PhD training is no longer fit for purpose — it needs reform now
Nagaraj Paturi
These days, there’s barely a world leader who doesn’t talk up science. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the star turn at the annual Indian Science Congress, held this month in Nagpur, where he exhorted the nation’s researchers to do the science needed to make India self-reliant. At last October’s landmark Communist Party congress, Chinese Premier Xi Jinping set out his vision of how science and innovation could drive growth. And last August, US President Joe Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act, which unlocks US$13.2 billion for semiconductor research and workforce development, in a bid to maintain the country’s technological primacy.
In each case, the message to researchers is crystal clear: leaders see science as essential to national prosperity, well-being and, of course, competitiveness. So, is research fit for the challenge of advancing, refining or critiquing these goals? Not exactly. And it won’t be until there is fundamental reform to the gateway to a research career: PhD training.
Training in troubleAs Nature and other publications have reported persistently, PhD training worldwide has been in trouble for some time. Read more
BVK Sastry (G-S-Pop)
Namaste Patur garu
1. Thanks for sharing an important and interesting article .
Can you please expand on what these mean to ‘ Traditional Vidwans of Bharath, focused on ancient texts and language – rules ? Would they / Should they just end up as ‘forest hermits’ wearing ( or not wearing !) Saffron or holding a stick or staff in the coming decades ?
2. The connections that readers may overlook are the following :
a) The three articles relate to three different time-line periods and two world major nations and a prominent reporting journal. ( That is for objectivity and Global relevance highlighting!) . The time line of impact is 2025 to 2035.
b) All three articles Highlight FINANCIAL FIGURE and FUTURE NEED / HUMAN –SKILLED EDUCATION GAP to be Bridged. Which translates to PRIORITIZED PLANNING AND PROACTIVE INVESTMENT ACTION – IN RELEVANT WAYS / Not repeating- rehashing the old ‘seeds yielding the same neems’.
PRIORITIZED PRO-ACTIVE ACTION FOR POWER AND SELF-RELIANCE Beyond PRIORITIZED PRIDE –HISTORIC IDENTITY TALK.
c) The Table in the link shows which nation is ‘attracting and garnering the ‘ Talent Pool’ to achieve its ambitions to the ‘ First – Leader / Shooter’ in the world economy of education and employment. In other words, how rest of the world is contributing their Public Tax wealth to make a feed that makes them subservient to super power aspirants !
I recall how one of the very senior think tank persons from deep party core, raised this question, almost 40 years ago, ( around 1980’s – as a part of graduation event)- in a prominent, closed door meeting of ‘Guru-kul Policy makers’ at Bangalore. I was just a novice to understand the importance of the reason behind the question !
The question, articulated way back in pre-covid time (?!) still sounds in my ears:
What is the social relevance of spiritual traditions / sacred texts, beyond playing a second fiddle blessing for electoral candidates ?
Why should Gov. invest Public Tax money on ‘Religion-Science/ Language’ encouragement ?
Why Macaulay becomes irrelevant in shaping Independent India to become ‘ Maha-Bharath’ , especially from Economic – Education and Employment oriented Global platform ?
Identity –Pride will lose its spine and brain without ‘Economic Atmanirbharataa’.
[ Artha-viheenam Purusham, artha- prayojana-rahitam- Vidya-karma na shobhate ;;
Dushtah arthah - Dushtah vinoyogah- Phalam bhavati daasyam].
Regards
BVK Sastry
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "भारतीयविद्वत्परिषत्" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to bvparishat+...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/bvparishat/4a4e5fa8-9190-422b-a0ad-766fd2b3fe20n%40googlegroups.com.
bharat gupt
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/bvparishat/017601d92edc%24cb417dd0%2461c47970%24%40gmail.com.
Bharat Gupt Former Faculty, Delhi University, Trustee and Executive Member INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL CENTER FOR THE ARTS (Ministry of Culture), New Delhi mobile:+91- 98100 77914 email: bharat...@gmail.com homepage: http://www.bharatgupt.com http //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bharat_Gupt
Youtube channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqYFsZ24YZpV71RWKTptexQ
Nagaraj Paturi
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/bvparishat/017601d92edc%24cb417dd0%2461c47970%24%40gmail.com.
Nagaraj Paturi
Sathya Narayanan N
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/bvparishat/CAJGj9eY6D1ThPs3AaUsCdD_v8w3WMowQa6Huy6k4Q%2BSK3ZJNpw%40mail.gmail.com.
Bijoy Misra
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/bvparishat/CAD0cppHKkUQ5zdNtsX2n7F%3D96OxwD6k_riwuZVTt9SMuvfxu5g%40mail.gmail.com.
kenp
BVK Sastry (G-S-Pop)
Namaste Paturu garu
1. Thanks for making the clairvoyant call < This is the opportune time to realize that the same old Sciences based Social Sciences based PhD training in Sanskrit departments and Sanskrit universities should be discarded. >. Prof. Misra ji has an important point to make.
(Note: The reason for me to bring up the Arabic/Persian/ Urdu / Foreign languages/ Religion –Classical languages in the response below is driven by the current reality of ‘ Sanskrit department’ in many institution’s positioned under ‘ English department / Urdu- Arabic studies / Promotion of Sanskrit as a Foreign language’ / Offering of ‘Sanskrit in the same basket as German, French … for studies’. If the Moderators – Learned scholar’s think that ‘ Sanskrit’ alone needs to be a focused discussion under ‘ bharatiya vidwat- parishat’, may feel free to amend this post suitably. If Samskruth is no different from English as a language, then the fate of ‘Sanskrit- Research at Universities’ will not be different from ‘Arabic- Research / any other Indian languages research at Indian Universities ’; The new model will be set elsewhere ! ).
