Dear Esteemed Chief Minister and Chief Secretary:
Following up on earlier mails, yesterday and today's news reports out of Kolkata mention that the West Bengal government is pushing for a second IIT in Darjeeling. (I am sorry for the increase in my frequency of my emails, but because of the upcoming 12th plan, other states are proactively trying for many things, and we can not be complacent and be left behind as was the case prior to 2005. We have been vigilant since 2005 and some good things have happened. But we can not be complacent after that.)
From http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110607/jsp/frontpage/story_14080786.jsp :
Bengal higher education minister Bratya Basu today said he had submitted a proposal to Kapil Sibal to set up an IIT or an IIM in Darjeeling “for the people of the hills”.
From http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Statehood-on-hold--Didi-gets-Gorkhaland-deal/800744/
A Bipartite agreement was signed today between the West Bengal government and the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), paving the way for resolution of the conflict in the Darjeeling hills, at least for the time being.
... The deal, said officials, includes other marginal benefits like more legal powers, assured flow of funds, an IIT in Darjeeling, and semi-government employee status to nearly 6,000 casual workers in government offices in Darjeeling.
The second article shows the proactive-ness and intelligence of the West Bengal government. Although a state can not establish an IIT, by making the IIT part of an agreement with the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) they have made it very hard for the center to refuse it. In the past, IIT in Guwahati happened because of Rajiv Gandhi's Assam deal and similarly University of Hyderabad happened because of the then Telengana agitation.
The point is we (in Odisha) should also take advantage of our unique circumstances to get things done for Odisha.
In that light, we must:
Push POSCO to include in its MOU a POSTECH like University in Odisha.
From http://www.postech.ac.kr/new/e/about_POSTECH/history.php
As Korea’s industrialization and modernization unfolded within the last few decades, it became evident that Korea needed self-reliance in science and technology to launch itself into the high technology era. Pohang Iron and Steel Company (POSCO) headed by its founding chairman Tae-Joon Park recognized this necessity and committed themselves to establish a science and technology research-oriented university.
“You can import coal and machines, but you cannot import talent,”
Pohang Iron and Steel Company (POSCO) and POSTECH founding chairman Tae-Joon Park.
Under the leadership of the first president, professor Hogil Kim, and financial support of POSCO, POSTECH quickly became a pioneer among Korean universities in implementing revolutionary administrative, education and research reforms. As a result of pursuing these initiatives, POSTECH was ranked as the leading science and technology university in Asia by Asiaweek in 1998 and have been ranked as the leading university in Korea by JoongAngIlbo for four consecutive years from 2002 ~ 2005.
POSCO is a unique circumstance for Odisha. If it is going to happen after displacing our people from their livelihood and taking our minerals for cheap, then we better get the best deal out of it including a POSTECH like University in Odisha.
Another unique circumstance for us is the country's need to get coal from our state, establish power plants and other mineral processing plants in Odisha. These mines and industries will be putting strain on Odisha and as part of the compensation we must (among other things) push the center to establish an Indian School of Mines, Environment and Sustainability (along the lines of ISMU in Dhanbad - http://www.ismdhanbad.ac.in/ ) during the upcoming 12th plan.
Recently SPICMACAY had its national convention at Ravenshaw University in Cuttack. We should invite the foundation behind SPICMACAY to establish something like the Juliard School in New York ( http://www.juilliard.edu/ ). Despite our own Utkal University of Culture, a national level SPICMACAY University focusing in India music, dance, drama and culture would make Odisha stand out. We should use the connections and warm feelings (because of the national convention) to make a head start on this.
Push for the upgrade of MKCG and VSS Medical colleges to the AIIMS level via the PMSSY (Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Surakshya Yojana). If Bihar can have a new AIIMS as well as two upgradations, UP can have one new AIIMS and 5 upgradations, why should not Odisha try for two upgradations in addition to the new one being made in Bhubaneswar.
While Dr. Manmohan Singh is still the PM of India and in charge of the Dept. of Atomic Energy, we should push for a TIFR (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research -- fully funded by DAE) campus in Odisha. Please note that a few years back a TIFR (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research) branch in Hyderabad with projected investment of 2500 crores was approved. Please see http://hindu.com/2010/10/20/stories/2010102058530100.htm . The initial one is in Mumbai. Odisha must stake claim for the branch in the east before West Bengal stakes claim to it.
