Letter from the Editor
It’s a happy coincidence that on the anniversary which marks six years of uninterrupted publishing, our cover story should feature Satyen (‘Sam’) Pitroda, a technology-driven visionary who typifies creativity, courage, persistence, and relentless pursuit of superordinate goals. Commonly acknowledged as the prime mover of India’s astonishing telecom revolution of the past two decades which has leapfrogged telecom connectivity from 2.5 million to over 100 million and counting, this Chicago-based dollar millionaire with over 60 international patents to his name also headed the late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s pioneer technology missions (immunisation, water, literacy, oilseeds, dairy development) in the 1980s. Though the fall of the Rajiv Gandhi government mid-way through its term and Rajiv’s assassination shortly afterward interrupted the missions, some of them — particularly the oilseeds and dairy development missions spearheaded by Dr. Verghese Kurien — were spectacularly successful. But in the 1990s, Pitroda lost power and influence in Delhi and his valuable contributions to national development were sidelined by the Narasimha Rao and BJP-led governments. However following the rout of the BJP in the May 2004 general election and return of the Congress party to power as the head of the incumbent UPA coalition government, Pitroda who reportedly played a major role in shaping the Congress election strategy, has been recalled to head the National Knowledge Commission. Its brief: to suggest ways and means to transform a nation with the largest number of illiterates worldwide into a 21st century knowledge society. Can Sam Pitroda who claims he is older and wiser today, discharge his latest mission impossible assignment? Pitroda’s modus operandi and the route map he and the stellar cast members of the Knowledge Commission have drawn to fulfill the terms of reference of this first-of-its-kind commission worldwide, is the subject matter of our sixth anniversary cover story. This anniversary cover feature is apposite also because it is inspirational to us in EducationWorld. Like Pitroda who despite huge contributions to the national development effort had to suffer belittlement, abuse and even totally unfounded corruption charges, while discharging our mission to "build the pressure of public opinion to make education the No.1 item on the national agenda" we have had to plough a lonely furrow and suffer the insolence of office, the proud man’s contumely etc. But though on several occasions EW teetered on the edge, like Pitroda we hung in there. Perhaps as in Pitroda’s case, so in EW’s — the best is yet to come.
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