Delhi – Prime Minister's Office, South Block – 26th February 1949
The morning sun streamed through the windows of Arjun Mehra's office as he sat surrounded by the draft textbooks that Education Minister Narahari Parikh had presented the day before.
He had spent most of the night studying them, noting the progress and the challenges. The scarcity of scholars who could bridge ancient knowledge with modern science was a problem, but it was not the only one troubling his mind.
As he reviewed the elementary and middle school materials, a deeper concern crystallized. Building a foundation of universal education was essential, but India needed more than literate citizens.
The country needed its own centers of advanced learning and research. He had seen too many bright Indian minds leave for foreign universities, never to return. He had watched other nations build technological superiority through their institutions while India remained dependent on imports and foreign expertise.
He reached for his intercom. "Please ask Minister Parikh, Minister Pant, Minister Kelkar, and Minister Krishnamachari to come immediately. I have an urgent matter to discuss."
Within an hour, Education Minister Narahari Parikh, Planning Minister G.B. Pant, Finance Minister Vishwajeet Rao Kelkar, and Industries Minister T.T. Krishnamachari had assembled in his office.
They entered with the usual formalities, taking their seats around the conference table. Arjun stood to greet each minister personally, exchanging pleasantries about their families and recent work.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice," Arjun said, settling back into his chair. "I hope I haven't disrupted any of your important work."
Parikh smiled. "Not at all, Prime Minister. Though I must admit, 'm curious about what has prompted this urgent gathering."
"Yes, I'm sure you're all surprised by this sudden summons," Arjun acknowledged, pouring tea for his guests. "Actually, I've been thinking extensively about our educational institutions, particularly those that produce talent in advanced fields." He paused to ensure everyone had their tea before continuing.
"Last night, while reviewing the textbook drafts you presented, Narahari-ji, something struck me. We're doing excellent work building the foundation through our mandatory education scheme. We're creating a literate, disciplined population. But I realized we need to focus equally on the other end of the spectrum."
He leaned forward slightly, his expression growing more serious. "The institutions that produce the real gems of our Bharat. The scientists, the engineers, the researchers who will drive our nation forward. And frankly, gentlemen, our current system is not adequate for what we need to achieve."
Arjun had prepared a large map of India on his desk, marked with symbols representing proposed educational and research institutions. Beside it lay hand drawn blueprints for university campuses and research complexes, but he kept them covered for now.
"Let me share what's been troubling me," he continued, his voice calm but carrying deep conviction. "Think about the numbers, gentlemen. When we gained independence in 1947, our entire nation had around 350,000 students registered across 24 universities and around 800 colleges. That's barely 0.1% of population in a country of over 400 million people."
He paused to let that sink in. "And how many of those students go on to advanced degrees? How many earn Masters degrees? How many pursue doctoral studies? The numbers are dismally small. We have perhaps a few thousand people with Masters degrees in the entire country, and probably fewer than a thousand with PhDs in all fields combined."
Kelkar frowned. "Exactly, Prime Minister. Those numbers are indeed troubling."
"Right?" Arjun continued. "Our compulsory education program will build a strong foundation. And our foreign scholarship program will provide some global exposure. But true national self-reliance demands that India produce its own intellectual leaders, its own scientific breakthroughs, its own cutting-edge knowledge.
We cannot simply import what we need. We must create it ourselves."
He gestured across the map. "I have been analyzing patterns from successful nations around the world. Those that achieve technological leadership do so by building comprehensive intellectual foundations early.
They create integrated systems of education and research, not isolated institutions. India has some excellent colleges and research centers, but they work in isolation. We need to change that immediately. We'll make the industry collaborations and linkages mandatory across all the institutions."
He leaned forward, his eyes intense. "For the first phase begins now. We take our existing institutions and transform them into something exceptional. The Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore will become our premier research hub, focusing on electronics, metallurgy, new materials, and biological sciences.
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research will be expanded dramatically. Its laboratories will have clear mandates for applied research that directly supports our industrial development."
Parikh listened carefully, his academic background helping him understand the scope of what Arjun was proposing.
Arjun continued,"The Indian Statistical Institute in Calcutta will become our center for advanced mathematics and computational work. We will strengthen its collaboration with the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Bombay, which will lead our theoretical research efforts. These institutions exist already, but they need resources, clear direction, and better coordination."
Arjun continued, his voice growing more passionate. "Our existing engineering colleges at Roorkee and Banaras Hindu University have good foundations. We will expand them beyond recognition and make them our first specialized engineering institutes, their names? Indian Institutes of Technology.
Roorkee will focus on civil engineering and power systems. Banaras will specialize in metallurgy, mining, and mechanical engineering."
"Then we expand rapidly," he said, pointing to locations on the map. "We will establish three more engineering institutes simultaneously. Bombay will handle mechanical, shipbuilding, and chemical engineering. Madras will focus on electronics and applied physics.
Delhi will specialize in newer fields like communications and management sciences. These five institutes will set the standard for engineering excellence in India."
Industries Minister Krishnamachari nodded approvingly. "These addresses exactly what our industrial projects need, Prime Minister. The shortage of qualified engineers has been a constant problem."
