An innovation university on technology solutions for solving problems in rural India

To

Shri Kapil Sibal, Honorable Minister of Human Resource Development

CC
Dr Manmohan Singh, Honorable Prime Minister of India
Smt Sonia Gandhi, Honorable UPA Chairperson
MPs from Orissa
Media

Dear Shri Sibal,
As per your recent statement proposed 14 innovation universities in India will concentrate on specific areas in research and development.

And some of the US varsities are likely to extend their expertise in setting up of some of the innovation universities in India, such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology could partner with the government for setting up an innovation university in energy sector [1]. Earlier it was also mentioned that one of them could be on the area of city development which will work on technology solutions for urban planning [2].

70% of rural India depends on agriculture and have various kinds of rural problems in infrastructure, planning, education and industries. Rural India also needs easy access to quality education. Limiting developmental initiative in state capitals & surrounding regions in India is encouraging mass rural migration to cities, affecting rural economy dramatically and making metros/larger cities over populated, polluted and stressed. Mass migration from Kalahandi and over crowed, polluted and stressful metro cities such as Kolkata, Mumbai, and Bangalore is well evident. This must be controlled for larger interest of the nation.

An Innovation University in Kalahandi on the area of agriculture, forest and rural development could be very helpful in this regard. This university could focus on technology solutions for solving problems in rural India, agriculture, forestry and horticulture which will reduce mass rural migration to major cities. Kalahandi is primary agriculture and forest based society and 90% people directly or indirectly depends on agriculture, horticulture and forest.

In environmental point of view, it is better India develops small cities distributed geographically to become tomorrow's major cities, so that people who live and work there will enjoy life and work like in Boston or San Fransico rather than complaining for everything, from local trains, pollution, stress to rain water.

In no way Mumbai/Bangalore/Bhubaneswar is comparable to Boston in any world class facilities at this moment. Why it is required to borrow a solution from a problem in the Unites States of America; such as requirement of airport, attracting outstanding faculties etc; to solve local problems in India, which are many diverse in nature? Unfortunately, our policy makers are just doing the same.

When MIT was established, Boston had hardly 180,000 populations, today it could be about 620,000. Similarly, when University of Goettingen was established more than 250 years ago, there was nothing except a rural village, today the city is known for University and Max Plank Research institutions producing more than 40 Nobel Prize winners, the population could be about 120,000 presently. It may not be number uno like Harvard, but still its considered world class and far better than any institution present in India at this moment. Yesterday's rural place has emerged as a University & research institution based small urban city. Many technology based industries have come up in the region boosting the local economy in the surrounding area. In this scenario a small town in Kalahandi or Bundelkhand could emerged as tomorrow’s Goettingen.

Once TIFR was visualized to become a top world class research institution in India, similarly IACS had produced Sir C V Raman, both located in major metro cities in India having rail, road and airport necessary to attract outstanding faculties and students, and have an experience of more than 60-80 years by this time, now researchers know where these institutions stand internationally in quality research.

If good faculties are interested to serve in India, they will join with good opportunities and facilities in research and teaching whether such institution is established in Delhi or Kalahandi though initially there could be few difficulties like any new institution but with time it will be overcome, but if good faculties are not interested they will work in abroad whether it is established in Delhi or Kalahandi. There are many young faculties who are still rejecting possibilities of offers from IISc, IITs, TIFR, etc located in Indian metros & Trier II cities when they receive offer even from a small University located in rural place in Europe or America. Recently a young faculty after serving 5 years in one of the TIFR institutions in Bangalore even left for National University Singapore, this is what the ground picture in India. Why any outstanding faculty will prefer Mumbai/Delhi over Boston/Oxford/ Singapore?

I urge an innovation university should be established in Kalahandi to concentrate specific on technology solutions towards rural problems including agriculture. Similarly, half of the innovation universities should be located in small semi-urban towns distributed geographically across the nation such as Kalahandi, Budelkhand, etc whereas other half could be located in Trier II cities as proposed earlier.

Thank you and best regards

Digambara Patra

1. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/education/US-institutions-to-partner-for-proposed-innovation-varsities/articleshow/6008075.cms
(Stored at: http://kalahandia.blogspot.com/2010/06/us-institutions-to-partner-for-proposed.html)

2. http://beta.thehindu.com/education/article65947.ece
(Stored at: http://kalahandia.blogspot.com/2009/12/thanks-to-kapil-sibal-for-hearing-on.html)