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From: ajei@magic.UUCP (Ajei S. Gopal)
Newsgroups: net.nlang.india
Subject: Re: News Bulletin 3/1/86 (from Kapur@ge-crd)
Message-ID: <677@magic.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 21-Mar-86 18:29:24 EST
Article-I.D.: magic.677
Posted: Fri Mar 21 18:29:24 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 31-Mar-86 04:08:04 EST
References: <614@philabs.UUCP> <633@epistemi.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Inc, Morristown, NJ
Lines: 88

In article <633@epistemi.UUCP>
> In article <614@philabs.UUCP>
> > [IIT Dean wants students to sign a 10 year bond]
> >>........ 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?  

I am not sure what Patel is trying to say. The point was 18% of
Indian students who get their doctorates in the US return to India.
NOT that 18% OF each student returns. (I am sorry, everything below
your left knee has to get on the next plane to Bombay. The rest of
you may stay.)

> 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.  
.
> 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.
					^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^	
Obviously I may be wrong, given your vast knowlege of India and her
people, but it seems to me that if the financial aid that the Indian
Govt gives the IITs were spent elsewhere, it wouldnt make too much
of a difference in the lifestyle of the average Indian. But it would
make it very difficult for a student from a poor household to attend
a good school. 

> A lot of politicians and academic
> stomach the elitism of further education in India..

Further education in India is elitist in that the entrance
requirements for good engineering and medical schools are very
high. 
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to get a decent job without a 
degree. For instance, one needs a degree in commerce at least, to get a
job as a bank teller. Thus, further education is a necessity, not a
luxury.

> 
> 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.  
> 
> mukesh patel

Very laudable! Why did your parents leave India? I'll bet it was for
economic reasons. Following your line of reasoning, didnt they have a
duty to remain in India and contribute to the country's economy in
any way they could? After all, they were born there, and although they 
may or may not have received state subsidised education, they
certainly made use of the facilities provided to them as citizens.
They used the roads, the busses and so on. (Lets see, you want to go
from Bombay to Delhi by bus? Your share of the petrol, wear and tear
of the State Transport bus... you owe India 1 hour and 4 mins of your 
life. Please sign this bond.)


The brain drain that affects India and other countries is certainly
a problem. The solution does not lie in making emmigration illegal,
or by making people sign bonds in order to get an education. It lies
in increasing the opportunity for trained people in their own
countries. Those of us who have decided to emmigrate, have to live a
life of compromise. On the one hand there are financial and
professional rewards, and on the other there are family and cultural
ties. The scales tip in different directions for different people. 

However, non-resident Indians (NRIs, in Govt of India terminology),
are a valuable resource. They have money (foreign exchange) to invest
and a desire to see India do well. They are contributing to the
Indian economy - through investments and industrial collaborations.
India does and will continue to derive a benefit from the NRI
population. (I am not suggesting that all professionals in India 
leave. I am merely pointing out that if a person does do so, then 
this cannot be viewed as a complete loss to India.)
Also, NRI tend to do a good PR job for India.


ajei gopal
ajei@bellcore