IITians For IITs’ Autonomy
(A support Group by IIT Alumni)
The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India New Delhi
Your Excellency,
You are considered as a stalwart in bringing economic reforms to our Country. The
Country hugely benefitted from your knowledge as an economist.
You would no doubt be aware of the text of House Resolution 227 passed in the House of Representatives, USA, April 26, 2005, which formally acknowledged and appreciated the contribution of IITians to their country in every profession and discipline. A copy of the said resolution is annexed to this letter for your convenience.
A rare Indian Institution revered globally, with a well renowned, established accredited system, which has brought name and fame to this country in many fields, which several countries/governments wish to emulate, is now sought to be destroyed by mindless tampering of people in the Ministry of Human Resource Development that too without following due process of law, who have no idea of either how to develop such institutions or to bring excellence in education. Instead of working to improve school education, its standards have been lowered by eliminating Board examinations for Class X and now to improve the commitment of students to school education, steps are being taken which will in fact further lower the standard of intake to the IITs! The MHRD initiatives in 2005 lowered the standards of intake to the IITs. None of the reasons outlined for making these changes were achieved. Without analyzing the same, changes now being pushed through, in great haste, even though the Senates of IITs have opposed the same, will further create serious problems for maintaining the standards expected from IITs.
Your Excellency would no doubt be aware that it was Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru's vision and dream to bring technological excellence and leadership to India for which he set up the IITs as autonomous institutions. It is a matter of great pride that these institutions have lived upto his expectation. Their excellence over time has been established across the world. We believe that instead of providing additional autonomy to take these Institutions to a level where they can produce Nobel Laureates, slowly but surely their autonomy is being destroyed because of the short- sighted approach of MHRD which is not headed by an educationist, a problem which you may in your wisdom like to address urgently.
While the MHRD has been unable to address the incompetence, inefficiency, Governance & Standards of the Schools and their Board examinations, they have set upon themselves the task of destroying the autonomy of IITs. We are convinced that steps being taken by them hastily will lower the standards of intake to the IITs. This is being resisted by the faculty, alumni and right thinking citizens who are aware of the ground realities. While the United States of America and other advanced countries are struggling with raising the level of their education and getting students more involved in R&D the MHRD is working overtime to reduce the level of education.
You would no doubt be aware of the text of House Resolution 227 passed in the House of Representatives, USA, April 26, 2005, which formally acknowledged and appreciated the contribution of IITians to their country in every profession and discipline. A copy of the said resolution is annexed to this letter for your convenience.
A rare Indian Institution revered globally, with a well renowned, established accredited system, which has brought name and fame to this country in many fields, which several countries/governments wish to emulate, is now sought to be destroyed by mindless tampering of people in the Ministry of Human Resource Development that too without following due process of law, who have no idea of either how to develop such institutions or to bring excellence in education. Instead of working to improve school education, its standards have been lowered by eliminating Board examinations for Class X and now to improve the commitment of students to school education, steps are being taken which will in fact further lower the standard of intake to the IITs! The MHRD initiatives in 2005 lowered the standards of intake to the IITs. None of the reasons outlined for making these changes were achieved. Without analyzing the same, changes now being pushed through, in great haste, even though the Senates of IITs have opposed the same, will further create serious problems for maintaining the standards expected from IITs.
Your Excellency would no doubt be aware that it was Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru's vision and dream to bring technological excellence and leadership to India for which he set up the IITs as autonomous institutions. It is a matter of great pride that these institutions have lived upto his expectation. Their excellence over time has been established across the world. We believe that instead of providing additional autonomy to take these Institutions to a level where they can produce Nobel Laureates, slowly but surely their autonomy is being destroyed because of the short- sighted approach of MHRD which is not headed by an educationist, a problem which you may in your wisdom like to address urgently.
While the MHRD has been unable to address the incompetence, inefficiency, Governance & Standards of the Schools and their Board examinations, they have set upon themselves the task of destroying the autonomy of IITs. We are convinced that steps being taken by them hastily will lower the standards of intake to the IITs. This is being resisted by the faculty, alumni and right thinking citizens who are aware of the ground realities. While the United States of America and other advanced countries are struggling with raising the level of their education and getting students more involved in R&D the MHRD is working overtime to reduce the level of education.
Your Excellency would no doubt appreciate that it is easy to destroy an institution overnight but to build it takes sweat and toil over generations. Can this be permitted to happen to the IITs?
The Leadership Conclave, an annual flagship event of the IIT Delhi Alumni Association, was held on April 15 to exclusively discuss the concerns IITs face today. It was strongly felt that the ongoing deliberations at MHRD, on the admission process at IITs, must be closely observed from the point of view of not only the autonomy of IITs but the effect it will have on Brand IIT. We sent our serious objections to the government's proposed plan and also a proposal of what should be done. In our subsequent meeting with Shri Kapil Sibal, Hon'ble Minister, HRD, recently on May 24th the entire matter was discussed threadbare. Shri Sibal had categorically declared that the government would not go ahead with the proposed changes if there was even one dissent. He has obviously not kept his promise.
IIT Alumni, spread across the Globe, are deeply aggrieved with this situation and have given us the mandate to do all that is necessary to remedy the situation.
Since you are the Executive Head of our Country, we feel that we shall be failing in our duty to the Nation, should we not seek an appointment with Your Excellency, apprise you of our concerns on this matter and earnestly expect a solution to the same, in a democratic and transparent manner.
Your Excellency, we remain expectantly, Yours faithfully,
Signed by: SOMNATH BHARTI
Somnath Bharti
Coordinator, IITians for IITs’ Autonomy
President, IIT Delhi Alumni Association
Advocate, Supreme Court of India and Delhi High Court Partner, Bharti & Associates(Advocates and Corporate Lawyers)
IIT Delhi Alumni Association (A Registered Society), Nalanda House, IIT Delhi, Hauzkhas, New Delhi Ph:011‐26868523, Email: office@iitdalumni.com
