 our leadership talk. Today we have with us our new dynamic chairman of all India Council for Technical Education, Professor T. G. Sitara. Sir, welcome to the leadership talk. Thank you. Bye. Namaskar. Namaskar to everyone. First I would like to congratulate you for taking over as a chairman for AICT. I think now you have been here for about a month or so and you would have understood all the systems. So, sir, how different was joining AICT as compared to your very illustrious work in organizations like IICS and IIT Guwahati. So, what is the difference you feel here? Thanks for a very intriguing question. This, you know, the movement from Indian Institute of Science to Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati to AICT is really a phenomenal thing. Let me tell you, when I was a professor at Indian Institute of Science, it was mainly, you know, as a civil engineer, I was doing my research work plus some consulting and guiding my doctoral students and many teaching for my masters and PhD students because as you know, in the Institute of Science, the postgraduate teaching institution, our undergraduate program is very small. We were not involved directly. From there, a moment was a phenomenal shift for me as an administrator at IIT Guwahati. Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati is in such a remote corner, I had not even been to that part of the world and it was a very young institute. When I joined, IIT Guwahati was completing 25 years. It was a synergistically celebration. So, it was 2019, July, first I joined the Institute. Then, you know, we took time to understand and then, you know, came up with large programs and by the time I left on December 20th of 2022, we had transformed that institute into multi-disciplinary education. See, we have started now School of Business, School of Health Science and Technology, School of Agro and Rural Technologies, School of Energy Science and Engineering and this is a phenomenal shift for, even for IITians. Even though IITs are known as, you see, today, when they started, they started as an engineering institution, elite engineering colleges, I can call. But today, they are multi-disciplinary research universities. I wanted to quote that word research. Research is very critical for the success of our higher education system as well as the country's growth. I think from there, I moved to AACTE, which is, I feel, you know, we can do some phenomenal changes. Whatever we do in IITs, even though we have 23 now, but majority of the older IITs are, we can say, about 8 to 10 are doing excellently well. And other, all of other things are coping up and becoming a institute of relevance. However, whatever we do will be restricted to that institute. But here, we can make a big change to the entire nation because 8000 and odd institutions are, comes under all India Council for Technical Education. Very true, sir. And this becomes very, very important because now our Honourable Prime Minister has given a clarion call that India should be developed country by 2047. And from that perspective, role of AACTE institutions are going to be far more critical than these premier institutions because 99% of our students are into these institutions. So, what is, what is, you think is your roadmap or vision and how our engineering colleges should gear up for fulfilling this vision of 2047? If you really want to become a relevant country in 2047 to the whole world, we need to focus on research and innovation. Please watch my word, I've used the first research. Innovation cannot happen without research. Is it true? Research, we need to focus on research. That is actually, if you look at these colleges, almost zero. They're not there. Innovation, I think, you know, thanks to your leadership at AACTE where we have brought the innovation, institutions, innovation centres have been created. There is some awareness about that now. I think we need to now augment the activities of research in these institutions. And we also need to really bring funds and provide funds to the faculty and students to do research. So, today what is happening is, you know, students are joining these institutions are simply looking at, you know, completing their bachelor's degree and get into a job. So placement is the critical activity there. But I think we need to, if you want to really transform our nation by 2047, we need to emphasise on Anusundhan. That's very critical aspect of these institutions. And if you look at our national education policy, 2020 also emphasises research, even from school education. So definitely in higher education, I think that sector, that's what I would like to focus in my term at AACTE, focus on research and innovation. So without research, innovation doesn't exist. Innovation will lead to products, technology, problem solutions for our country. And then, you know, our societies will see a sea change through these innovations. And from there, I think, you know, we can be sort of a developed country, serving the whole world, not only providing the manpower, also our products, technology products which are, I mean, Atman Nirbar Bharat is exactly the same thing. Honourable Prime Minister is emphasising Atman Nirbar Bharat. That means unless, you know, we, our country start producing our own products with our own innovations, I think we'll no be there at 247. So I think enough time is there and people are very intellectual. So if we create an ecosystem, I think we will do this positively. So that ecosystem which I would like to work on, a research ecosystem and the institutions. Sir, as you rightly said, sir, and you have actually used the phrase research and innovation. So your first research and then innovation. So what do you think? Where currently our tier two institutions, tier three institutions are lacking? They're lacking in terms of mindset. They're lacking in terms of finances available. Or it is just these institutions wants to give out degrees and tell students, give up a go and seek the job. So where you think the real issue is pinching? Actually, it's both. If you see, the mindset is, you know, we haven't really started asking questions to ourselves. What are our problems? So means you want to say mean, sir, that critical thinking is not there? Not there. Second is