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greatest of India’s 14 prime minis- quick time.
ters. At the core of all that educators do
Being an economics teacher, I is passion for education which is way
often teach my children about India’s beyond the commercials involved.
economic crisis of 1991, and how Therefore, it was disheartening to
Dr. Manmohan Singh as finance read that you measure the progress
minister and P.V. Narasimha Rao as of educators on the unidimensional
prime minister, saved the economy yardstick of remuneration. The use
from collapsing with timely intro- of words like “poach”, for manage-
duction of the New Economic Policy. ments, with its harsh connotations is
Liberalisation, privatisation and particularly distressing.
globalisation were at the core of the In future, I request you to verify
new economic policies of this silent your facts and avoid misinformation.
PM, who truly rescued the Indian Skand Bali
economy from bankruptcy. Principal, The Hyderabad Public
Trilok Singh Bist, Principal School, BEGUMPET
AUGUST 2023 Brahm Dutt Blue Bells Public
School, Sector-10, GURUGRAM The larger point made by the snip-
pet was that promoters should re-
Valuable feedback spect professional principals. Surely
Your special coverage of the pre- Distressing misinformation you agree? — Editor
draft NCF-SE (EW August) is I REFER TO the postscript article
exhaustive and incisive for its value, in the May issue of EducationWorld
pertinence and transformatory (https://www.educationworld.in/ Sad commentary
character in the context of recasting musical-chairs/). In this article you YOUR WEST BENGAL Education
school education. I consider your have mentioned me without verifying News ‘Governor vs Government’
critical assessment as one of the information or checking the facts. (EW August) brilliantly analyses
key check-points so far as the There are certain truths I wish to the unhealthy stand-off between
value of our efforts is concerned. I place before you because I think it governor Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose and
am convinced that it is extremely is important for you to know that I chief minister Mamata Banerjee over
important to respect the views of have NEVER ever been disrespected the issue of the former’s appointment
EducationWorld, since they are by anyone from the management of of 11 interim vice chancellors without
a result of a sustained build up of Adani International School, Ahmed- consulting the education ministry.
wisdom about Indian education abad (AISA) as reported by you. Mrs. This confrontation has disrupted the
acquired over 23 years. Priti Adani is a very humble and functioning of 25 state universities
In your cover story you have respectful lady and she has always with major policy decisions on hold.
provided comprehensive and focused spoken to me with utmost respect It’s a sad commentary on the status
feedback that will further help us and regard. of higher education in Bengal.
refine NCF-SE 2023. I believe this The reason I accepted the project I believe the power to appoint vice
is extremely important as you have of setting up AISA was because it chancellors must vest in a govern-
discharged an important duty in was a greenfield project that was ment appointed committee compris-
helping us to refine and enrich NCF- challenging and completely different ing intellectuals and academicians
SE. Thank you very much. from my previous projects. Earlier, I who can put aside their ideological
Dr. K. Kasturirangan had been fortunate to work in legacy differences and make rational deci-
Chairman, NCF Steering schools and the greenfield AISA sions. With the future of thousands
Committee, BENGALURU project offered me an opportunity to of students in higher education at
explore a new skill-set and chart a stake, it is high time for the governor
different course. This was a well- and government to put the issue to
India’s best PM planned break from the Hyderabad rest.
I LOVED reading your review of S. Public School, Begumpet at that After all, recruitment of teachers,
Narendra’s India’s Tipping Point time. I consider myself fortunate to better systems and policies,
(EW July). I fully agree that in the be able to come back to HPS soon infrastructure and well-being of
past 76 years since India attained after the extraordinarily success- students must take precedence over
independence from British rule, P.V. ful establishment of the AISA at an egoistic battles.
Narasimha Rao was undoubtedly the inconceivable level and in incredibly Anirban Bhaumik via EMAIL

16 EDUCATIONWORLD SEPTEMBER 2023