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Correspondent

23 August 2024 at 4:29:04 pm

Trust Reset

As the recent protests over the NEET paper leak showed, India’s examination system has reached a point where incremental repairs are no longer enough. The appointment of a high-powered task force on examination reforms, headed by technology pioneer Nandan Nilekani, is therefore not merely an administrative response to the NEET-UG paper leak crisis but a concrete attempt to rebuild confidence in one of the country’s most important public institutions. Examinations are gateways to opportunity,...

Trust Reset

As the recent protests over the NEET paper leak showed, India’s examination system has reached a point where incremental repairs are no longer enough. The appointment of a high-powered task force on examination reforms, headed by technology pioneer Nandan Nilekani, is therefore not merely an administrative response to the NEET-UG paper leak crisis but a concrete attempt to rebuild confidence in one of the country’s most important public institutions. Examinations are gateways to opportunity, social mobility and professional ambition. For millions of students across the country, a competitive examination represents years of sacrifice by families and the possibility of a better future. When question papers leak repeatedly, evaluation systems fail or allegations of manipulation emerge, the resulting damage strikes at the idea of fairness itself. The crisis surrounding NEET-UG exposed uncomfortable vulnerabilities in the country’s examination infrastructure. The resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the subsequent appointment of Pralhad Joshi with additional charge of the ministry underlined the political seriousness of the issue. But political accountability alone cannot fix a structural problem. That is why the composition of the new task force is a move on the right direction. It brings together expertise from technology, space research, intelligence, education administration and logistics. Nilekani’s appointment is particularly significant. The former Infosys chief executive and architect of Aadhaar has experience in building large-scale digital public infrastructure involving hundreds of millions of citizens. The Aadhaar project itself was born out of a similar challenge: how to create a reliable identity system in a country where leakages and duplication weakened welfare delivery. India’s examination system now requires the same kind of thinking. The committee’s mandate to examine the entire examination lifecycle - from question paper creation and distribution to candidate verification, evaluation and results - is the right approach. The problem lies in multiple weak points where human intervention, poor security protocols and outdated processes can create opportunities for malpractice. Technology will inevitably be central to the solution. Artificial intelligence can help detect unusual patterns, blockchain-based verification can strengthen record security and better data systems can improve transparency. But a secure examination system requires independent oversight, professional management, clear accountability and swift punishment for wrongdoing. India’s National Testing Agency was created to bring efficiency and standardisation to public examinations. Its credibility must now be restored through reforms that are visible and trusted by students. The Nilekani task force has been given the difficult job of repairing that trust. The government has chosen a committee led by people with experience of managing complex national systems. It is a sensible first step. The real test will now be whether its recommendations translate into action.

A Man with a Golden Arm and an Even More Golden Heart

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

A Man with a Golden Arm and an Even More Golden Heart

It is rare when an idol becomes a close friend, but Karsan Devji Ghavri, known affectionately as Kadu Bhai, feels more like an elder brother. Even decades after his retirement, Karsan Ghavri remains widely admired, so much so that Prime Minister Narendra Modi twice offered him a political position, which he declined both times—first while coaching West Bengal’s cricket team and later to care for his ailing 90-year-old mother, Ba.

Hailing from a joint family from Rajkot, Gujarat, Karsan Ghavri started playing cricket at the age of 11 and went on to represent India in the All Schools tournament in Australia. The story is that a Mumbai batsman who heard of this fierce young pace bowler from Gujarat suggested the Mumbai team management import him to Mumbai so that he did not have to face the wrath of his pace, and that is how Karsan Ghavri played for Mumbai and went on to become a “Pakka Mumbaikar.”

His neighbours once ambushed him at a movie theatre with drums and garlands upon hearing of his selection for the Indian cricket team under Tiger Pataudi in 1975. His biggest concern then wasn’t his performance but how to accommodate all 35 relatives eager for tickets to his debut Test match. Kadu Bhai, known for his charm both on and off the field, remained unfazed even when his dalliance with a Pakistani beauty caused a stir. Despite being labelled as “lady killer,” he humbly credits legends like Tiger Pataudi and Salim Durrani as far more charming.

Karsan Ghari holds the record of being the first Indian pace bowler to take 100 wickets, a record that remains unbroken. He represented India for 8 years, playing 39 test matches and 19 one-day internationals. Ghavri was also a skilled spin bowler, often wiping out the opposition so effectively that Captain Bishan Singh Bedi warned him against bowl spinning, even in practice. Among his memorable performances, his dismissal of Greg Chappell and his explosive 86 against Australia are still celebrated after all these years.

Whether at the school, university, Ranji Trophy, or international level, Karsan Ghavri served Indian cricket with distinction. He represented West Zone, Mumbai, and his club with pride. Legend has it that Ghavri lost his spot on the Indian cricket team due to a disagreement with his captain at the time.

Beyond his achievements on the field, Karsan Ghavri has a knack for spotting talent, having discovered Shubman Gill at age 10 and identified Cheteshwar Pujara as a teenager. Many young cricketers who have represented India have played under his guidance, and he remains respected not only for his cricketing prowess but for his gentlemanly demeanour.

Karsan Ghavri ranks Dilip Kumar as 1 to 10 among actors and Sir Gary Sobers as 1 to 10 among cricketers, with everyone else starting from 11. A style icon, Ghavri’s clothes were impeccably tailored. He reflects that, despite earning very little throughout their careers, they wore the finest clothes and dined at the best places, but had no savings.

Earning just a few hundred rupees per day to play a Test for India, Ghavri appreciates how the Board has revolutionised Indian cricket, taking good care of both current and retired players. He recalls that it was a dream to play for India under any conditions—on underprepared pitches, without protective gear, and facing the world’s fastest bowlers. “It was an honour to wear the Indian cap and play for India,” says Ghavri, a proud nationalist.

After 60 years, Karsan Ghavri is bidding farewell to Mumbai, returning to Rajkot, and fulfilling his 90-year-old mother’s dreams. While Mumbai cricket’s loss will be Indian cricket’s gain, his focus includes looking after his mother, being a mentor of the Saurashtra cricket team, and running his upcoming Karsan Ghavri cricket academy in Morbi, Gujarat. With two successful daughters and a son, he remains a devoted family man, never speaking ill of anyone in the 20 years I’ve known him. His unwavering dedication to his family and cricket continues to define him.

He promises to return to Mumbai every month for four days to meet his many friends and fans and to enjoy a round of golf, a game he excels at.

Wishing him the best at his new home, new academy, and Saurashtra cricket.

Kadu bhai, Yaaro ka Yaar

Cheers to a Champion!!

(The writer is a spokesperson for Shiv Sena. Views personal.)

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