“The 52 primers in Indian languages have paved the way for the beginning of a new civilisational renaissance.”
Dharmendra Pradhan, Union education minister, launching 52 school textbooks in Indian non-scheduled languages (Hindustan Times, March 9)
“The government will probably claim that it was simply following the law; that Kejriwal was not responding to summons. But the law was already being applied in a way that was highly discretionary. If you have a government that does not allow the Opposition to mobilise, organise and govern, it is hard to pretend that we are a democracy. The election is already being vitiated.”
Pratap Bhanu Mehta, former president, Centre for Policy Research, on the arrest of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal (Indian Express, March 24)
“We just need to get basic primary and secondary education right. We are very, very far away from being able to produce a fit, healthy and able workforce that will positively contribute to making the country a Viksit Bharat by 2047, irrespective of whichever path of development we choose.”
Economist Rohit Lamba on enhancing human capital (Business Standard, March 28)
“We aim to democratise technology in schools and ensure that every child, regardless of background, has access to quality education.”
Prime minister Narendra Modi in conversation with Microsoft’s Bill Gates on India leveraging AI to revolutionise education (March 29)
“Yet again a journalist has asked me to identify an individual who is the alternative to Mr. Modi. The question is irrelevant in the Parliamentary system. We are not electing an individual — as in a presidential system — but a party, or coalition of parties, that represents a set of principles and convictions that are invaluable to preserve India’s diversity, pluralism, and inclusive growth.”
Shashi Tharoor, Congress MP (Times of India, April 3)
