Indian politicians extraordinary: Yale

Lalit K Jha

Tuesday, October 16, 2007 (New Haven)

Having taught a group of 10 Indian parliamentarians, renowned faculty members of the prestigious Yale University have found that Indian politicians are ''extraordinarily intelligent.''

They are also quick learners of things than their counterparts in other countries including the US and China.

''The students (Indian Parliamentarians) were exceptional,'' Linda Koch Lorimer, Vice-President of the Yale University told NDTV.Com after the conclusion of the first-ever ''Leadership Program for India Parliamentarians'' held at the New Haven campus of the Yale University.

Highly impressed with the level of active participation from these Indian politicians during the five-days of intensive classes.

''Indian politicians are extraordinarily intelligent, extraordinarily passionate about India's advancement and extraordinarily committed to helping the nation and its people,'' Lorimer said.

Impressive traits

Jefferey Sonnenfeld, Chief Executive Leadership Institute of Yale School of Management, who has also taught politicians from China and the US, said he was ''amazed'' by quick grasping power of Indian politicians. ''We wish, we had them for one more week,'' he said.

After instructing these Indian politicians, Sonnenfeld said the most striking part of these MPs were their tolerance level, intellectual tenacity and their commitment.

Having the experience of teaching American lawmakers, he said, he really has tough time in keeping the US legislators in the classroom for long.

''They (the US lawmakers) would constantly come and go. Nobody here left. Not a single person, during the four days even for a minute picked up a black berry or a cell phone. This is never the case with US legislators and politicians that are always doing some hit and run engagement they really do not see,'' Sonnenfeld said.

He added, ''This is an exceptional group of individuals. They are alert, engaged, smart, and passionate. My one surprise was how connected they were to business and management. Some run newspapers, some run hotels. So they understand not just the political environment but also some of the management challenges as well.''

Another faculty member, Barry Nalebuff, Milton Steinbach Professor of Management, who gave practical lessons in negotiations said: ''They are alert, engaged, smart and passionate.''

The programme was organized by the Yale Parliamentary Leadership Program in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the India-US Forum of Parliamentarians.

The first batch of the Indian parliamentarians' team was led by the B J Panda, Janata Dal MP from Rajya Sabha. Other members of the group were Deepender Singh Hooda (Lok sabha), Robert Kharshiing, (Rajya Sabha); Chandan Mitra (Rajya Sabha); Dharmendra Pradhan (Lok Sabha); R.C.S. Reddy (Rajya Sabha); Shahid Siddiqui (Rajya Sabha); and Dushyant Singh (Lok Sabha.)

Objectives

The program was developed in consultation with the parliamentarians and the India-US Forum of Parliamentarians and reflects the belief that exposure to new fields and ideas can offer insight, perspective, and new ways of thinking for one's own work.

The topics covered program include economic and social development in India, democracy and the secular state, India - China economic relations, affirmative action, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Foreign Direct Investment in India, Strategy, Negotiation and Game Theory for the Politician, Strategic Thinking for the Politician, and Energy Security.

''The effort has turned out to be far better than we had expected,'' Panda told NDTV.Com after the four-day course was over. Though no exams were held at the end, they were given a certificate from the University at a small graduation ceremony held Saturday evening.

When these MPs went to collect their certificate from Lorimore, the rest from the group cheered just like a graduate student. The MPs celebrated their graduation by having their dinner at a Ethiopian restaurant in New Heaven.

''There was a degree of apprehension that we were going to get a program where four days would seem like 40,'' Panda said about what he and his colleagues thought the day he arrived in New Heaven.

''But I must tell you, it was exactly the opposite that has happened starting from the very first session. Throughout these four days, we have been exposed to some of the best minds in academia, we have been exposed to new data, new perspectives, provocative thoughts on new issues as well as on issues which we thought we knew and understood,'' he said.

Panda said the special leadership course developed for the Indian Parliamentarians by Yale University got them to think again on many subjects: what is the impact of globalization on India's poor, what is impact of economic growth on cast relations?

The MPs are so impressed by this leadership program that they have already started talking about its expansion. ''I have suggested to Yale that if they could bring this faculty to India and do a program there we can cover much larger number of MPs,'' he said.

''The whole exposure to creative thinking, maximizing positions in negotiating strategies is something that we have learnt from the best management professors,'' Panda said.

The parliamentarians now move to Washington next week where they would be meeting a host of government officials from the State Department, Treasury, Pentagon and also Congressmen and leaders of the America's corporate world.