definitely finances. You need to pump in more money now. See, we cannot be less than 1% of our GDP into these higher education institution research funding. So we need to create a bigger research funding and make this available, particularly in the core engineering sectors. See today, whatever is happening in India is a lot of buzz about the emerging areas and IT cybersecurity and all that. But unless we do very well, similarly, in the core engineering sectors, I think we will not be there so easily because the products which are going to come will have an impact on our industries, medium and small scale and even heavy industries. All that has to be indigenously created. See, today, we have to stop our imports and start creating for ourselves and also for exports. Absolutely. I think we have the greatest potential. So you want to become the leader in 2047. This is what we have to happen. Not only we self sufficient in our own requirements, but also take it to the world. Our exports have to increase through our research and innovation and innovation is also very critical because we need to it's not just the research you do and leave it there. We need to take into products and technology transfers and even including, you know, packaging is also very, very important. So that is where we need to focus on and also we need to look at our humanities and social sense angle also. What do the people want? What is their requirement? How happy they are with our products? We need to also give them a more, I mean, confidence that Indian products are also excellent. So and also we also have to be a little bit patriotic. What is being done in India we need to buy. We should also emphasize the patriotism in our all young people, particularly we are the youngest nation in the world. 66% of the people are less than 35 years. So these are the people who are mobile. They can go to any part of the world. So they have to be very, you know, patriotic about our country that India we belong to that then they also have confidence to represent our nation. So I think with these two aspects built into their with their expertise and research and innovation, I think we can produce better products than any country is what has been done. This is not really a you know, India is actually historically if you see 5000 years of civilization and first agricultural activities started by in this region and you know, we were self sufficient in the last maybe about 200 years, we have lost that sheen. But I think we need to bring it back. This is a golden time. This this is the golden time. I think if anything can be transformed, this is the time because we have now the leadership is also thinking in the direction. Government is also positively reacting to these changes. And the institutions and people and every stakeholder has to work to make India the great game. This is our goal have to be that India has to become a Vishwa Guru. I think we need to emphasize more on our research and innovation. So you you very correctly emphasized on actually the philosophy which is internally within the government of making India Vishwa Guru and taking on that track. Sir, as you see, and you said that India is the youngest country currently. But when we are looking at these young people when we are talking to them when they're interacting with them, there is a lot of expectations from these young guys, you know, the society is getting aspirational. So I just want to just now take a different angle to our discussion. And sir, when we are talking about these expectations, when we are saying that these students need to actually go ahead perform to great job, it creates a lot of stress. So on this part of our discussion, I would really like to focus on because these are very, very important aspects because you have been with IISC Bangalore, where again, there is a very high competitive culture. Again, you have been a part of IIT systems where again, there is very high competitive culture. So sir, when you interacted with these high quality students, the stress level would have been very high amongst them, the competitive spirit would be very high. So sir, and then there are attempts of suicides and those kind of things. So from a leader perspective of an AICT institution like AICT sir. So what is your mantra for our youngsters? When it comes to stress management, when it comes to handling the expectations from the you have raised a very important point, which is actually hurting many of our young people. Definitely, we are seeing that numbers are rising. So the stress levels are also very high among the young people. Computation is very intense, particularly if you look at our JEE exams, we will tell you all that. Sometime I think we need to move away from this. See, you should enjoy what you are doing. You should learn what you like to learn. I think this is what the mantra should be that we should be get stressed and worked up on this. See, we all came from a small village. I particularly come from a small village called Talaku in Chittorpur district of Karnataka. I studied in a government model high primary school where we never even bothered about the whole outside world. We never even knew where was IAC, where was IIT. Even when after my pre-university, I did not know, even though I did my pre-university from National College, Bangalore, I think that is the kind of life is much better because you are not knowing many things. So today the information is so intense to the young people, they are getting stressed. So what they should do to overcome that? See, that is overcoming that itself is a real challenge for the young people and I think they should make that first step. I think you know, India has given this yoga and meditation to the whole world. Thanks to our Prime Minister, 180 and all countries are today celebrating the International Yoga Day on June 21st. I think this is the solution for us. Meditation will actually make you calm and you will be worried about failures because I tell you what you do every day, you know, it is not just sometimes, you know, you have to have a goal. But if you are, if you feel that you have failed in that, I think that is not should not worry you so much. So, sir, how you handle your failures? Many times, you know, whatever I wanted to become, I