'Why should one's family name be a disadvantage to anyone?'

Q&A


Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi are only some of parliament's youthful members - at 29 years, Hamdullah Sayeed, MP from Lakshadweep, is the youngest representative from the 15th Lok Sabha. Speaking with Amin Ali, Sayeed discussed his move form studying law to fighting elections, developing one of India's farthest locations, ignoring jibes about youth or family legacy - and recent upheavals in neighbouring Maldives impacting his constituency:


Interview - Q&A

-The Times of India, March 19, 2012

Don't tie down the India of ideas

"We need to free our universities from the stifling rules and quantitative targets which govern academic hiring and promotion."

The Hindu : Opinion / Lead : Don't tie down the India of ideas: The point about the current rules is that when it comes to performance appraisal, it quantifies activity without sufficient correction for quality. Quantitative output targets that ignore the quality of outcomes in the university can be disastrous for a society. Quantitative targets, mindlessly implemented, are no answer to the very serious challenge the Indian university faces today, which is to compete in the global forum for ideas.

Break The Stress

Common engineering entrance exam brings a whiff of education reform

Break The Stress

-The Times of India, February 1, 2012

The Union HRD ministry's decision to develop a common "aptitude-cum-advanced knowledge test by 2013," which, in effect, replaces the IIT and AIEEE exams, "is an innovative move."

The existing scenario makes for a strenuous time for students as they are found writing three to five entrance exams in order to make the cut. Furthermore, the number of lives being lost to exam-related stress has been deeply worrying, in which case, the new reform is welcome since it focuses on creativity and aptitude, and not on cramming the most material available.

    

UGC moots 20 universities, 800 colleges exclusively for women

Times View - It's a pointless move
Counter View - Will ensure gender equity


The Times of India, January 28, 2012

Revive Research

Fundamental changes required to boost Indian R&D


Revive Research

-The Times of India, January 10, 2012

Personal Review: The article outlines a few important statistical measures, along with suggestions towards social and political measures that can be undertaken in order to facilitate Indian R&D.