The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

IITians dominate CAT
More engineers must go in for research

Top rankings in CAT (Common Admission Test) 2010 for entry into elite Indian Institutes of Management have been bagged by IIT graduates. Not long ago, brand IIT was touted as “the Biggest Indian brand after Taj Mahal”. Lately, on an average 55 per cent of students who are offered a seat in different IIMs are from IITs, and the rest from other engineering colleges. This leaves one wondering if IIT is not good enough on a CV to get a good placement.

For 2009-11 batch of two year PGP (post graduate programme), of the total 377 seats, 347 were taken up by engineers at IIM, Banglore. On an average, government spends Rs 2 lakh per annum on the training of an individual IITian, which is supposed to translate into knowledge creation rather than knowledge consumption alone.

India Inc produced 23 billionaires who featured in the Forbes list of the richest in the year of recession (it had two Indians among the top 10 in the world), whereas it continues to contribute less than 2 per cent of world publication in science and technology. In terms of inspiration offered, the chasm is evident. With just a fraction of annual budget allocation for research, it is obvious that not much inspires a technocrat for advanced research. Statistics show that over 50 per cent of the Intellectual Properties in the U.S. have Indian names behind them, of which 70 per cent are IITians. The reason why the same IITians rush to add one more degree rather than pursue innovative ideas in new technologies, lies in the fact that availability of venture capital is abysmally low in India and is tied in red- tapism. If our elite planners are taking a cue from the Silicon Valley, which has been a cradle for top innovation based companies like Yahoo, Google, Bose Electronics etc, where physical and intellectual proximity to MIT ( Massachusetts institute of technology) and HBS( Harvard Business School) facilitated a stream of supply of entrepreneurship and innovation, they must also recognize the fact that these organizations are headed by the young ( aged between 35-45). We must remember, if India Inc, 50 per cent of which comes from IIMs, wants to move into next level of economy, it must see to it that IITs remain breeding grounds for new innovations in technology and seniority in these institutions should be defined by innovation rather than age.

All eyes on World Cup
Indian squad has fine balance

The cricketing fraternity worldwide has its eyes set firmly on the Indian sub-continent as the region prepares for the biggest extravaganza in the sport. The ICC World Cup which begins in Bangladesh on February 19 and then traverses through India and Sri Lanka before culminating in Mumbai is keeping all those interested in the game on tenterhooks. As is usual with cricket for the past decade and more, most of the noise and attention surrounds the Indian team. Since international cricket draws most of its life blood from India, naturally the side generates maximum headlines.

So the announcement of the Indian squad for the World Cup became a fodder for discussion, media mileage and debate all across the nation. This time, however, there was little in terms of controversy although the team selection saw some intricate negotiations and diplomacy. Nevertheless, the team that was selected, barring a couple of names, was not a surprise. Given the condition of the pitches at home and in the neighbourhood, it was always going to be a good mix of slow bowling and batsmen who could chip in with the ball that would make for a good combination, and that is how it ultimately emerged. Considering the home conditions and the choice of players, India are strong favourites for the title, though history tells us that no host nation has ever won the World Cup. But this time around, with the added possibility of this being the last major tournament for Sachin Tendulkar, the World Cup has become even more important. The batsman himself would be keen to sign off with a flourish and the team would like to give him a grand farewell gift.

While the nation would naturally love to see its team win, there are however a couple of other sides that can create some serious opposition for India. Among them are Sri Lanka, who have always done well in these conditions. England too are now looking formidable. India would most probably have to overcome one, or possibly both, these sides to make history. But on current form, this may well be time for the Cup to return to India.

Thought for the Day

Truth, self-control, asceticism, generosity, non-injury, constancy in virtue — these are the means of success, not caste or family. — Mahabharata

ARTICLE

Engaging the diaspora
Learning from Chinese experience
by R. N. Das

Yet another Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the ninth such event, concluded in Delhi with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh exhorting the Indian diaspora to deepen their engagement with the socio-economic development of the country. At a time when India has arrived at the global centrestage, there is need to look closely at how the Chinese have engaged their diaspora for speeding up economic growth. Although comparing the Indian diaspora with the Chinese abroad is like comparing apples with oranges, there are certain issues which must be discussed like the way China has been able to fully involve the overseas Chinese in its development-related programmes.

