Well-said! Very clear and inspiring in many ways. I wish my college old students association can do something like this also. May be these guys can start first and if it goes well well we can follow.
i am an REC student overseas. when i come to madurai Tamil Nadu, I have read some of mrs.Thamodaran's writing. i like her short stories and social essays.i saw something about her work with the poor children of tamilnadu but now don't remember.anywau this interview gives me more details about what shes doing.she is already making a difference. wish her all the best to continue.
This was very refreshing. I like that Ms.Kanchana points out to the "IIT flagwaving" and "media overkill". She is being modest and practical. The issues she says are real. I don't know about the Tamil Nadu water situation she talks about, but water management is important for the whole country. the education issue is also real. Since Ms.Kanchana is working with underprivileged children in India I wish she had talked more about that. People like this who can think AND do ae necessary. It doesn't matter ther she is a Madrasi, a woman, an IITian, an NRI. It doesn't matter. I like her thinking, straight talk, her ability to get in the field and do things.
I also read someone saying that IITians are god's gift! Take a walk fella.
Well then why India has not produced a single global product or brand yet? Where are all these IITians hiding?
There are lot talented engineers working everywhere are not IITs.
If they think there are so great then here is the challenge for them:
1. Create atleast one world dominating product (Like Intel or Microsoft) 2. Instead of bragging about their source of education there are already enough challenges in India (like basic infrastructure, education etc) which need smart solutions. Solve these problems IITians!
Don't forget your are what you are because of Non-IITian leaders and top management.
There's too much hype about IIT's. The media is to blame for this excessive obsession with IIT's.It seems they are the only ones making contributions to India, which isn't true. Most of them are cosily ensconced in their new found homes.
About Indian engineers in general:- We are a country churning out automatons in the name of engineers.Good only at following commands! Unless there is a change in our thinking, we will remain as cyber coolies.
This entire IIT flag waiving (referred to by this lady in her interview) is indeed getting tiring. India isn't what she is today because of IITians. If a single IITian decides to work in the civil services instead of wallowing in luxury in the lap of Silicon Valley, it becomes big news...as if it's an extraordinary sacrifice on his/her part! Have you ever focussed on thousands of doctors, engineers from the no-so-priviledged institutes of the country who tirelessly toil in the hundreds of small towns and industrial areas of the country? THEY are the ones who keep the country running. THEY are the ones who have made India what it is. Not some self-congratulatory hot shot enterprenuers whose products and services are for the elite of the most elite countries in the world. Yes, they did well, but that's their personal achievement. So, should India worship them? Really? Why? I would like this lady to provide guidance to bright rural Indian children instead of those from Norfolk High School somewhere in USA. Till then she is just another NRI trying to build an immigrant life and checking her bank balance and green card status every day. There are thousands like her.
Let Kanchana, the IITIndian born US citizen spend her energies along with other NRIs for bringing about National Integration of India in practice before talking of its development. Right now, if not forever, the country is divided in all possible ways and means be in terms of caste,religion,region,race and what not?
why has rediff taken a sudden liking for iit people...i do respect these guys...it takes a lot or hard work to get into iit but that just does not qualify them to be called as pride of INDIA...every citizen rite from a a peon or a mason or doc or a teacher who slog day in and day out in INDIA and contribute their best to make INDIA a better nation are our PRIDE....