2. How practical is the implementation and impact of proposed move ?
on institutional process and people –already-in the pipe?
on administrative framework as present ?
in the current ‘Financial crunch suffered by the ‘language- universities’
and
‘ lay-off spree / techno-skill - job crunch in the Techno- Industry markets’?
and Global operations-National Strategies like ‘Talent – Pool /Hunt’ see: articles highlighted by you pl?
3. The intent of your post, to me, seems to be stress to bring systemic- refresh through research –
reformation of system : for process, goals and support.
The need seems to be a path way for ‘Purusha- Artha – Jeevikaa Vrutti - udyoga karma’ of ‘Graduating
research scholar’s (Gurkul/Universities) than alignment to the thought of ‘ Saa –Vidyaa yaa Vimutaye /
Puro-Hita - Lokasamgraha’ = Social Wellness framework goals of Education model for self –employment
and skills for a living.
The ‘Social-profession –skill training acquisition for making good earning for respectable, responsible
good living is different from ‘Corporate model - Enterprise –Entrepreneur training- Research – fuelling’.
4. In my limited understanding, the essence and essential of guru-kul tradition is delivery of skilling :
education for a socially relevant profession; all the time keeping in mind the socio- economic dynamics.
The training would be designed and regulated by appropriate ‘Guru- Institution- Centric- Network’ for
integrating Social goodness and Spiritual welfare (=bhukti- mukti).
5. This catch up in Sanskrit systemic design seems to have been backward looking and conservative, for
almost three centuries and blaming 5M – team impact for current vows.
6. It is in this background, my question comes in:
How will the proposal fit in to Todays UGC – ‘University’ institutionalized / Public Tax exchequer funded
Framework / Ministry regulated Higher Education - Accreditation Model,
Unless
there is a Total Social Crowd funding (or industry funding or religion institution funding)
Or
‘Self-sustaining Self generating Education- Enterprise – profession aligned – socio-economic eco system
and model for all classes and masses (including **sses who hold the reins) ?
In short, Who is the ‘ Vaishya – Kshatriya / Koshaadhyaksha’ to fill the gap ?
Would it be CSR ?? Would it ‘Budget Line item provisioned but not prioritized exercise’ ?
A Constitutional obligation fulfilling ?? A socio-political agenda talk ??
How does one make ‘Traditional education an Enterprise: Economically viable start up ?
7. Historically, ‘ World-Religion / ancient civilization Wise (Not Sanatana Dharma - Yoga-Samskruti wise),
Papacy has globally strategized by investing great resources and controlling the shape of
current ‘Higher Education- Research Programs / Prospect of ‘Learned Scholars’ by proactively funding
education and employment social outreach.
This is the given ‘Kuru-Kshetra’ of ‘ Sanskrit Departments/ Universities/ Funded – Ministry controlled –
Guru –Devataa –Mandir/Gurukuls’ where ‘we all: bharatiya –vidwat- parishat jana’ seem to be locked in.
8. Macaulay’s schema of addressing ‘Language of Indian / Hindoo- Religions’ deeply affected not only
millennia / centuries old standing ‘Samskrutham: Language tradition and its harmonious togetherness
with all Indic Languages along with the social-prospect of ‘Samskruth at Indian Gurukuls’, but also
Persian/ Arabic at Madrasas at Bharath’ protected by several centuries of pre-colonial Islamic rulers.
Surprisingly ( Or Not so surprisingly, as Christiantiy and Islam have common root of scripture) ,
Churches’ at India did not bring in a push for ‘Latin or any other ancient classic language of
Old Testament’ in to Indian social education stream, Universities, Research! English (Main) and Regional
Languages through localization and translation became the new medium of ‘new Indian Religion’ ;
Pushed through the ‘ Early education / Schools – Montessori’s – Universities’ – described as the ‘Temples
of Education’ ; currently accelerated as ‘Digital Learning Edu-tek initiative’.
9. The impact of Macaulay’s strategy in the second part at India is less highlighted for various (politically
right) reasons.
So historically ,who stood up for Arabic and Persian / Urdu at Bharath / India? during Macaulay’s time
and post period : Locally and Globally ? It was ‘Local Samskruth Pandits’ !
And now who is leading this talk ? Here are some links that may be worth exploring !
Muslim educational attainment around the world | Pew Research Center https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2016/12/13/muslim-educational-attainment/
Education in Islam - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Islam
Top 16 Islamic Universities in the World 2022 Ranking Updated (theislamicquotes.com)
https://www.theislamicquotes.com/top-16-islamic-universities-in-the-world-2019-ranking/
Religious Authorities in Islam (oasiscenter.eu) https://www.oasiscenter.eu/en/religious-authorities-islam
10. It is here that I conclude my request with the news snippet [Mar 05, 2016 – Venkaiah Naidu] below:
I am confident that the new National Policy on Education, which is being spearheaded by my colleague in the HRD ministry through over 2.75 lakh direct consultations, will restore the sanctity of universities as temples of learning.
Let our higher centres of learning be breeding grounds of reason, wisdom and responsibility instead of being fountainheads of anti-national activism. That is why such tendencies that were manifest at the JNU should be nipped in the bud. [ Source:
Regards
BVK Sastry
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/bvparishat/CALw-kjUzHHyTtxQwup%2BvNcwLC5CH7SKj0ESUE1W%2B70QiiN%2Bq8w%40mail.gmail.com.