Like the Indian diaspora, the overseas Chinese constitute one of the largest diasporas in the world. The US, Canada and Australia now receive more migrants of Chinese origin than from anywhere else in the world. Indian-Americans and Chinese-Americans are one of the most successful ethnic groups in the Silicon Valley.

China’s policy and attitude towards the overseas Chinese have been more inclusive and aimed at unification with what the Chinese call the “compatriots” abroad. India does not have this kind of an agenda.

Overseas Chinese traditionally consider themselves to be temporary absentees. It is also believed that the Chinese are sojourners who will eventually return to China. Indeed, Chinese leaders in the 1950s referred to the Chinese abroad as either Chinese people or Chinese nationals. That is why the National People’s Congress is composed of deputies elected by provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central authority, the armed forces and the Chinese abroad.

The Chinese make a distinction between those abroad and those who have given up their citizenship, which roughly corresponds with the NRI and PIO terminology used in India. The overseas Chinese who have invested in the country of their origin or contributed in some way to China’s growth are also called returned overseas Chinese. Currently, the major arms of the State, the legislature and the party, have high-level offices dealing with the overseas Chinese through which preferential treatment is accorded to the latter.

The Chinese constitution (Articles 50, 70 and 89) protects the legitimate rights of the Chinese nationals residing abroad and the rights and interests of the returned overseas Chinese. It also mandates the Cabinet of the Chinese Government to exercise the above-mentioned powers and functions. The result is the setting up of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Committee of the Chinese Parliament.

The National People’s Congress (NPC) has passed certain laws having a bearing on the well-being of the overseas Chinese. For example, the 1990 “Law of Protecting Rights and Interests of Overseas Chinese and their Relatives” safeguards their legal rights with a focus on political and civil rights. Of considerable interest are the provisions like Article 3 which specifically mandates the State to accord appropriate preferential treatment to returned overseas Chinese and their family members.

A comparison with China, however, should not be on its face value because theirs is a different political system in which the party is supreme, whereas we in India have a democratic system with compulsions of electoral politics.

With the economic reforms and liberalisation which India initiated during the 1990s, the government also came out with a proactive policy towards the Indian expatriates, particularly towards the Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) with the goal to associate them with the process of development at home.

There is generally a tendency to compare the role of the Chinese and Indian diasporas in the economic development of their respective countries. There are glaring differences between the approach of the two countries and their populace. About 70 per cent of the FDI inflow into China since the early 1990s has been from overseas Chinese, mostly in labour-intensive export processing sectors. Entrepreneurs in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, South Korea and Southeast Asia shifted significant but initially low-technology manufacturing, assembly and export processing operations to mainland China — about 80 per cent of Hong Kong’s labour-intensive industry had migrated to Southern China. This was followed by large investments in the infrastructure and real estate sectors by big conglomerates.

The Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong continues to be the main financial conduit for the People’s Republic of China. The overseas Chinese communities’ preference for investment reflects each group’s roots and physical proximity to the neighbouring provinces in mainland China.

As contrasted with China, investment by the Indian diaspora constitutes mainly the remittances from the Indians in the Gulf region. Yet another important aspect of the fund inflow from the NRIs is that they have emerged as one of the largest overseas lenders to India. It is only recently that the NRIs have started making contributions to their alma mater like the IITs. They should also invest in other sectors in a big way like infrastructure.

It is against this backdrop that the Prime Minister’s announcement to merge two categories of overseas Indians — the Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and the Overseas Indian Citizens (OICs) — to create a single category is expected to make some impact. This will enable the Indian diaspora a hassle-free (visa-free) entry to the country, strengthening their bond with the motherland. Giving voting rights to NRIs will also inspire them to actively involve themselves in the process of national development. But the government must sort out as to how they will be able to cast their vote. If the Army personnel and diplomats who are not physically present in their constituency can vote, there is no reason why a similar provision cannot be made in the case of the NRIs as well.

