07-26-2008, 12:51 AM
Dont just rely on private individuals. To the contrary, I call for a coordinated action between NRIs, GoI, former GoI officials and Indian corporate sector. Here's how it could work:
1. NRIs would fund studies, chairs etc.
2. GoI will deny visas to anti-India folks, especially those that push to exploit caste, regional and religious schisms.
3. Former senior GoI officials and Corporate India would reward those academics who are favorably disposed to India. Sponsor trips where you get to meet the PM or get access to sanitized areas of Indian govt archives etc.
Pretty soon you create a virtuous cycle wherein young academics would sense that they can research India related topics with $$ paid for and previously unimaginable access to GoI top levels, so long as they don't fall into the current establishment's traps. On the other hand, people who are anti-India will get the message that they will never be able to visit India, never get a penny from the new NRI funding sources and will always be out "scooped" by other academics.
Over time this will generate change in the "South Asia studies" departments.
1. NRIs would fund studies, chairs etc.
2. GoI will deny visas to anti-India folks, especially those that push to exploit caste, regional and religious schisms.
3. Former senior GoI officials and Corporate India would reward those academics who are favorably disposed to India. Sponsor trips where you get to meet the PM or get access to sanitized areas of Indian govt archives etc.
Pretty soon you create a virtuous cycle wherein young academics would sense that they can research India related topics with $$ paid for and previously unimaginable access to GoI top levels, so long as they don't fall into the current establishment's traps. On the other hand, people who are anti-India will get the message that they will never be able to visit India, never get a penny from the new NRI funding sources and will always be out "scooped" by other academics.
Over time this will generate change in the "South Asia studies" departments.