Kris
Gopalakrishnan’s gift of Rs 225 Crores (say about US$35 million) for the
creation of a Centre for Brain Research is an important development in India.
Not merely because some of the profits from a technology based industry are
made available for advanced research, but also because of the excellent choice
of the subject. There are many in this country who can throw money at some
field or the other of their choice, but few have the penetrating vision that
selects the science whose time has come. Naturally, a philanthropist would be
guided by advisors in making such a choice.
If this decision was steered by his advisors, I must congratulate Kris
Gopalakrishnan for having chosen obviously excellent advisors. The choice of
the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) as a partner in this effort is also a
very good choice. The fact that IISc has already invested in a Centre for Neuroscience
is a promising indication of IISc’s interests and capabilities.
Better understanding
of the nature of knowledge and information, and understanding the brain that
understands all that, – these are two big challenges in front of humanity
today. Investing on these is the privilege of visionaries. The decision will
have a significant impact on the scientific and economic future of India.
There is yet
another reason why Gopalakrishnan’s contribution is very important; it
demonstrates that there are Indians willing to make significantly large donations
to promote education and research without looking for a profit. It is a common
to see some panelist or other on TV discussions argue for the idea that
education should be as open a sector as selling any other commodity or service!
There is a profit motive in mind of the companies that sell their products and
services, right? Why don’t you let them sell education as well? I think that
such an argument is foolish.
I believe
that private organizations should be free to provide educational services. However,
if they are to confer degrees and qualify for tax-exemption, they should be
not-for-profit institutions. I am sure that India has a large enough body of
donors, who over the years would endow a thousand universities. They will
structure these institutions such that they will administer themselves, and
keep out the corrupt and the incompetent. Society should ensure that
educational institutions should meet high standards and are managed in academic
matters by their own faculties with the cooperation of a small set of eminent
persons of high standing. That an institution should have high standards surely
does not mean that it should obey every little instruction coming from the
Govt. It is possible to create and run accreditation mechanisms that are free of
exploitation or micro-management by Govt.
Equally,
Society should allow contributions to universities at different stages of
development to be deducted from the income tax of the contributor, as long as
it is below a certain (say 50%) percentage of the total income tax payable by
him that year.
History
shows that private donors have played a great role over the centuries in
creating universities of great reputation. India needs to make sure that Indian
donors are not turned away from doing great service to society by mindless
control of politicians and bureaucrats.
Srinivasan
Ramani
