The IITs trace their genesis to the 1950s, the high noon of the Nehruvian
institution building era, a period when the foundations of India’s extensive
science and technology infrastructure were established. Jawaharlal Nehru
is a much reviled figure these days particularly among those Indians
who exhibit transnational, technocratic tribalism. But clearly without
his vision and leadership, the IITs would not have come into being.
There were other figures who played a key role as well, figures who
are forgotten personalities these days but those who illumined the 1950s
with their commitment to nation-building-N.R. Sarkar, B.C. Roy, J.C.
Ghosh and above all Humayun Kabir the quintessence of Indian civilisation
at its composite best and the man who persuaded UNESCO to participate
in the expansion of the IITs.

IIT alumni have distinguished themselves across a wide spectrum in the
country. Many have become CEOs in the private and public sectors. A
large number have emerged as job-creators instead of job seekers-some
surveys reveal that almost a quarter of IIT graduates have turned entrepreneurs.
A substantial proportion have become academics and institution builders
themselves. A sizeable number have entered public administration. A
prominent few have donned the mantle of social activists, environmentalists,
journalists and even politicians.

It is undoubtedly a time to celebrate, but celebrate with humility,
not hubris, with hope not hype. It is a time for some ruthless self-introspection
as well. First, while the IITs are great assembly lines for producing
undergraduates, can they actually lay claim to global excellence in
post-graduate training and research? Second, circulation and rejuvenation
of human capital in the IITs take place largely among the undergraduates
but not among the faculty. Third, barring a handful of examples, the
entrepreneurship that is associated with IIT graduates has no connection
whatsoever with the IITs themselves-something completely different to
the relationship of Stanford University to Silicon Valley and MIT to
Route 128. IIT Kanpur and Kharagpur flourish, for instance, while Kanpur
and Kharagpur perish. The development of the IITs as clusters of entrepreneurship
is a major challenge in the years ahead as will be the creation of horizontal
linkages among them in specific areas of technology development. Fourth,
while over the past two decades, there has been a radical sociological
shift among those entering the IITs ( for example, the OBC-dominated
village of Patwatoli near Gaya has produced 25 IITians since 1990),
their role in affirmative action and social diversity will be called
into increasing question.

While a heavily state-subsidised meritocracy is inevitable when less
than 2% of those seeking admission are actually selected strictly on
performance, such an extraordinary filtering process is no longer tenable.
For a country like India, the selection rate has to be at least four-five
times higher. With a different governance philosophy both within the
IITs and in respect of their relationship with government, it is possible
to marry the twin objectives of mass excellence and social justice,
both of which are crucial.