Friday, July 17, 2015

Narayana Murthy raises interesting questions

How can you, the graduates of IISc, contribute towards a better India and a better world?:
"...let us pause and ask what the contributions of Indian institutions of higher learning particularly IISc and IITs, have been over the last 60-plus years to make our society and the world a better place. Is there one invention from India that has become a household name in the globe? Is there one technology that has transformed the productivity of global corporations? Is there one idea that has led to an earth-shaking invention to delight global citizens? Folks, the reality is that there is no such contribution from India in the last 60 years. The only two ideas that have transformed the productivity of global corporations – The Global Delivery Model and The 24-hour workday – came from a company called Infosys.
Yet, let us look at the problems that surround us here in India. We have the largest mass of illiterates in the world. We have the largest number of children with malnutrition. We have the poorest public health service in the world. We have the dirtiest rivers in the world. Our vehicles produce he highest carbon per vehicle in the world. We have the lowest per-capita usable water in the world. Our primary education is one of the lowest quality in the world. I can go on and on. The important thing ls to recognise that this country has no shortage of problems to be solved urgently."
I think that hints answers to his questions in the first paragraph are in the second paragraph and also the discriminatory systems. It is difficult to raise too much above the surroundings; slowly the outside atmosphere seeps in. Moreover, these institutes are were based on some sort of trickle down theory, but they are acting as trickle ups for those who make it there mainly from the elites.
There are some reactions "And the answer lies in State funding, institutional autonomy, quest of excellence, and a pro-people development model." To me it seems like the elites are trying to preserve and enhance their gated communities. Another reaction here.

No comments: