India’s self-projection as a knowledge economy, a goal it seeks to achieve by 2020, needs to be measured against both practical and conceptual difficulties. The National Knowledge Commission of India acknowledged the first, but elided the second set of problems. Basic education for all and an equitable distribution of educational resources are India’s first priorities, yet the public university remains the most important site of social change and knowledge production. While it is held back by funding and infrastructural inadequacies, shadowed by political influence, and trapped in debates regarding public and private funding, central or state control, meritocracy and affirmative action, it is also a site of opportunity. Its strength lies in its ability to mirror the nation and the democratic process, and to create knowledge not just as product, but as tool.
Browne Sir T. ( 1658 [1646]) Pseudodoxia Epidemica: or, Enquiries into very many received tenents, and commonly presumed truths, 3rd edn. London: R.W. for Nath. Ekins.
Chaudhuri S. ( 2009) New lamps for old. The Telegraph , Calcutta, 27 October, available at: http://st2suxwd01.connectria.com/1091027/jsp/opinion/story_11640796.jsp (accessed 10 May 2010).
4.
Dahlman C. and Utz A. ( 2005) India and the Knowledge Economy: Leveraging Strengths and Opportunities. Washington DC: World Bank.
5.
Debroy B. ( 2008) Higher education in India - Ducking the answers . ISAS Insights31: 16 May.
6.
Drucker P. ( 1966) The Effective Executive. New York: Harper & Row.
7.
Drucker P. ( 1968) The Age of Discontinuity. New York : Harper & Row.
Hayek F. ( 1945) The use of knowledge in society. American Economic Reviewxxxv: 519-530.
10.
Labaree DF ( 2000) No exit: Public education as an inescapably public good . In: Cuban L and Shipps D (eds.) Reconstructing the Common Good. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 110- 129.
11.
Lenin VI ( 1966 [1902]) Essential Works of Lenin: ‘What Is to Be Done?’ and Other Writings, ed. Christman HM.New York: Bantam Books.
12.
Macaulay TB ( 1965 [1835]) Minute by the Hon’ble T. B. Macaulay, dated the 2nd February, 1835. In: Sharp H (ed.) Bureau of Education: Selections from Educational Records, Part I (1781- 1839). Calcutta: Superintendent, Government Printing Press, 1920; rpt. Delhi: National Archives of India, 107-117.
13.
Machlup F. ( 1962) The Production and Distribution of Knowledge in the United States. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
14.
Mehta PB and Beteille A. ( 2006) Letters of resignation from the National Knowledge Commission, addressed to the Prime Minister of India. Available at: http://www.indiatogether.org/2006/may/opi-nkcresign.htm (accessed 10 May 2010).
15.
Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India (2009) Concept note on innovation universities. Available at: http://www.education.nic.in/uhe/Universitiesconceptnote.pdf (accessed 10 May 2010).
16.
National Knowledge Commission, Government of India (2006) Note on higher education, 29 November 2006. Available at: http//www.knowledgecommission.gov.in/downloads/recommendations/HigherEducationNote.pdf (accessed 10 May 2010).
17.
National Knowledge Commission, Government of India (2009) (March). Report to the nation, 2006-2009. Available at: http://www.knowledgecommission.gov.in/downloads/report2009/eng/report09.pdf (accessed 10 May 2010).
18.
Newman JH ( 1905 [1853]) Knowledge its own end. In: The Idea of a University Defined and Illustrated. London : Longmans, Green and Co., 99-123.
19.
Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development [OECD] (2009) Education at a glance, 2009. OECD indicators (September). Available at: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/41/25/43636332.pdf (accessed 10 May 2010).
20.
Panikkar KN ( 2010) Interview (1 March). The Hindu , Chennai, India. Available at: http://beta.thehindu.com/education/article124175.ece (accessed 10 May 2010).
21.
Planning Commission, Government of India (2006) (December). Towards faster and more inclusive growth: An approach to the 11th five year plan. http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/app11_16jan.pdf (accessed 10 May 2010).
22.
Roy R. ( 1973 [1823]) To Lord Amherst on English education . In: Ghosh AK (ed.) Rammohun Rachanabali [Works]. Kolkata: Haraf Prakashani433-436.
23.
RTE (2008) The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill (2008). Government of India. Available at: http://education.nic.in/Elementary/right%20free%20education.pdf (accessed 10 May 2010).
24.
Viswanathan G. ( 1989) Masks of Conquest: Literary Study and British Rule in India. New York: Columbia University Press.
25.
Yash Pal Committee, Government of India (2009) Report of the Committee to Advise on Renovation and Rejuvenation of Higher Education (June). http://www.academics-india.com/Yashpal-committee-report.pdf (accessed 10 May 2010).
