[Reader-list] Shame on IITs

[Kshmendra Kaul]

Dear Tapas
 
I think I am getting afflicted by the "I too want to say something on this topic" disease.
 
(I am not an IITian. I tried but did not make the mark in the JEE.)
 
The 'reservations' policies also has much to do (I think) with " there is a demand, let us ensure shortages and then dole out favours with a pay-back". Applied to  Education, it is one of the current day scenarios of the earlier 'licence raj'. The motive now might not be 'money' but the doling of 'politicised favours' towards targetted 'vote banks'. Creation and/or continuation of 'shortages' serves the purpose well.
 
The simplest solution for cutting through any discussions over or the need for  'reservations' is to expand the availability of 'educational opportunities', be they schools, colleges or Institutes of Higher Learning (such as IITs).
 
Intrestingly, two of (what I call) 'critical needs' of any country namely easily and affordably accesible Education Environment and Justice Environment are the cheapest to establish as compared to any of the other 'critical needs' (Health, Security etc). Yet in India ......
 
Kshmendra
 
 

--- On Sat, 7/19/08, Tapas Ray <tapasrayx at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Tapas Ray <tapasrayx at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Shame on IITs
To: "sarai list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Date: Saturday, July 19, 2008, 4:15 PM

Only one person out of the hundred-odd I reached, responded. Here it is.

Prabhakar Singh wrote:
 >
 >
 > There should not be any kind of reservation anywhere.Necessary economic
 > support and required facilities may be made available to the
 > disadvataged,physically challenged and poor people without linking it to
 > any cast,religion,sect,region and gender so that they are able to rise
 > and the requirements of admission to any institution or course or get
 > suitable opportunity or employment.Let us be reasonable not sentimental
 > on this issue.This is not an issue of debate at all but the vested
 > vote-bank interests of politicians has made it an issue of debate to
 > divide the society on cast lines and enjoy the booty of power.
 >
 > Prabhakar

Tapas Ray wrote:
> Ranjith,
> 
> Let me tell you upfront that I am an IITan, so that you know the context 
> of my response. However, I have not been an engineer for a long time. 
> That said, I have a couple of things to say.
> 
> One, I think you should tell us what you mean by 'IT koolies'.
That 
> would clarify your thoughts not just on the reservation issue but on the 
> broader issue of what role the IITs should play, if they are playing it 
> now, and if not, what they should do to close the gap. I wrote an 
> article along these lines in The Statesman a few years ago, and will try 
> to dig it up if anyone is interested, which I think is unlikely. But if 
> someone is interested, it would be good if s/he would let me know 
> whether I should post it on the list or email it to her/him.
> 
> Two, if your use of the phrase 'IT koolies' expresses contempt,
which I 
> think it does, it would be helpful if you would explain what is 
> contemptible about being a 'kooly/ie'. I do not think there is
anything 
> bad about carrying someone else's load, or pulling someone else's
weight 
> as rickshaw pullers do. They are putting in honest labour to earn a 
> living, and are workers like other workers.
> 
> Unfortunately, I will not be able to take part in this discussion beyond 
> this post for some time. But I will see if any of my IIT friends would 
> be interested in responding.
> 
> Tapas
> 
> 
> 
> Ranjith Thankappan wrote:
>> hi
>> Few days back Manuwadi director (former) of IIT Madras made a comment 
>> “'HRD minister has injected AIDS into IITs” (Please visit this
link 
>> for news 
>>
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mumbai/HRD_minister_has_injected_AIDS_into_IITs/articleshow/3176486.cms)

>>  
>> these are the kind of "meritorious" Directors available to
IITs. No 
>> wonder IITs produce IT koolies for the developed world and degraded to

>> the extent of brahmanism. what a shame!!
>> regards
>>
>>
> 
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