Over the past decade, Pawan’s career trajectory has been closely intertwined with developments in the Indian higher education. Those, who know him, also know about his deep passion, unorthodox views, and several contributions to the higher education sector in the country. Now meet the author, Pawan Agarwal |
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How the book evolved
THIS book really began on 26 October 1998. After 13 years in the
civil services in West Bengal, when I joined the Government of India,
I was assigned the higher education bureau in the Ministry of Human
Resource Development (HRD). I was a bit disappointed. Prized postings
in the undivided department of education were in the elementary
education and adult education bureaus. These bureaus had large and
increasing budgets, interesting job content and the bureaucrats posted
in these bureaus enjoyed occasional trips abroad. In contrast, higher
education was then a low priority.
A year ago, a white paper on public subsidies had declared higher
education as a non-merit service. The University Grants Commission
(UGC) pay commission had put a huge burden on the state exchequer.
Despite a decent bounty, academic community was aggrieved. Higher
education budget was shrinking. New central institutions of higher
education were a strict no-no. Government was suspicious of the private
providers. After a fierce debate on the private universities bill initiated
in 1995, it was almost written off. All foreign providers were seen as
fly-by-night operators and the government had no clue what to do with
them.
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