Recently, I put a query on a popular social networking site, "Why can't we have a simple rule that only sports persons can run sports institutions and only academicians can run academic institutions?" This question had really been puzzling me for a number of days and I wanted to use the online social media to have a quick round of general opinion survey. The outcome was a pleasant surprise.
I got 10 replies in all. A simple reading of the same will prove that all of them are frank and honest expressions straight from the heart.
Some of them really felt that relevant field experience is a must to administrate a field. A very learned lady opined, "The forthcoming Commonwealth Games makes one ponder. Why? Sonna tapp kar hei Kundan banta hai, Agar sona lohar ke haath mey dey diya jaye to kya hoga. Yeh haal kuch aise hei hai." It was very clear from this opinion that absence of relevant experience decreases the acceptability of a person and keeps him on test in the eyes of public. Similarly, a very ambitious and energetic young engineer expressed his views in these words, "Exactly sir! Common sense is so uncommon these days & moreover it's India, sir, jahan sab ek ajube se kam nahi he!"
On the other hand, many of them clearly supported the other view. They believed that management is a professional job, may it be academic or sports, the tricks of institution management are same everywhere. "To run an institution some manipulative and administrative skills are required which are not the mandatory conditions to be a good sportsperson." Another one said, "Institutions need to be run by capable Leaders. Be it Sports or Academic; Managing both requires sound knowledge and more than knowledge Matured Head and Right Attitude..I'm not for sportsmen to run sport institutions and other way round......There are examples which support this and vice versa. We have seen Greg Chapel leading Australian's Cricket Camp successfully and failed to do so with Indian Team. Our great Dr A P J Abdul Kalam is a great leader and has been able to play multiple roles and has been one of the most successful leaders of all times." And another experienced administrator posted, "They can be good as faculty. But administrators are administrators. By that way sanitation, health, civic people cannot run municipal corporation. We need planners, executors and administrators."
The discussion was very enjoyable, of course! It was getting very difficult for me to moderate the same as the arguments from both the sides sounded very logical ones. I asked to myself, "How would i strike a golden mean in the ongoing debate?" And then suddenly someone commented as a reply to the same query, "Life is complicated ...that's why this world is also complicated." A very good way to wind up a discussion. And this comment actually did the same. But the question remained.
I conducted a little survey in the real world. And the results were shocking. Politicians are everywhere. Builders are everywhere. Liquor merchants are everywhere. Education and Sports are controlled by them in this nation to a great extent.
Should we complain? Should we object? No! I can't. I simply object to the optimism of our dear futurologist Mr Alvin Toffler. Knowledge is not yet power. At least not in our dear India. Muscle power and money power still hold the baton. And who dares to challenge?
I got 10 replies in all. A simple reading of the same will prove that all of them are frank and honest expressions straight from the heart.
Some of them really felt that relevant field experience is a must to administrate a field. A very learned lady opined, "The forthcoming Commonwealth Games makes one ponder. Why? Sonna tapp kar hei Kundan banta hai, Agar sona lohar ke haath mey dey diya jaye to kya hoga. Yeh haal kuch aise hei hai." It was very clear from this opinion that absence of relevant experience decreases the acceptability of a person and keeps him on test in the eyes of public. Similarly, a very ambitious and energetic young engineer expressed his views in these words, "Exactly sir! Common sense is so uncommon these days & moreover it's India, sir, jahan sab ek ajube se kam nahi he!"
On the other hand, many of them clearly supported the other view. They believed that management is a professional job, may it be academic or sports, the tricks of institution management are same everywhere. "To run an institution some manipulative and administrative skills are required which are not the mandatory conditions to be a good sportsperson." Another one said, "Institutions need to be run by capable Leaders. Be it Sports or Academic; Managing both requires sound knowledge and more than knowledge Matured Head and Right Attitude..I'm not for sportsmen to run sport institutions and other way round......There are examples which support this and vice versa. We have seen Greg Chapel leading Australian's Cricket Camp successfully and failed to do so with Indian Team. Our great Dr A P J Abdul Kalam is a great leader and has been able to play multiple roles and has been one of the most successful leaders of all times." And another experienced administrator posted, "They can be good as faculty. But administrators are administrators. By that way sanitation, health, civic people cannot run municipal corporation. We need planners, executors and administrators."
The discussion was very enjoyable, of course! It was getting very difficult for me to moderate the same as the arguments from both the sides sounded very logical ones. I asked to myself, "How would i strike a golden mean in the ongoing debate?" And then suddenly someone commented as a reply to the same query, "Life is complicated ...that's why this world is also complicated." A very good way to wind up a discussion. And this comment actually did the same. But the question remained.
I conducted a little survey in the real world. And the results were shocking. Politicians are everywhere. Builders are everywhere. Liquor merchants are everywhere. Education and Sports are controlled by them in this nation to a great extent.
Should we complain? Should we object? No! I can't. I simply object to the optimism of our dear futurologist Mr Alvin Toffler. Knowledge is not yet power. At least not in our dear India. Muscle power and money power still hold the baton. And who dares to challenge?
