The thought of writing something on this topic has been around for quite sometime now. But somehow I managed to delay the temptation. Finally, after listening to Kapil Sibal's interview, 10 mins ago, I decided its time for another small write-up on the blog. The interview was about the recent reforms our ambitious HRD minister endeavors to bring about. Now to our topic.
The world is heaving a sigh of relief as the economy all over the globe is strengthening. Certainly, the Indian service sector, the driver of our economy, will benefit to a significant extent. Among the IT and ITES sector, L&T Infotech, Mahindra Satyam, TCS and Infosys, among others, have bagged multi-million dollar projects. But then is there another angle to this sweet, nice picture?
Lets go back in time by 20 years.
The 7th largest nation of the world had no major say on matters of prominence. It was labeled as a poor country, struggling to cover its deficits and in debt despite the best efforts of its far sighted leaders. A country with high corruption and crime rate despite having a voluminous and a well-compiled Constitution and a system with healthy decentralization of power.
I agree that I have not brought out the positives but whatever I have stated above is true.
In those days we had lots of Indians flying to the Arab nations for employment. They used to comeback after a few years and were certainly richer but the nature of the work was anything but respectable. Their employers hired them because they found it cheaper than the local workers. In short: Indians, and workers from similar nations, supplied what was the "cheap labour" and were easily available because of the high number.
With changing tides, literacy level has increased, we are more skilled and learned. The result: lots of Indians are placed in positions where they pull the strings. There are more CEO's, doctors and engineers of Indian origin in the US than migrants of any other nation. India today is an important strategic partner for the so called "developed nations". However, we are still called the cheap laborers. A customer in US has to narrate the problems of his Notebook PC to someone sitting in an air-conditioned building in Bangalore. The pay rolls of workers in UK is being monitored by a Software application made by an Indian MNC. Certainly I am not questioning the quality of the jobs we perform as software engineers but why do we get to do only limited things?
Why does Intel, Google have a R&D wing but TCS and Infosys don't? Why do we have only one Anand Kumar and only one group of Super 30 in the entire country?
The answer to these troublesome questions lie in the education system. Let us look at the various actors involved in the education system: the parents, the School Management, the Teacher in the School, the Environment, Neighbours of the student, the State government and the Central government.
Clearly the government alone cannot reform the system. Measures need to be taken by everyone involved. Thankfully we have a minister who believes he can bring about positive changes. But is that enough? Academicians all over the country have been pressing for a contemporary syllabus. But aren't we underplaying the increased burden on the students? What should be done to prevent the small but significant brain drain from the country? Why did C.K.Prahalad choose US ahead of India?
What do you think? Is India high on potential, low on application?
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With special thanks to S.Praveen Kumar sir, who suggested the topic.
With lots of love
Atul Mishra
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteYou have brought an excellent picture into view. Various examples at various stages, be it the past or the present are actually true.
ReplyDeleteThe government alone can not bring the reform but at least has to initiate such a system that brings a revolution in the education system, that does not just stress upon imparting education but knowledge too. The value of education is only when it brings out progress. It should be understood by each actor involved in the educational system that a small effort can bring a larger improvement.
Sir,
ReplyDeleteYes this is a fact that because we are cheap labour other countries try to Buy us but i think the problem is with us. . .
Unless and untill we stop seeling our brains we cannot help . .
Like theres a small example In america suppose for a small project an american is paid 1500$ an indian is paid 1000$ = Rs 46,000 appox...
But for the same project In india they are paid around 20,000 SO because they get more amount If they are going to other country an Individual is sold. .
when the individuals are sold Even the companies are sold out. . Our companies do not start R & D because they are scared if they would try a research n if it feels theyll loose lot of money . . So they would rather prefer to solve some1s problem than trying to Do something new. .
recently i have read an article in newyork times saying that the product valua of Apple is 222.18 million $ n that of Microsoft is 219.40 Million $ . .
after so many years apple has defeated microsoft which has been a top company for such a long time. . .
Now apple has grown so fast that it started from ipods then pc's now the new generation phones. . .
I dunno when an Indian company will go do such a situation.. . .
Dear Abhijeeth,
ReplyDeleteThanx 4 responding...
As for the example, the cost of living in America is higher than in India. So being paid 20k should not be grossly unfair. May be the individuals are lured out of the nation because of the general conception that US offers a better standard of living.
In this context I would like to point out that last year around 60,000 Indians have relocated back to India from the US and the average period 4 which they have stayed away 4m home is 10 years. Today they are employed at senior management levels in the Indian wing of foreign MNCs.
Moreover the number of IIT graduates picking up foreign placements has dropped from 95% at one point of time to 15%.
The other example has hit the nail on its head....it will take time 4 the efforts to pay dividends, but when it pays, it pays rich.
Keep Posting..Keep blogging...Keep learning...