will never, never become. Let me tell you, these are all sometimes accidents, you end up there. But we always have a goal, saying that, okay, whether you all be successful or not successful, I take this as a challenge. Okay, I want to see unless you make an attempt, you will never be there, whenever you want to be there or whatever you want to achieve, you have to make an attempt, you have to make a sincere and serious attempt. Okay, whether it is your JEE exam or IAS, you know, UPSC exams, or even to because I want to become this, a doctor or engineer or an administrator for everything you have to work at it. Hard work definitely is very essential. But at the same time, when that doesn't happen, so you don't need to blame anybody. Okay, you cannot say, oh, it's destiny and all that, you know, I don't believe in that. But I think there is another step. So, you do another shot of it. So, the failures, every failure, you are going to learn something. So, that's that students should not take that whenever I feel, you know, your stress and something is worrying you. Just keep quiet. Keep sit down at one single place without moving. Not you don't need to chant anything. No, you just simply close your eyes, sit down and don't move your body, not your hands, not your head. 10 minutes, I will tell you, it will relax you. This relaxation practice is very, very key. And thanks to many of the leaders in this yoga and meditation, the thousands of them have a different version of it. You follow whatever you like, but do that. I will tell you every day, morning and evening doing that will take you to face the real challenges of the world and whatever you are facing. But I feel, you know, if your goal is to become that, you know, you try again. There's nothing wrong. You try again. Multiple times also if you tried and if you're not successful, don't worry. You may be there is something else better you will be doing. So I think you should take your life much more sincerely and seriously that you know, if you maybe you have chosen the path whatever you wanted to become may not be the right one for you. Okay, you have to take that very seriously and change your course also at the time. Okay, if you're not good in something, if you keep on trying, you'll never be successful. Very true. So you change your course, talk to people who are knowledgeable. So there are plenty of people available to your friends are there and parents are there. So this trust should not affect your career or yourself. So I think you know, you should start talking to people if you're not somehow comfortable with your things which are going on in your life. So talk to many of them. Even otherwise, no, no, I don't like to talk to my parents. I don't want to talk to my brothers and sisters. There are counsellors. See today, mental health should not be neglected. Mental health they have to take seriously. So mental health is one aspect which we have to focus and understand clearly that is also sort of a disease. If you don't take that seriously, I think we will really affect ourselves. So I advise my sincere advice to the people is every in everybody's life, there is a failure. It is not just yours. That gives you a solace. If I have to ask on scale of one to 10 or something of that sort, or when you're expecting from life, what is your ratio in your own life because you're one of a very successful person, you know, you're headed best of the organizations in India now currently heading one of the premier organizations in India. So success to failure rate if you have to ratio if you have to calculate for a person like you and in the yesterday informally, you are telling me that you have more. So what what is your failure rate versus success rate? Failure rate success rate is if you want me to really give me give you in numbers. It's a very difficult thing to say but anyway, I'll give you maybe nine is one nine failures is to one success rate. I mean you might be saying that many times, you know, but I don't consider them as a failure. See every day you will be putting a target for yourself. If you doesn't succeed in that, it is a failure only. But that is what I don't consider that as a failure. I say I learned today today something. Okay, this did not happen. Okay, let me see next today tomorrow. If something sometimes you know what happens is maybe whatever I'm trying maybe a wrong also. So I change my course also the way I approach the problem. Okay, a new problem. I change the course of that, you know, problem maybe you know, I want to become this. I want to do this today. I wanted to introduce a new program. Many things, you know, I'll give you one simple example. When I joined Goahti in 2019, I saw there was no other program other than engineering institution and it is core engineering and computer science and other things plus humanities. And I thought, you know, the looking at the ecosystem and also health care system in Assam, I thought it's a good time to think about a medical school in IIT. Coming from millions of science, you know, they are the time I'll tell you, the Institute of Science Kanpur was also thinking about this medical school. Karakpur already had done one step ahead of us, created a hospital already, but they are not yet started the school. So at that time, you know, I made a prepared a detailed presentation, made a presentation with the governor of Assam, chief minister of Assam. And then when I made a presentation to the chief minister of Assam, I told him very clearly, sir, this is a very out of the box thinking, because Indian Institute of Technology is getting into medicine. Why this is very essential? Today technology, the ones, you know, which we are have to be helping or working with doctors and clinicians to make a complete solution. So, sir, you are saying perseverance is the key, sir? Yes, definitely, you know, one one should not give up. So, a person keep trying. And even that applies to not just the individuals, even the institutions, okay, even today IITs have become so good, because if you just imagine 1960s, they were just elite engineering colleges. In 2000, 2010, up to 2000, they were only engineering colleges. After 2010, additional institutions have been added, today we have 23 of them. But today, you can definitely brand