After granting voting rights to the members of the Indian diaspora, the government should now think of honouring their political aspiration of entering the legislatures also. Some of them certainly would like to enter the electoral arena. The government should think of ways and means to nominate some member(s) of the diaspora to Parliament like the existing provision of nominating two members from the Anglo-Indian community to the Lok Sabha. It is a ticklish issue, fraught with legal and procedural complexities. Nothing, therefore, should be done impulsively.

The writer is a senior fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi.

MIDDLE

The formidable foe
by Jayanti Roy

Bheem, the great warrior of Mahabharata, boasted arrogantly to his brothers in the presence of his mother Kunti, “There is no enemy whom I cannot fight, there is no force I am afraid of!”. Kunti, as all good mothers do, thought of teaching her brawny son a lesson in humiliation. ‘Son’, she said, “There is still one formidable foe whom you fear and are sure to run away when in an encounter”. “Who is he, mother, tell me and I will take the challenge,” Bheem questioned, agitated at the thought of who this foe could be. “Go to the river bank tomorrow at dawn. You’ll find him. I hope you don’t show your back,” Kunti said concealing a smile.

It was the month of Paush. As Bheem marched to the river bank in the dark dawn the place was covered in a thick fog. Bheem shivered as icy winds pierced his heavy clothing. His teeth clattered, he kept waiting for what seemed to be a long time as he grew numb with each passing moment. The frost cut into his skin and his blood almost froze. Not able to wait any longer he returned home.

Later in the day Bheem told Kunti, “Mother, I went to the river bank today as you had asked me to but I could find no formidable foe there. I waited for some time but it was so cold that I was forced to come back.” Kunti smiled, “My son, you have actually met the formidable foe whom you could not endure, who froze your blood, cut through your skin, numbed your body and made you run home showing your back. Now, never ever boast about being invincible.”

I recall this lovely story everyday nowadays as the cold weather refuses to go away past Lohri. Like a guest who has overstayed it is now unwelcome, we curse it every morning peering through the thick fog, put on layers of clothing and go about our work knowing full well that the day will go shivering.

There is no other discussion save of the weather. One of our speakers in the seminar addressed delegates as “Hello, fellow Eskimos”. Newspapers are full of mercury-dipping reports, and records of the longest and the coldest winter. The prevailing mood is that of depression but this parable brings a smile as it reminds us of how nature still holds the reins of our heart and mind and why because of this we must always revere her.

OPED TECHNOLOGY

The most frequently used online resource for knowledge about the esoteric and the mundane, Wikipedia, is just 10 years old. The encyclopaedia that virtually made all pervious paradigms stand on their head also greatly shapes how knowledge is written and shared in the wired world of today.
How Wikipedia wooed and won the world
Christof Kerkmann

The co-founder of the free online encyclopaedia Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales

An encyclopaedia that anybody can help to write — whether a pupil or a professor? Encyclopaedia entries which are updated from one minute to the next? And all of that financed by reader donations?

Ten years ago when online companies vanished almost as quickly as they appeared, nobody thought that a reliable encyclopaedia could go online — without going bankrupt within a few months.

And yet, Wikipedia went online in January 2001 and not only became a success, it became an indispensable tool for millions of users.

It is the story of success over conventional wisdom.

The two guys who founded the encyclopaedia were an unconventional duo to start with. Jimmy Wales, born in 1966, ran the Bomis.com online portal, which got its revenues through men’s entertainment such as sport, gossip — and naked babes.

From those revenues, he steered start-up capital to Wikipedia. Otherwise, he gave Larry Sanger a free hand. The two men had become acquainted via online philosophical discussions.

Sanger, a philosopher born in 1968, became editor of Nupedia, from which emerged Wikipedia.

Even Sanger did not believe that thousands of users could write an encyclopaedia. Strict standards applied to Nupedia, Wikipedia’s predecessor. In principle, anybody could contribute. But they had to be qualified experts in their field. And the editors generally had advanced degrees in those fields, Sanger stressed in those days.

Each entry underwent seven checks — more than with a scientific journal. The first entry — on atonality — was only uploaded after seven long months of preparation. Just over 20 entries were available that first year.

