Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!bellcore!decvax!ittatc!dcdwest!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!hplabs!qantel!dual!lll-lcc!lll-crg!seismo!mcvax!ukc!cheviot!santosh
From: santosh@cheviot.uucp (Santosh Shrivatava)
Newsgroups: net.nlang.india
Subject: Re: News Bulletin 3/1/86 (from Kapur@ge-crd)
Message-ID: <642@cheviot.uucp>
Date: Thu, 20-Mar-86 06:19:58 EST
Article-I.D.: cheviot.642
Posted: Thu Mar 20 06:19:58 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 25-Mar-86 04:06:16 EST
References: <614@philabs.UUCP> <633@epistemi.UUCP>
Reply-To: santosh@cheviot.newcastle.ac.uk (Santosh Shrivatava)
Organization: U. of Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.
Lines: 94
Keywords: Brain Drain (who, me? you're kiddn!)

In article <633@epistemi.UUCP> mukesh@epistemi.UUCP (Mukesh Patel) writes:
>In article <614@philabs.UUCP>
>>> According to the Dean of Undergraduate Affairs at
>>> IIT Delhi, Prof. Ray, "the Indian government must
>>> do something to tackle with this problem... We
>>> can ask students seeking admission to the IITs to
>>> sign a bond to serve the nation for a minimum
>>> period of 10 years.
>
>I have no idea by how much the Indian state subsidises these students'
>education but surely there can be nothing wrong in a country demanding 
>that its graduates having taken advantage of the system do their
>bit for it.  Ali's comment
>
>>A (10 year) restriction like this may mean that
>>over the long term, those bright students will begin looking elsewhere.
>
>Makes little sense unless he means that Indian student would do their
>first degrees abroad.  That's fine as long as they are not benefiting
>from the state system.  But I think he means that these bright young 
>things would attend OTHER colleges and universities in India.  Well 
>in that case I think they should be obliged in the same manner to 
>remain in India and contribute to the country's technological and
>economical development.
>
>>    Living and studying in a foreign country broadens the mind.
>
>It also fattens ones bank balance.  Let's call a spade a spade.  I bet
>about 90% of you expats would not mind working in India if only the
>pay was comparable to US.
>
>>    People who are thus trained are extremely valuable.
>
>You got it!  That's why the "learned professor" would like to 
>see you lot stick around in India to do your bit for YOUR country.
>
>>>........ the ratio of students returning to India after
>>> attaining a doctorate degree is only 18%. 
>
>To which Ali responds
>>    I think that the percentage of people that do go back is sufficient
>>    repayment for the investment the Indian Govt. puts into each graduate,
>>    IIT or otherwise. 
>
>So when is your bit of 18% going to go over and repay the Indian
>Govt?  Perhaps the issue is whether you care enough about India
>and its people rather than whether you should repay anything to 
>the Indian Govt.  The Govt, I am sure Ali is well aware, raises the 
>money from the people with which it then educates a small elite
>who more often than not simply packs up and buggers off to foreign
>lands because there is no PERSONAL advantages to be gained by 
>remaining behind once they get their first/second degrees.
>
>I am surprised that these students fail to notice that in providing them 
>with the best education and facilities that India can afford the 
>country as a whole makes sacrifices in other areas such as medical 
>care and primary education.  A lot of politicians and academic
>stomach the elitism of further education in India in the hope that
>the product of it could be deployed to improve the lot of the 
>rest of the less fortunate population.
>
>Instead of which the Indian people get a kick in the balls which 
>is what remarks like the following add up to.
>
>>    The Taiwaneese, Greek and Turkish Govt's ask for ?two? years
>>    of military service. 10 years of "serve the nation"? Most people
>>    would turn to the Indian Institutes of Marketing (I know,..)
>>    and to careers in selling soaps, instead of doing technical
>>    things. 
>>
>>    Ali Shaik     ..ihnp4!philabs!ams
>
>Maybe selling soap is better than having to justify ones selfishness.
>
>mukesh patel
>
>I live and study in Britain.  I was born in Uganda of Indian parents
>both of whom came from Gujarat.  I have visited India twice in my life.
>And I am determined to remain and work in Britain after my PhD rather
>than go to the states even though the pay here is terrible.  Perhaps
>Britain (and India) would be a better place if more people took into 
>account their duty to their fellow citizens.  

WELL Said Mukesh! I fully agree with you. As an Indian acaademic working in
Britain, I frequently receive enquires from Indians for research jobs in 
Universities. Some of these guys are Very Good. Should I offer them a
job? (I some times do have vacancies).I do feel guilty of robbing! 
                        I have one person working with me. He is VERY GOOD.
If he does return to India after a few years, he will be tremendously useful
there. Most Indian academics I have met (mostly in the US) do not seem to be bothered
by this fact. I on the other hand do feel guilty of being a party to
the brain drain. I have no solution though.

Santosh Shrivastava