IIT is a brand in the world, not just here. You look at the top achievers and top CEOs of the companies and startups and unicorns, everywhere IITs have started. Today, I will say Indian Institute of Technologies or Institutes of Indian Technologies. This is really amazing transformation for an institution. Why did they become like that? Because they perceived, they were, they did not listen to anybody. They said, okay, we want to do, create a very transparent, high-ended, quality, conscious and such kind of people only they got together. You know, that is the, today why IITs are successful, because you see in that compound, very high-end thinking goes on. Whether it is a simple mundane of examination, conducting or a curriculum, everything is seriously discussed very democratically and people hear to others views and that is the kind of a thing, you know, we need to culture. If you want to really become the world leader, India is, that is why it is poised to become a world leader. Our democratization is the key for us. But do you think, sir, private institutions in India can actually become someone like IIT? It is possible. I am of the strong opinion, it is possible. But right now if you ask me. And what they need to do for that? Yes, right now if you ask me what is there in them, actually it is not there right now. What they have to do is, I will tell you, institutions have to focus on research. And institutions should focus on PhD research. I am telling you, large number of PhD scholars should be admitted in the institutions. As teachers, as even research scholars, I will tell you, PhD is very key. Why? Because that is the time people coolly think about a research problem and how to analyze it and methods to analyze it and question them. Every step, every day they query. That is where the innovation also come in. The innovation will come when they ask questions. Very true. So this culture was missing in the last 100 years because of road learning. See, whatever you study you just mug up and spit it out. I think we should. Parikshepe Charcha is another beautiful example. So we need to look at these examinations are really required for us. You need to examine yourself. Every time you need to examine yourself. You ask questions to yourself. Try to answer them. I think we will be in a better position. So I feel these institutions should focus on research. And innovation definitely is a component of that. But that also needs to be nurtured. I think that's where AACTE would like to bring more focus on research and innovation. For that, what else we need to do? One is asking these institutions to engage more research scholars and PhD holders. In addition to that, we also have to provide them funds. Funds are very critical. So majority of the time, you know, more than the scientific infrastructure, it is the human capital is very important. Very true. Human mind is really mind boggling. It's actually, I'll say it's one of the biggest machine. Okay. You need to nurture that talent in the institutions. And if you are able to do that, our even private institutions, even government institutions, government colleges can become IITs. There's nothing wrong about it. I think we, it is the same people, please understand. It is the same people who are there. What really, why it cannot happen? It can happen. Only thing is that space should be given to them. That space of the debate, discussion and query. Automatically, this research led innovations will be much stronger footage also. Okay. I feel that we have to take this as a big step. This is what I'm looking at AACT will take the leadership role in creating research and innovation. India is a country with many languages. There are language barriers also need to understand. That's where AACT is doing another major initiative. So with our different, you know, we would like to provide people to think in their language. Then it becomes much easier. You see, otherwise you get stressed by translating in your mind from your mother tongue to English or any other language. So we will provide them an opportunity to think in their language and also read in their language. So that's what AACT is actually this language AI, deep learning language translation tool will provide soon textbooks, which are outcome based education to all the colleges first internally with us with adopting model curriculum of AACT and to the whole world. Let me tell you, there are countries waiting to read our books. So if you can penetrate these books in different languages of the world, what has been developed by our professors from IITs, NITs and also private universities, I think, you know, that will change the entire world because this books which are completely technology also assisted books. That means we have many, you know, new features in these books. I think I would like, you know, many of the audiences today listening to us should look at the initiative of the textbook writing of the AACT, which is a fantastic program. We need to put this material in local languages like Kannada, English, Hindi, Marathi, you know, Assanese. All these, you know, what happens is that rural kid who is not very proficient in English would be able to pick up and everyone is very innovative if you allow him. The mind is actually, you know, whether he comes from a small village or a medium town or a big city, I don't think much difference. I will tell you. There may be a fantastic talents in rural India. So we are actually still today a village-centric country. Six lakhs and not villages are there. So unless we do this change in the rural settings, whether it is infrastructure wise or the people, sort of liberation of mind, what we call, we cannot become a fight lane economy. So this is very, very critical for us. I think this was a very, very interesting discussion, sir. I think large number of colleges and students who would be watching, would be listening to you, sir. They might have been immense insights on the way you are thinking of taking AICT forward and what they should do, what they should not do in their life to handle their challenges. And as you rightly said, perseverance is the key. So thank you, sir. It was great pleasure talking to you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Namaskar. Namaskar to everyone.