PRAVEEN  VASISHT
Principal, Lawrence School, Sanawar

Where would you place education on your national list of priorities?
Next only to cracking down on corruption. Although we are an ancient civilisation, we are a young nation with every fifth youth in the world being Indian. Thus, education of our youth is of vital importance to India and the world.

How best to upgrade government schools?
Government schools and colleges can improve only if education officials, teachers and administrators become more humane, less egoistic and domineering and open their minds to the winds of change. There has to be strict accountability at every level, specially of teachers and principals.

Thinker/philosopher you admire most.
Aurobindo Ghosh. A fiery freedom fighter, principal of a college, and spiritualist par excellence.

Your favourite Nobel laureate.
Rabindranath Tagore

Your leadership style.
Team work. Together everyone achieves more.

Your favourite book on leadership.
The Bhagavad Gita. In particular Lord Krishna’s message of doing one’s duty without regard to results is very powerful.

For or against the RTE Act mandating 25 percent reservation for underprivileged children in private schools?
Not a bad idea at all. But who will foot the bill? Better-off parents or government? Does government have the money or even the will?

Should education outlay be doubled by cutting defence expenditure?
No. There can be no compromise on matters of defence of the nation. Yet government spending on public education has to increase substantially.

How satisfied are you with the growth and development of Lawrence School?
Quite satisfied, though there’s always scope for improvement. We are still an unfinished act.

Pessimistic or optimistic about Indian education?
A silent revolution is brewing in the minds of the youth of India. I repose great hope that they will turn things around for India and the world.