Dr. R. Varadarajan, Chairman, National Education Society -

Dr. R. Varadarajan, Chairman, National Education Society & Saraswathi Vidya Bhavan Group of institutions, Mumbai

Where would you place education on your national list of priorities?
First, since only education can provide all the necessities of life.

How best to upgrade government schools and colleges?
Government schools and colleges can be upgraded by introducing better pedagogies and scientific management systems. Moreover industrialists, universities and educational trusts should come forward to adopt and upgrade education institutions.

Thinker/philosopher you admire the most.
Sir C.V. Raman.

Your favourite Nobel laureate.
The Dalai Lama, with whose blessings I instituted NES World Peace Congress.

Your leadership style.
Inspire teachers and students to observe the 3Ds — discipline, decency and dignity — to achieve success.

Your favourite book on education.
Schools That Change: Evidence-Based Improvement and Effective Change Leadership by Lewis Smith.

For or against the 25 percent reservation for underprivileged children in private schools?
In favour in principle, but this scheme is not practical. A better option would be for government to give permission to private institutions to open free-of-charge separate schools for underprivileged students.

Should the education outlay be doubled by cutting defence expenditure?
The goal of the NES World Peace Congress is to transform every student into an ambassador of peace. But until then, we have to gradually increase education outlays by other means.

How satisfied are you with the growth and development of NES and SVB group of education institutions?
The present number of NES/SVB institutions is 55 — all ‘A’ grade institutions accredited by different government agencies. They are producing world toppers, country toppers and university merit rankers.

Pessimistic or optimistic about the future of education in India?
Neither. I am a realist about the future of education in India. I believe nothing is impossible with sincere and determined effort. Let’s all work towards it.