Mumbai: The fresh young graduates of the Indian Institutes of Technology are the toast of the engineering world, both at home and abroad.
They are India's hottest export and it is said that the IITs have produced more millionaires per capita than any other undergraduate institution in the world.
However, the elite IITian now finds himself in the dock, placed there by none other than the President of India himself.
At the IIT's Global Convention held in Mumbai last week, President APJ Abdul Kalam said, "The value addition of IIT is very low for its students. The knowledge products and intellectual properties added by IITians are minimal."
The President's uncomfortable observations about the IITian's contribution to his country - or the lack of it - brings into focus disturbing trends in the institute.
Get a load of this:
Not surprisingly, IITs are far from forthcoming about the number of their alumni who go abroad to study and work, even though the IIT clique knows that this is an open secret.
Says an IIT alumnus and now the editor of Financial Express, Sandipan Deb, "That is a failure of the Indian industry. You know all these things and then you are hired to look after a boiler or something. That is highly frustrating."
There's no denying the country's IITs have almost single-handedly put India's intellect on the global map, but when the country's President thinks it is sorely underrepresented on the Indian one, it may be a reminder for the IITs to put their achievements in perspective.
Decades old question:
Are IIT'ians deserting India in search of greener pastures? OR are they being forced out of India due to lack of opportunities
I support the later, I feel it it is the politicians favourite pasttime to blame the technocrats of deserting the country, when they cannot provide for the opportunity to the technocrats
I am sure there a lot of IIT'ians here, would like to hear their POV's too
Edited by sareg - 17 years agoneither am I, but I can understand the plight
I was one of those forced out due to lack of opportunities and have very strong feelings about this topic
Any politician who utters the word brain drain has no clue what kind of infrastructure they provide to the people of the country, I was shocked to read this coming from Dr. Kalam, and sad to see him turn into a politicianðŸ˜
Nice topic Vineet Ji!
I wish I were an IIT ian. Sometimes I feel these IIT ians are not responsible citizens,so much of money is invested on them and inturn they fly to other countries as soon they finish their studies in IIt.This is unfair
On the hand.India became very corrupt,full of reservation policies,in every field .Why the hell should a clever IITian waste his/her intelligence when he gets good money and position in Foreign countires or MNC's in India.For whom should they sacrifice their lives by serving people.India is a big country,the poverty of Indian people does;nt decrease even if entire money of Bill gates is spent or entire funds of World Bank are distrubuted.
By going to other countries atleast they are developing technologicallly and economically.
But don't they feel a sense of moral responsibility to serve their motherland???? May or May not be.Becoz because people like me (Dhobhi's Dog) neither go to other country nor serve the motherland.
Cheers,
Mythili