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Congratulations for the 7th Anniversary issue of EducationWorld. From CARTMAN we send you our greetings and good wishes as well as thanks for your magnificent contribution to Indian education through EducationWorld. As an entrepreneur, editor and manager, you brought out India’s first two business magazines earlier. You have now produced another magnificent pioneer magazine.

Education is the most vital sector for national development. Due to a variety of reasons independent India has not given sufficient attention to this all-important sector, on which depends India’s destiny. Your publication has highlighted its effectiveness and social relevance.

Prof. N.S. Ramaswamy
CARTMAN
Bangalore

I am very impressed with the 7th anniversary issue of EducationWorld. As you very rightly say, Indian education rates very low in every priority list, so it is commendable that you have valiantly taken up cudgels on its behalf!

The articles in your anniversary issue were exceptionally interesting. Your cover story, essays and spotlight features were uniformly exciting and thought-provoking.

I was however surprised that Christel House India, Bangalore, a pioneer NGO, rated neither coverage nor mention of the wonderful work they have been doing since 2000.

Be that as it may, for initiating EducationWorld and at your seven year milestone, I wish you every success.

Esther Pillai
Principal, Cambridge School
Bangalore

Congratulations on completion of seven years of uninterrupted publication of EducationWorld. Special thanks to you and your team for consistently highlighting the importance of education as the building block of national progress and development.

You also deserve the thanks of the public for your superb seventh anniversary cover story ‘7x7 concise history of Indian education (1999-2006)’ (EW November). In terms of the bold choice of subject and execution, it is truly a collector’s item. Just this one issue will enlighten the reader on the current status of Indian education.

Lastly, from the content and tone of your anniversary letter, I note a feeling of despair and frustration at the lack of support you have been getting from leaders of Indian industry to whom you rendered yeoman service as editor of the business magazines you founded. I implore you not to lose heart because it’s only a matter of time before the public becomes aware of the overwhelming importance of the mission of your publication.

Your comments on your postscript page (EW October) about The International School Bangalore are materially inaccurate, and quite hurtful towards distinguished individuals. My reasons for returning to the UK were centred upon the educational needs of my four children, two at university and two others at sensitive portions of their development, soon to take assessments in the UK. I also took into consideration the recent widowhood of a mother now 84 years of age, who needs her son nearby.

I would note that my record of service to TISB would be among the longest I have come across in international education in India.

I would serve in India at any time provided I was in the distinguished company of the chairman Dr. K.P. Gopalkrishna and Dr. Bindu Hari, director TISB, with whom I continue to serve as a permanent member of the board. I love India, and I think that it is important that schools like TISB exist in their present form as they are identical in nature to the most successful academic schools in the UK, including Sevenoaks School where I had held senior positions for a number of years.

I would put forward that it is a shame, and potentially harmful to high quality international education in India for such salacious references to be made about a highly regarded and well established school like TISB.

Hector S. MacDonald
International Coordinator, Headmasters’ and Headmistress’ Conference
Britain

Desperately needed EW

I was pleasantly surprised to see the latest and very attractive issue of EducationWorld. I have been reading your mature and balanced views on education policy and development issues for the past few years.

It is well known that India hosts the world’s largest population of illiterates and this is a cause of great concern. It is a wonder that except you nobody else among the country’s billion-plus population has thought about promoting a publication to influence public opinion in favour of quality education for all.

I feel that EW is the only hope of millions of India’s children who are receiving sub-standard vernacular education in government schools. Thanks to your strong editorial comments, the Karnataka government was forced to introduce English teaching from class I. I hope other states follow suit.

Keep up the good work. India desperately needs a magazine like EW.