“There must be a way to make it easier for users to participate,” Sanger said later. Wiki software came to the rescue by providing a free-accessible system which allowed the user to access and edit web pages. All that was needed was a browser.

So that the entries would not get mixed into Nupedia, Wales got a separate domain name. Thus, Jan 15, 2001, Wikipedia was born.

It was only supposed to be a test. But within a month, there were already 600 entries, which was more than Nupedia had. Within a year it was 20,000 — to the astonishment of the founders.

Increasingly, Wikipedia entries topped Google search lists for any given subject. Increasingly, people were turning to it for information. It was not always reliable, not always well-written. But it was there, instantly, at the click of
a return button.

Conventional encyclopaedias could not compete. By that time, Sanger was no longer editor. He had left Wikipedia in 2002 in a dispute over quality control.

Wales remained — and since then is viewed as sole founder of the encyclopaedia. But his company Bomis pulled out.

In 2003 Wales founded the Wikimedia Foundation, moving all intellectual property rights and domain names pertaining to Wikipedia to the new foundation, whose purpose is to establish general policy for the encyclopaedia and its sister projects on a donor-funded basis.

The big question then and now is why thousands of authors spend their own time crafting entries which do not bear their own names and which later on may be totally rewritten by someone else — or deleted with a mouse click.

“There is a certain appeal in compiling knowledge without the limitations of copyrights,” says Christian Stegbauer, a German sociologist who has written a book on the phenomenon called “Raetsel der Kooperation” (The Riddle of Cooperation).

Wikipedia authors are not so much interested in fame in the conventional sense as they are in achieving a certain degree of renown and respect within the Wikipedia community, says Stegbauer, a professor of empirical social research at the University of Erfurt. — DPA

Sharing knowledge, the Wales’ way
Jenny Tobien

The Wikipedia logo reflected in an eye. Photos: DPA

Jimmy Wales is constantly on the go. Most of the year he travels round the globe. His mission? To make all human knowledge accessible to everyone.

“Wikipedia is going to be increasingly global in the future,” the 44-year-old American says. “We will have enormous growth in the developing world.”

It was 10 years ago, in January 2001, that he launched the online encyclopaedia. Now, 10 years later, it offers 17 million entries in more than 260 languages. Wales was born in 1966 in Alabama. His father was a grocery store manager and his mother an educator. Even as a boy he had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and “spent lots of hours” reading the Encyclopaedia Britannica and World Book Encyclopaedia.

His earliest education was at home from his own mother, who ran a small private school on the Montessori method. Later Jimbo, as friends call him, got a master’s degree in finance and worked as the research director of a Chicago futures and options firm for several years.

His driving passion is computers. Since the earliest days of personal computing he has been an Internet addict and even wrote computer codes as a hobby, according to his own biographical entry on Wikipedia.

In 1996, he and two partners founded Bomis, a men’s web portal featuring entertainment and adult content. This website provided the initial funding for the peer-reviewed encyclopaedia Nupedia in 2000.

Thanks to the Wiki software, which enables each user immediate access — as author or as editor — Wikipedia was founded the following year.

Today Wikipedia resembles pretty much what he originally envisioned, he said.

“But of course it’s a lot larger and more popular than I had ever imagined,” he said.

So can we say that Wikipedia has made the world different and has made Wales a rich man?

“I hope that the world has become a little better.” And as for the financial side. “The pages are non-commercial and they will stay that way,” Wales explained. But his for-profit Internet company Wikia is doing well and shows a profit.

“That may make me rich!” he said.

Wales is a self-avowed “Objectivist to the core”, Objectivism being an individualist philosophy developed by writer Ayn Rand. And he is an avid chess player.

He is separated from his second wife, with whom he has a daughter. Although 10-year-old Kira consults Wikipedia on occasion, her father favours traditional education.

“Anybody who says you don’t need to know anything these days, just know where to look it up, is mistaken, in my opinion,” he said. And Wales himself still loves to pore over books just as he did when he was a boy.

“Books are great. They’re inexpensive and the batteries never run down,” he said. —DPA