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Harvard University is to add "India" as its newest subject
Hi All:
I am doing a news article for an overseas news website on the recent announcement by outgoing Harvard University president Lawrence H Summers on "India" being a new subject to be introduced by Harvard University.
I need a few comments for the article, responses to these questions or anything you have in mind to share:
- Do you think this is a timely move? Why?
- Does it come across as a matter of prestige that "India" is being given so much importance by America's oldest university?
I would appreciate your response, as comments on this post.
Best regards,
Charu
In addition to what Bhupesh has written articulatively, I would like to say that Harvard talking India as a subject need not excite true Indians who are insulated from the Western Influence.
Please note that Nalanda has been the oldest university where students from all over the world came for education. If we have to write about anything we should write about how we revive our own universities for world students to come and learn not only about India but about the whole universe (Brahmand) as envisioned by Indian vedic scholars for thousands of years which the Indians forgot during more than 10 centuries of degeneration.
India is the only nation that has the potential to unite this world and bring about a change in all aspects of life. Economic independence is one aspect of the independence an Indian is achieving at the moment. According to me doctrinal independence related to the influence of the West is top most priority if India has to attain HER own unique identity that combines the best of East and West.
Rajesh
http://www.peopleofindia.org
http://www.samooha.com
hi Charu...
Compliments to you for seeking to take up this issue for an article.
If one looks at the development activity that is happening across India, one will notice that a major economic revolution is taking shape. It is not only important for Harvard University to add India as a subject, but to also ensure that their course content remains updated - what with the changes that India is going through.
The development activitiy that is happening across India is beyond what the government is doing or seeking to do. When I speak of development activity, it goes beyond government's efforts or corporate social repsonsibility (CSR) programmes.
At gross roots level, economic considerations are prevailing over all social, caste, religion, language and even political influences. Not just the rural common man, even the staunchest of self-proclaimed hardliners are admitting that people do not get easily wooed by anything apart from economic considerations.
This, and this alone, is changing India in millions of ways that nobody notices at the macro-level. And, morever, there are several groups (not necessarily NGOs) contributing their own little might in making things happen.
If you study the modest beginning that these groups have made, you will be amazed to know that we have such visionaries across the country.
Going back to what Harvard is doing, it will remain a challenge for them too to keep their course content updated. Not just a subject or a graduation course, we might even see someday a university itself getting established for the study of a country called "India".
It is not a hyperbole or exaggeration stemming from extreme "patriotism". It is a very strong current of economic activity that is being addressed for the sake of 650 million people living in rural areas. I am not the only person seeking to do this. There are thousands more, I am sure.
Once the results of their efforts start becoming visible, we will know why India is really a great country. We will not just talking "emotional statements". We will be talking figures.
With best wishes
Bhupesh