Ashoka University woes

 I return to my blog after a long lay-off caused by my having to relocate. It's taken me longer than I thought to settle. I hope to regular with my posts hereafter- fingers crossed!- TTR

Ashoka University was in the news recently- and, not for the first time, for quite the wrong reasons. Two co-founders and trustees of the University have been charged in a case filed by the CBI and have since stepped down from their posts at the University. Ashoka had made news only a few months ago when one of its faculty members, Pratap Bhanu Mehta, resigned. Mr Mehta, who has been critical of the government, had indicated that some of the top brass had conveyed to him their discomfort with his writings.

Ashoka University’s problems highlight a fundamental problem with setting up quality educational  institutions in the private sector. Such universities require support from those with deep pockets, which mostly means businessmen.

When businessmen are associated with a university, there are two issues. One, you never know when a business donor will get into trouble with the law. Two, it is not  easy for businessmen to allow the sort of freedom of expression that goes with the best of academia- there will always be pressure from those  in authority. For these reasons, quality academics will be reluctant to associate themselves with private institutions. There is no great University in the west that is associated with a corporate. The great Universities of the US are non-profit, private universities or government universities. 

The US has outstanding private universities that attract huge endowments. But these endowments typically come without strings attached from a large number of alumni, not from a few corporates. Donors do not, in general, ask to be associated with the university to which they contribute. Wealthy individuals, who have made their money from business contribute - and, often, after their association with a corporate has ended. Even if the corporate gets into  trouble later, it is not a problem for the University or School. The culture of large philanthropic contributions to academia  is almost unique to the US. It certainly does not obtain in India.

The IITs and IIMs have built their reputations overwhelmingly through government funding. While they have received large donations in recent years from alumni, they have, with rare exceptions, been wary of any association with Indian business. They have sometimes attracted funds from alumni who became successful entrepreneurs  in Silicon Valley and elsewhere but have been hesitant to tap Indian corporates for funds. Rightly so, judging by the troubles at Ashoka.