The Hindu Business Line : Knowledge Pentagon

WHILE the US has only a brick and mortar Pentagon, India is going to have a Knowledge Pentagon to "rejuvenate and innovate our knowledge institutions" The architect of the Pentagon will be the Knowledge Commission, constituted on June 3. The five sides of the Pentagon are: Increased access to knowledge for public benefit and as a way of making liberal democracy thrive at the grassroots; development of new concepts of higher education; "rejuvenation" of science and technology institutions, greater application of knowledge to enhance manufacturing competitiveness; and encouragement to intensive use of knowledge-based services by the Government to empower citizens.

When the Pentagon is in full swing, it is expected "to strengthen the roots and sinews of our capacity and capability-building, so that we are better prepared for the challenges of the 21st Century", and enable India to become not merely a knowledge producing society but a "knowledge-sharing and knowledge-consuming society" which, in turn, will "build a more open society and a more open economy".

With Mr Sam Pitroda as the Chairperson, Dr P.M. Bhargava as the Vice-Chairperson and members of the likes of Drs Deepak Nayyar, Andre Beteille, Jayati Ghosh and Pratap Bhanu Mehta, and Messrs. Ashok Ganguly and Nandan Nilekani, the Commission's clout is not in doubt. It certainly is well equipped both intellectually and professionally to carry out its mission.

But three factors may go against its measuring up to expectations. First, the wide amplitude of each of the assigned tasks deserving a full-fledged Commission in its own right; second, the Commission being made to draw its logistic support from the Planning Commission, a body drained of vitality and vigour; and third, the Commission being made to take guidance from a National Steering Group of a number of Ministers with the Prime Minister at the head. This last requirement is bound to hamstring the Commission in thinking beyond the dot.

October 2, 2005 was the date set for the Commission to come out with its action programme. Whether or not it keeps to the date will be one test of its earnestness and credibility. We should know by the time this column appears what it plans to do and how.

B. S. Raghavan

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