"Exactly, Krishnamachari ji. Beyond these premier institutes, we need broader coverage," Arjun smiled and continued. "We will also establish regional engineering colleges in major industrial centers. Nagpur, Calcutta, Kanpur, Patna, Hyderabad.
These will train thousands of mid level engineers and skilled technicians. They will feed talent upward to our top institutes, for advance studies and outward to our industries."
He moved to another section of the map. "For medical research and training, we will establish a premier medical institute in Delhi. It will coordinate with our biological research efforts at the Indian Institute of Science.
For agricultural research, we will dramatically strengthen the existing Agricultural Research Institute, focusing on plant breeding, soil science, and food security."
Arjun paused, then delivered what he considered the most important part of his plan. "And we will undertake a project that will capture the world's imagination. We will rebuild Nalanda University."
The room fell silent. The ancient university had been destroyed centuries ago, but its reputation as a center of learning was still legendary.
Parikh's eyes widened a bit, "Prime Minister, this…"
"Not as a museum piece," Arjun clarified, "but as a modern, multidisciplinary university that surpasses anything currently existing. We will build it at Sharda Peeth, not the original Nalanda site.
The ethereal beauty and scenic views of that location, combined with its deep spiritual significance, will create the perfect environment for learning.
It will literally be heaven on earth for scholars and students. This new Nalanda will house advanced research centres, international exchange programs, and departments that produce the administrators and thinkers India needs."
International exchange programs were the main aim of Arjun. This new Nalanda University will be the global brand of Bharat. Much like how MIT is to United States.
Once India surpasses all others in few decades, international community will most definitely come to study in Indian colleges, and Nalanda will be unlike anything they have ever seen.
Planning Minister Pant studied the architectural drawings. "Prime Minister, these designs are…radically different than how our current universities look like. The scale is enormous. No, is it even possible to build structures like these?"
"It needs to be," Arjun replied. "Nalanda will host our most advanced research in computing, aerospace, and strategic studies. It will invite foreign scholars to build our international reputation. The university will be both an educational institution and a symbol of India's intellectual heritage and future potential."
He looked around the room. "The timeline is aggressive but necessary. Within four years, our regional engineering colleges will be operational. Our five premier engineering institutes will graduate their first classes. Our medical institute will be training doctors.
Our agricultural research will be producing new crop varieties. And Nalanda will open its doors to students from around the world."
Finance Minister Kelkar had been quietly calculating costs. "Prime Minister, the budget requirements will be substantial, but still doable. But if these institutions produce the results you envision, the investment will pay for itself many times over."
"That is exactly right," Arjun said. "We are not just building schools. We are building the intellectual infrastructure that will make India a global power. Other nations have had centuries to develop their educational systems. We need to compress that development into years, not the decades to come."
He stood and walked to the window, looking out at the bustling streets of Delhi. "Narahari ji, conduct the surveys of our top universities and colleges, and see where they are lacking, no matter the department. I need a list of everything that needs to be added in these institutions to make their labs and research areas state of the art.
It can range from advanced electronics, aerospace infrastructure, computing labs, etc. We'll purchase them for now, as we still the ability to make them. Perhaps by next few couple of years, we can make our own."
Education Minister Parikh was taking detailed notes. "I'll see to it, Prime Minster. Though the coordination required for industry linkages between all these institutions will be complex. We will need new administrative structures, new funding mechanisms, and new methods of quality control."
"Create whatever structures are necessary," Arjun instructed. "This project is one of the top priority ones. Every ministry will contribute resources wherever they can. Every level of government will provide support."
Industries Minister Krishnamachari raised a practical concern. "Finding qualified faculty for all these new institutions will be challenging. We may need to recruit internationally initially."
"About that," Arjun replied. "Contact our high commission in other countries. They'll be responsible for contacting the NRIs who are willing to contribute towards the building of our nation. We'll provide them with incentives and attractive offers like competitive salaries and excellent facilities.
Along with them, we also ensure that our own qualified teachers are well funded. And together, they shall raise the new generation of scientists and engineers from the said colleges. The one who wouldn't feel the need to leave India to look for better opportunities in their field."
Planning Minister Pant studied the timeline Arjun had sketched. "The construction schedules are very tight. We're already stretched thin due to industrialization efforts and building the new schools and border infrastructure."
Arjun nodded, "No problem, you may divert a little bit from each of the already ongoing projects. And to fill in the gaps, employ the semi-skilled workers for labour intensive work."
Pant thought for a bit before saying," But that can delay our current construction projects, Prime Minster."
Arjun knew this of course, "That's fine. We can handle the delay of a year or two. I don't think it will affect it that much. In fact, you can rely on migrant workers from the Northeastern regions and Eastern Bengal. They can help with the workers issue."
As the meeting was reaching its conclusion, Arjun said, "Gentlemen, we are perhaps undertaking the most ambitious educational expansion in human history. We are compressing the institutional development that other nations took centuries to achieve into a few short years.
The results will determine India's place in the world for generations to come."
After the ministers left, Arjun remained at his desk, studying the maps and blueprints. Building these institutions would require enormous resources and perfect coordination. But the alternative was continued dependence on foreign expertise and foreign technology.
India had the human potential to lead the world in science and engineering. Now it would have the institutional capacity as well.