Page 40 - EducationWorld Oct 2021

Cover Story

Naveen Jindal: rapid evolution Raj Kumar & Peter Schuck (2002): “extraordinary achievements”

versity of Texas at Dallas, at the time tor that persuaded me to commit the Jindal, who took the big risk of
Jindal was mourning the tragic de- large endowment proposed by him, bankrolling this young idealist’s
mise of his father, steel tycoon O. P. was my assessment of his character dream of establishing a private uni-
Jindal, in an airplane crash. and qualities. I was impressed by his versity on inhospitable Indian soil
I N HIS EVENTFUL LIFETIME, research, goal clarity and excellent elite ill-advisedly adopted the “social-
nationalism, commitment, thorough
where the post-independence ruling
ist pattern of society” and was — and
OPJ promoted and estab-
education background. In Raj, I dis-
lished the Jindal Group of
tion of education”, could perhaps be
Steel manufacturing com- cerned industry-style project execu- remains — wary of “commercialisa-
tion and implementation capabilities
panies (Jindal Steel & Power, JSW which are very unusual in academia. biased in Raj Kumar’s favour. How-
Steel, Jindal Stainless Steel, JSW These considerations prompted me ever, there’s a consensus within the
Holdings, Jindal Poly Fine) whose to accept his proposal to promote informed academic community that
aggregate annual revenue is currently JGU,” recalls Naveen Jindal who but for Raj Kumar’s grit, determina-
estimated at $18 billion (Rs.130,000 green-lighted Haryana’s first private tion and extraordinary project con-
crore), as a force to reckon with in the university (whose establishment re- ceptualisation and management ca-
steel industry dominated by the fa- quired special legislation enacted by pabilities, JGU would not have got off
voured public sector Steel Authority the Haryana legislative assembly) the ground this fast.
of India and Tata Steel. But even as with a massive endowment of Rs.500 “I met Raj in 2001 at the NYU Law
he grew his empire, OPJ was a gener- crore (and subsequently another com- School and we soon began to discuss
ous philanthropist who promoted over mitment of Rs.1,000 crore). his plans to establish a world-class
a dozen high-quality K-12 schools for Twelve years on, Jindal has no re- higher education institution in India
group employees. Therefore Naveen, gret that he appointed Raj Kumar the based on his experiences at Oxford,
chairman of Jindal Steel & Power Ltd youngest university vice chancellor Harvard, and research of other great
(annual revenue: Rs.38,988 crore in Indian history. “I’m very satisfied universities. Right from the start I
in 2020-21) was highly receptive to — indeed proud — about the rapid was struck by his energy, vision, self-
Raj Kumar’s proposal to promote an progress and evolution of JGU into a confidence, admiration for education
internationally benchmarked world- truly world-class institution. Having leaders he had observed, his ebullient
class law and liberal arts university in studied at an excellent university in personality, affability, and ability to
memory of the elder Jindal. the US myself, I was well aware of the convince others to join him in creative
“My father had great respect for deficiencies and drawbacks of India’s endeavours. In the years that followed,
India’s Constitution and our inde- higher education institutions. But Raj he shared these commitments with
pendent judiciary which has repeat- has recruited excellent international me and implemented them step-by-
edly upheld citizens’ fundamental and national faculty and built a great step under a broad master plan that
rights. Therefore, when Raj very per- team very quickly to develop JGU he worked out as he went along. The
suasively suggested that we promote a into India’s #1 private university as speed and year-by-year expansion of
law, and liberal arts university in my certified by QS. It’s an extraordinary the programmes, schools, and campus
father’s memory, I was attracted by achievement,” says Jindal, chancellor were astonishing to me and everyone
the proposition. But the critical fac- of JGU, with evident satisfaction. else who observed them. He proceed-

40 EDUCATIONWORLD OCTOBER 2021