We should make quick progress on Xavier University and Mata Amrutamayee University, both of which, as per news reports have been approved in principle by the CM.
sincerely and with best regards
Chitta Baral
Professor
Arizona State University
http://www.public.asu.edu/~cbaral
Source: http://www.orissadiary.com/ShowOriyaColumn.asp?id=27168
From http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110607/jsp/frontpage/story_14080786.jsp :
Bengal higher education minister Bratya Basu today said he had submitted a proposal to Kapil Sibal to set up an IIT or an IIM in Darjeeling “for the people of the hills”.
From http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Statehood-on-hold--Didi-gets-Gorkhaland-deal/800744/
A Bipartite agreement was signed today between the West Bengal government and the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), paving the way for resolution of the conflict in the Darjeeling hills, at least for the time being.
... The deal, said officials, includes other marginal benefits like more legal powers, assured flow of funds, an IIT in Darjeeling, and semi-government employee status to nearly 6,000 casual workers in government offices in Darjeeling.
The second article shows the proactive-ness and intelligence of the West Bengal government. Although a state can not establish an IIT, by making the IIT part of an agreement with the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) they have made it very hard for the center to refuse it. In the past, IIT in Guwahati happened because of Rajiv Gandhi's Assam deal and similarly University of Hyderabad happened because of the then Telengana agitation.
The point is we (in Odisha) should also take advantage of our unique circumstances to get things done for Odisha.
In that light, we must:
Push POSCO to include in its MOU a POSTECH like University in Odisha.
From http://www.postech.ac.kr/new/e/about_POSTECH/history.php
As Korea’s industrialization and modernization unfolded within the last few decades, it became evident that Korea needed self-reliance in science and technology to launch itself into the high technology era. Pohang Iron and Steel Company (POSCO) headed by its founding chairman Tae-Joon Park recognized this necessity and committed themselves to establish a science and technology research-oriented university.
“You can import coal and machines, but you cannot import talent,”
Pohang Iron and Steel Company (POSCO) and POSTECH founding chairman Tae-Joon Park.
Under the leadership of the first president, professor Hogil Kim, and financial support of POSCO, POSTECH quickly became a pioneer among Korean universities in implementing revolutionary administrative, education and research reforms. As a result of pursuing these initiatives, POSTECH was ranked as the leading science and technology university in Asia by Asiaweek in 1998 and have been ranked as the leading university in Korea by JoongAngIlbo for four consecutive years from 2002 ~ 2005.
POSCO is a unique circumstance for Odisha. If it is going to happen after displacing our people from their livelihood and taking our minerals for cheap, then we better get the best deal out of it including a POSTECH like University in Odisha.
Another unique circumstance for us is the country's need to get coal from our state, establish power plants and other mineral processing plants in Odisha. These mines and industries will be putting strain on Odisha and as part of the compensation we must (among other things) push the center to establish an Indian School of Mines, Environment and Sustainability (along the lines of ISMU in Dhanbad - http://www.ismdhanbad.ac.in/ ) during the upcoming 12th plan.
Recently SPICMACAY had its national convention at Ravenshaw University in Cuttack. We should invite the foundation behind SPICMACAY to establish something like the Juliard School in New York ( http://www.juilliard.edu/ ). Despite our own Utkal University of Culture, a national level SPICMACAY University focusing in India music, dance, drama and culture would make Odisha stand out. We should use the connections and warm feelings (because of the national convention) to make a head start on this.
Push for the upgrade of MKCG and VSS Medical colleges to the AIIMS level via the PMSSY (Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Surakshya Yojana). If Bihar can have a new AIIMS as well as two upgradations, UP can have one new AIIMS and 5 upgradations, why should not Odisha try for two upgradations in addition to the new one being made in Bhubaneswar.
While Dr. Manmohan Singh is still the PM of India and in charge of the Dept. of Atomic Energy, we should push for a TIFR (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research -- fully funded by DAE) campus in Odisha. Please note that a few years back a TIFR (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research) branch in Hyderabad with projected investment of 2500 crores was approved. Please see http://hindu.com/2010/10/20/stories/2010102058530100.htm . The initial one is in Mumbai. Odisha must stake claim for the branch in the east before West Bengal stakes claim to it.
We should make quick progress on Xavier University and Mata Amrutamayee University, both of which, as per news reports have been approved in principle by the CM.
sincerely and with best regards
Chitta Baral
Professor
Arizona State University
http://www.public.asu.edu/~cbaral
Source: http://www.orissadiary.com/ShowOriyaColumn.asp?id=27168