Brain drain or Brain gain - the debate rages

Is brain drain a real problem? Or is it actually brain gain? An analysis.

Brain drain or Brain gain - the debate rages

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Read more on - Polity | Economy | Schemes | S&T | Environment

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• The story: In the 1970s and 80s, a large number of IIT graduates migrated to the USA for higher studies, and stayed on in jobs and careers. That was the "brain drain" phenomenon. The appointment of Parag Agrawal as Twitter CEO has reignited that debate in 2021.
• The debate now is meaningless: In the 21st century of global knowledge economy, it is a futile approach to talk of brain drain.

1. In the late 19th century, when MIT US was set up, it started attracting nationalist leaders of India, and industrialists also
2. Many Indians used to go to UK for technical education, but now the MIT also was in radar
3. Bal Gangadhar Tilak's newspapers projected MIT as a Model Institute of Technology, and many Indians from western India went there
4. A large number of engineering firms then came up in western India, and MIT model was later proposed as the right one for Indian higher education (Nalini Ranjan Sarkar Committee - 1946)

• IITs arrived: That model led to the setting up of IITs in India, but MIT wasn't involved in the IIT Kharagpur, Bombay and Madras in 1950s. Only IIT Kanpur had MIT participation.

1. The 10-year KIAP (Kanpur India America Project) was launced, and students at IIT K had full access to American professors and equipments
2. Many graduates left for US after graduation as IITs didn't have post-graduate and doctoral studies
3. Indian industry was not able to absorb these IITians, while US was relaxing its immigration norms. The first wave of "brain drain" was all set to happen!

• Not one way: Those who went to the US, had then started to return, to set new industries in India. The TCS was formed when a report by Lalit Kanodia (MIT), Nitin Patel, Ashok Malhotra (MIT) gave a report to the Tatas in 1966. Outsourcing started with Narendra Patni (MIT). Silicon design business in India started when Prabhu Goel set up a branch in Noida. Texas Instruments came to India due to the reputation of Indian engineers in America. Cadence and T.I. attracted many chipmakers to India.
• LPG era, 1991: When reforms started, the Indians in America who were now in top positions, started pushing investments in IT, biotech, healthcare etc. In 2021, every Fortune 500 firm has an R&D centre in India. The software, IT and engg services business now is $200 b.
• Scientific collaboration: Indian professionals are in top positions in most of the leading science projects worldwide, including the LHC. Cross country flow of expertise is happening.
• What Mashelkar feels: RA Mashlekar said that "brain drain" is actually "brain gain" and "brain circulation". The fact that Indians are rising to be CEOs in America shows how strong that system is, when it comes to integrating different cultures. India can learn from it.
• Summary: India can attract talent from across the world, if it can learn from the best element of the American system.
• EXAM QUESTIONS: (1) The role played by Indians who left for the US, in pushing India's own industrialistion, is not trivial. Explain with facts. (2)  Explain the problem with the concept of "brain drain". (3) What can be an ideal way for India to build world class companies right here? How to get talent? Explain.

Read more on - Polity | Economy | Schemes | S&T | Environment

#braindrain #braingain #Indiantalent #IITs

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