift of the Nehruvian Stalinists. After creating the IIT /IIM combine – they have led India into a ditch by constraining expansion of higher education and spitting on any idea of excellence – and they have done all this in the name of a never achieved equity.
Second - higher education and research is another IT/ITES type revolution waiting to happen - only its impact will be bigger. By freeing India’s best to pursue their self-interest, there is every chance that the collective interest will be advanced.
Third – the concept of a university is an Indian creation. I think of Nalanda and Takshashila, the world’s greatest universities; destroyed by the scorched earth policies of the Mohammedan invaders. This was more than an act of vandalism – it was a calamity. It was the decimation of India’s human capital. It left India stunted in every way - technological, material and even cultural.
India owes it to herself to restore that tradition of human capital formation.
Fourth – this field where we potentially have a huge, huge leg-up on China. We can speak English – they cannot. We embrace outsiders – they do not. They know how to run a centralised state; we have known for eons how to develop and embrace decentralised, non-state based human organization. They do things top-down, we do things bottoms-up. And in a field like academics – where the pre-requisite is ability to deal with maddening diversity – India has a natural advantage. It is the Cathedral vs. the Bazaar (as Eric Raymond put it in another context)
However, we have to get moving and be open to all investment (including foreign) in this sector. I am bemused when folks say “we don’t need anything foreign – Indians are good enough”. That is a fine sentiment. However, the foreigners – at the moment – are running the world’s best universities. No harm in learning from those ahead of you. More particularly, no harm in taking their money and setting up world class institutions that will then screw over their universities. As Lenin said – they will sell you the rope to hang them with etc.
Fifth – India’s opportunity is not only to educate her own children, but actually that of other nations. I mean this quite literally. Yearly cost of college education in the US is $50,000 per year. Fine – that a bubble. Even so - surely, world class Indian institutions can provide this cheaper, thus earning us precious foreign exchange. Why should Australia alone make money of her colleges – no?
I really hope all will read and reflect on the following
Economic and political weekly - china vs. india on higher education
http://epw.in/epw/uploads/articles/13592.pdf
Arun Shourie
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/we-need-the-best-for-the-brightest/12493/0
David Frum – on the education bubble
http://www.newmajority.com/ShowDavidsPrintArticle.aspx?ID=d02ff81f-6492-45fc-9634-f2d49184c30a
Eric Raymond – The Cathedral and the Bazaar (or indian vs. Chinese culture)
http://www.catb.org/esr/writings/cathedral-bazaar/cathedral-bazaar/
4 comments:
Dear Ghost Writer,
I am not against any foreign colloboration.. However my point is that whenever government liberalises, they are always doing it for foreigners, and indians were secondary beneficiaries.
Consider the 1992 opening up of economy.. Is it intended for indians? I believe its not.. Indian economy is opened on the conditions and instructions of IMF.. (Please correct me, if i am wrong)..
And now, they are again liberalising education, only to facilitate foreign universities..
My question is why cant we liberalise our own education sector, for our own needs?
I hope, you understood my point..
Next, let me ask another question..
What is the benefit of foreign universities opening up education here? Are they so broad hearted, and good people, to spread education through out india?
So they are in anyway going to work within balance sheet of their books, where their prime aim is profit..
And who is going to pay for their profit?
Can Ordinary people, pay such high fees for such universities?
You will say, that so much of forex is saved, by retaining those students who go abroad for studies..
There is another angle to it.. Most of the students, go abroad only to get a foothold there for a career, and we can say, most of them, find a job there itself after their studies.. and the dollars that they send back after their studies is much more worthwhile than they spend for education..
Secondly, our indian students learn a lot in foreign atmosphere, than in india.. they have the chance to work part time, and earn for their living.. such opportunity is less in india..
Right-Angle reminds me of this famous quote.
Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.
Courtesy: http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Samuel_Johnson
But let it be considered, that he did not mean a real and generous love of our country, but that pretended patriotism which so many, in all ages and countries, have made a cloak of self-interest.
Mr. Ashok.. Let me be a scounderel, and let you be the wisest man in this earth.. thanks for your complement..
Dear Ghost writer..
My other comment is still under moderation..
I am in favourable for colloboration with foreign universities.. and that colloboration has to be aimed at mutual benefit, and purpose oriented..
However, i dont believe, that present congress regime, would have indian welfare in its mind, while liberalising education..
Most of the present scientists at ISRO are graduated from indian universities.. this means, they are able to take up the challenge, when faced with real time scenarios..
Cant we implement this through industry - academia partnership? All this needs is the liberalisation of indian education sector, which government is not willing to do.. WHY?
Secondly, in all major foreign universities, the students research on the problems faced in their country/society, guided by their professors..
But in india, the students buy projects, do namesake research on something happening in newyork or california, or to copy here and there, and present a paper at IEEE..
The greatest ever joke happening in agri universities.. In the past, most of the students joining there come from rural background, thus having knowledge of agriculture. But today, almost 50% of the students come from towns, and cities, who dont know even the basics of agriculture.. and in what way are they going to uplift indian agriculture?
Similarly, we have more than 20 engineering colleges in coimbatore.. but no one ever takes up the problem of Noyyal river pollution..
The need of the hour is to re-focus our education, towards improving indian industries and promote R&D for solving indian problems.. Without doing this, what is the use of liberalising for foreign universities?
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