In order to improve public governance, India must create institutions that can train the political class in economics and technology, said Infosys Chairman N.R. Narayana Murthy.
"India needs leadership institutes for politicians. We need to ensure that adequate training is provided to politicians in the areas of macro economics, rudimentary micro economics, international trade and on the role of technology in improving public governance," he said.
Murthy, who was in Mumbai on Wednesday to deliver a lecture to students of the Vivekanand Education Society, mentioned one such institution in Pune without naming it.
"This college brings together several politicians every year and gives them the opportunity to listen to leaders who have accomplished a lot in their chosen fields. We need more such initiatives," he added.
The 67-year old exhorted youngsters to make their opinion heard on these subjects.
"You need to speak about it on television. Once people like you take this up, there will be critical mass and politicians will have to listen," he said, pointing towards the cheering crowd of students from different age groups.
After eight unsuccessful attempts over the last five decades, India on Wednesday took the historic step of enacting the Lokpal Bill. Murthy said that the lion's share of the credit should go to the youth for rallying behind anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare.
Murthy believes that students should be politically groomed from a young age. Responding to a student's question on the concept of 'college politician', Murthy said: "It's a brilliant idea. I have spoken about it many times and have discussed the same with the UN Secretary General and several others."
The youngsters of today have the potential to be more successful than previous generations, he said.
"You should aspire to be more successful than me. In the 1980s, we had fewer opportunities than what you have today," Murthy said, responding to a student who wanted to know how he could become the next Narayana Murthy.
Infosys was established in 1981 by Murthy and six other engineers with just $250. Today, it is the country's third largest software exporter, with a market cap of over $30 billion, after Tata Consultancy Services and Cognizant Technology Solutions.
(This article was published on December 18, 2013)
Focusing on to encourage students to involve in clean politics for the benefit of the society, Bedi said they need to be provided with the right guidance.
Former cop and politician Kiran Bedi on Friday stressed the need for teaching political governance to students interested in politics across India.
She launched her latest book, Creating Leadership, about the lessons learnt from her life as a top cop at Panjab University. Citing examples from her life as a politician, Bedi said: "I was not a student of politics as a student. But my message to students, who are interested in politics, should take up subjects like political governance, instead of participating in university politics. Universities should be for studying, not for politics."
Focusing on to encourage students to involve in clean politics for the benefit of the society, Bedi said they need to be provided with the right guidance.
"There is a need for an institution that teaches political governance to students. Across the world, the problem is that politicians lack training in political governance. Engineers, doctors, lawyers and for all professions, students are trained. Then why not for political governance is taught among students to help them understand the practicalities of politics?" she asked.
"There is no training in political governance. Only political science is taught at institutions across the world. Right now, the root of politics is being wrongly understood. Such a course will help aspiring politicians to take up politics in the right mind and spirit," she said.
Taking note of her request, Panjab University vice-chancellor Arun Kumar Grover announced the commencement of a post graduate course in political governance at the institute from 2017.
Suggesting a framework for a course in political governance, Bedi explained how among other things, the students could be made to learn about the history of India, the history of political parties, understand the left and right ideologies and understand finance before taking up a political career.
Bedi added that a training programme for panchayats also needs to be incorporated under political governance. Grover said: "I would be delighted to be make Panjab University the first university in the country to offer a masters course on political governance from 2017-18. With the help of the existing infrastructure and teachers from various departments of social sciences, law and management, we will hopefully be able to create the right course structure for this course in the next one year."
Grover also went on to encourage the university employees to come forward with a course and other proposals for the suggested course.
By: Express News Service | Chandigarh | Published:March 19, 2016
India needs leadership institutes for politicians: Narayana Murthy
Kiran Bedi suggests political governance course for students