Chairperson, Mother's Pride Preschools and Presidium Senior Secondary Schools
Where would you place education on your national list of priorities?
Right at the top. Education not only takes a nation forward, it’s the antidote for every social evil plaguing India.
How best to upgrade 1.6 million government anganwadis into preschools?
Structured training for anganwadi teachers that puts them on a par with private preschool teachers, better infrastructure, educational tools and facilities.
Thinker/philosopher you admire the most.
Swami Vivekananda. He believed education is the process through which character is formed, strength of mind is built, and intellect sharpened.
Your favourite Nobel laureate.
Rabindranath Tagore — a great writer, thinker, poet.
Your leadership style.
I believe in creating leaders who have a sense of pride and ownership, and who lead from the front.
Your favourite book on education.
The Bhagavad Gita — a timeless treatise of valuable knowledge.
For or against the Right to Education Act’s 25 percent reservation for underprivileged children in private schools?
While the intent is admirable, the government should also be mindful of the financial impact on private schools.
Should the education outlay be doubled by cutting defence expenditure?
Difficult question. There’s no doubt we need to increase education outlays, but we can’t compromise the nation’s security either.
How satisfied are you with the growth and development of Mother’s Pride chain of preschools and Presidium group of schools?
Very satisfied, though we haven’t achieved what we set out to achieve. So I can’t afford to be complacent.
Pessimistic or optimistic about the future of education in India?
I look forward to the day when students from around the world will flock to India for higher education. I believe that day isn’t too far away.