Pitroda: think out of the box

Updated on: Friday, January 22, 2010

Bhubaneswar: "Think out of box,” exhorted Dr Sam Pitroda to the students and faculties of Ravenshaw University while delivering the third Ravenshaw University Development Trust (RUDT) lecture recently. “But it needs a lot of guts,” he added.

Emphasising on the fact that the existing traditional education system in our country is of little use in this 21st century, Sam Pitroda, aka Dr Satyanarayam Gangaram Pitroda, said that “We need seamless education with a lot of flexibility.”

“Be innovative and creative. Innovation cannot be taught; it can only be encouraged. So teachers have to act as mentors,” he said stressing that the conventional concepts of degrees, certificates and classroom teaching with blackboard, chalk, duster and notes must give way to a flexible and universally accessible education system.

Learning methodology has changed today due to the advent of IT and Internet. Content is now created on the Net by best and best talents, said Pitroda —a telecom wizard who revolutionalised India’s telecommunication system.

“So we need to evolve new models of education which will focus on accessibility, affordability and awareness, and in which one can pursue multi-disciplinary careers,” he added.

Today, varsities, that are a fertile ground for innovation, entrepreneurship and knowledge dissemination, have a new role to play. Universities of 2050 will be different from 2010 and as they are unlike varsities of 1860’s, said Pitroda who is an inventor, technocrat, policy maker and social thinker rolled into one.

Highlighting the progress the country has witnessed in telecom sector, the telecom guru said that now there are 50 million telephone connections in the country and 5 million new is adding every year; the country now boasts of having $ 70 billion foreign exchange reserve.

“In the next 20 years, 300-400 million people will be developed if we continue to grow at this rate,” he said.

But still India has 300 million illiterates, which is a stunning roadblock on path of progress. Adding to that, he said, India faces three main problems: disparity (between rich and poor, educated and uneducated), demographic (20 million jobs will be needed for 550 million youth by 2020) and tardy pace of growth.

“Hence, it is time to act, not only at federal level but at all levels,” he said.

Coming down heavily on the faulty Indian system, Pitroda, who is now advisor to the prime minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations, made a tongue-in-cheek remark, “The Indian mindset is just don’t do anything.”

“Had I known about the Indian system, I would have never done this (brought about the revolution in Telecom sector in India),” he quipped.

Stressing on the power youths for development of a country, Pitroda said, “Youth power is so important, if trained and utilised properly, poverty would be a thing of past.” “If it’s not done in next five years, there will be serious skilled manpower crisis in every sector,” said Pitroda who was conferred with Padma Bhusan last year.

Till 2009, the Knowledge Commission (KC), headed by him, had submitted 300 recommendations in 27 key areas for improving knowledge-related institutions and infrastructure.

“The centre has earmarked $67.5 billion to be spent on higher education. We are going to set up 14 different (non-conventional) varsities,” he went on.

Spellbound by the huge, serene campus, its 6,000-strong alumni, glorious past and academic excellence of RU, Pitroda -- born in 1942 in a hamlet in Titlagarh in Bolangir district of Orissa -- regretted for not being an alumnus of such a great institution.

Vice-chancellor Devdas Chhotray welcomed and introduced the chief guest to the audience, and RUDT secretary AB Tripathy threw light of the activities of the trust that came into being in 1994 with the objective of promoting excellence and restoring the past glory of Ravenshaw.

Pitroda: think out of the box

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