Mysuru: “Higher education is a mess in the country and we really don’t know how we are going to rectify it,” said Dr. R Balasubramaniam, Founder of Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM).
Speaking after inaugurating the 52nd annual day celebration of All Indian Institute of Speech and Hearing at its premise here on August 9, he said, “Across the country more than 600 universities are needed but every new university that is getting started is run by private people for the obvious gains. To change India, we needed more public institutions like AIISH.”
‘AIISH should increase its decibel’
“I have attended quite a few foundations including IIM, IIT and National Law University and now AIISH. AIISH has done so much but it is not known to all. Two southern institutions AIISH and IISC in Bengaluru are doing a lot of good and innovative work for the welfare of the people. There are institutions and organisations which do little and make more noise but these two institutions are doing a lot of work but are not exposing them to the public. The good work which AIISH has undertaken must be made public. AIISH should increase its decibel level behind just a foundation day and get to be seen and heard across the nation because it deserves to be heard which inturn will benefit people across the country. The kind of works which are undertaken at AIISH, are not too far away to become truly global”, he opined.
AIISH at all regional centres
For the welfare of the people, government should set up AIISH at all regional centres. To cater to nearly 1.25 million population, every year AIISH is training just 400 students with communication disorders. More staff and centres are the need of the hour. Every state lobbying for IIT and IIM, should also start bating for AIISH like institute, felt Dr. Balasubramaniam.
Upanishad and Bhagavadgeetha renamed as leadership
“I teach leadership. Abroad, Upanishads and Bhagadvageetha are renamed as leadership and people take it. I have hundreds of people applying for the course but I restrict it to 40. I am proud to put Bhagawadgeetha as reading material for the course. For me, it’s not a religious textbook. It’s beyond that”, he said.
‘For 1600 years India was leading economy of the world’
“During the post Christ, for consecutive 1600 years, the first leading economy of the world was India, according to a British expert. India contributed 38 percent of Global GDP but in the last 300 years we are not doing much. However, India is rising again due to institutions like AIISH. Wherever you go, people are talking about India. With our young population we should make maximum use of it and do better, advised Dr. Balasubramaniam.”
Addressing the students and faculty members of AIISH during the annual day celebration R Venkata Rao, Vice Chancellor, National Law School of India University, Bengaluru said, “During the 25th convocation of our university, Vice President of India, Supreme Court Chief Justice and judges, High Court judges were present but the star of the day was a student with cerebral palsy who received LLM degree from Supreme Court Chief Justice of India. If such students managed to excel in various fields, it’s all because of untiring efforts of teachers and related experts from institutions like this. These teachers and experts put efforts to see a smile and growth of such students and their parents. Education removes the imperfection. The type of education which you are giving in this institution is not like what our regular institutions impart. May be our regular education is only about information but here it is the formation of a complete human being which leads to transformation in the quality of life. I personally feel you are a chosen few by the Lord to serve in such a wonderful institution to make life more meaningful.”
On the occasion, Balasubramaniam and Venkata Rao released a couple of mobile apps pertaining to audiology, software applications and multimedia materials. They also felicitated PhD awardees, meritorious students and retired employees. An MOU was also signed with SVYM to establish an outreach speech service centre at Sargur in H D Kote. The newly appointed AIISH Director Asha Yathiraj was also present.
