A quieter protest amid Lokpal drumroll

The State in spotlight was Rajasthan and the institute fighting its battle for survival is the Aravali institute of Management - the one and only management school of regional repute that can claim to have adhered to national standards and produced a flock of highly successful professionals in the last one decade from the remotest corners of Rajasthan as well as other parts of the country.

In the midst of the drumroll of the Lokpal Bill, the protest got diffused as just another corruption issue, failing to garner adequate attention from the national media. Most saw it as an outburst of an entrepreneur against the government satraps who have a clout and a method of extracting every pound of flesh they can from aspiring investors and industrialists. However it is not be mistaken as a struggle of one idealistic man in trying to prevent his dream from being dashed.

It brings to limelight concerns far deeper than just that. Corruption is ubiquitous and does not need a new address; This was a symbolic struggle against the stultifying lack of vision and fraying frameworks of development that plagues the nation at large today. Corruption is a terribly seditious ingredient that defines the broth of the Indian political melting pot no doubt. It is horrific to see how it manages to cut across all parties and affiliations - getting around the most dignified and unblemished of the lot – ripping apart credibility of individuals in no time. But corruption is not an end in itself. More crucially it is agonizing to see how it co-opts processes, perpetuates apathy and cripples vision and damages true development of the country, in its stride.

The Ghelot government embroiled in the infectious clime of corruption charges off late could not take the risk of another faceoff. But it took six days of threat and political muscling to make oneself heard. That is what makes such struggles symbolic. For six years the State has not found the time to investigate the matter and prioritize its development needs which is the shocking reality. It is attitudinal inadequacy that cuts across all parties.

The Rajasthan government has stood committed to make it an investment-friendly destination. A wide range of SOPs have been declared to advance the economic condition of the region. Mahindra World City, Jaipur for instance is a public–private partnership by Mahindra Group & RIICO that promises to transform Jaipur into an Integrated Business City with a Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The Rajasthan Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) has been doggedly pursuing this entrepreneur-friendly new face of Rajasthan promising to take it to new heights in the future.

The dichotomy lies in the fact that the same state which aggressively woos professional and entrepreneurs to contribute to its economic growth cannot see the importance of strengthening the quality of business education for long term growth and development. While they have pursued corporate conglomerate on bended knees they have failed to promote a progressive institutes which grooms and nurtures future business leaders. Rajasthan is one state where there are more vacancies in MBA seats than there are competitors which speaks volumes on the need to reinforce quality education in the State.

Again while on one hand a handful of its corporate houses have grabbed the headlines recently for bagging coveted contracts and enjoying the tedious task of land conversions within six months, it is a pity to see a premier educational institutes like Aravali on the verge closure for not getting the requisite government clearances on time. However, Trinton’s super growth has been attributed to the political advantage it had garnered by appointing the son of the CM as its corporate legal advisor. Aravali protesting against the devious government injunctions to convert a piece of land, for starting its campus makes one wonder whether there is any hope for well-meaning entrepreneural endeavours.

Around twelve years ago Varun Arya, a prolific professional with the double feathers of IIT, IIM, preferred to leave the lucrative corporate world to return to Rajasthan at the insistence and invitation of the political leaders of the day ( back in 1999) to invest in state building at that time. The Marwar Education Foundation (MEF) founded by him in 2000 maintaining its ethical high ground purchased 94.4 acres of extremely saline barren wasteland in Karparda, Tehsil Bilara, district of Jodhpur, as its limited resource permitted at that time. MEF paid a full stamp duty to the state government for its registration seeking no exemption whatsoever to avoid bribing in 2005.

Almost six years since then have been spent in running from pillar to post to convert the land to build educational infrastructure. It is easy to guess why Arya had not managed until now, to get the approving nod, greasing the palm being the order of the day. It is hard to reconcile why and how the State had not made any effort to bail him out and provide the much needed succour. “Despite several stumbling blocks, the institute managed to nurture the dream of small town boys like that of Pali, Nagaur, Dungarpur, Sikar to become management professionals and start their own enterprises,� says Arya. Supen Jain a final term student from Nagaur has willingly left the placement sessions to be part of the protest only, “to secure the future of many like him who have no means of availing quality higher education otherwise.�

Aravali is the only institute that follows the national standards of a common admission test and runs a very successful module of post graduate diploma in management, PGDM course, with some of the best faculty to boast of. It has given the students the privilege to interact with eminent guest speakers likes of Manmohan Singh and Montec Singh Alluwaliah in the past among many other stalwarts. It is surprising therefore that such an eminent institute can be reduced to fighting a battle for survival. To be patiently ignoring the “negotiation table� that calls for underhand deals and waiting at the corridors of power for mitigating its legal issues was a matter of both concern and shame for the nation.

It shows the blinkered approach of our media and think tanks. The same Jantar Mantar which became the hub of attention only a few days ago failed to garner adequate support for this understated, star bereft protest which was more important that a mere bill. The stalemate had nearly stalled the process of recruitment for the new academic session, dashing the hope of many a young management entrees. But that didn’t ring a bell.

The fact it developed cynicism in the minds of entrepreneurs, and a deep unforgiving distrust in the hearts of common man didn’t move the leaders . In an overwhelming gesture of support 2300 signatories from all over India and abroad, distinguished academicians, CEOs, IIT and IIM alumni and eminent leaders like Ravi Shankar came forward to support the protest. Under the leadership of Bhanuparasd 1 lakh farmers from the Farmers Union promised unstinted support to the cause and gharao the CM if no immediate action is taken. The CM reacted when he felt cornered enough and could not take the risk of another corruption charge.

The government finally buckled into action due to the six day protest, the farmer’s threat and the signature campaign. The lesson learnt is that without political heavyweights in the advisory board and godfathers to broker deals and proactively pursue administrative issues with the higher echelons for the government it is nearly impossible to get anything done no matter how noble the cause maybe.

Meanwhile Arya reminds, “The fight is not merely to uproot evil of corruption, but to replace promises with clear vision and a will to support it to take this country forward.