Chairman, Rungta Group of Institutions, Chhattisgarh

Where would you place education on your national list of priorities?
Among the top of my list. Education is the biggest enabler, it empowers youth to succeed in realising their true potential. 

How best to upgrade government colleges?
Contemporary syllabuses/curriculums, well-trained faculty in sufficient numbers, industry–academia collaboration, introduction of skills development programmes and community participation. 

Thinker/philosopher you admire the most.
Undoubtedly our late President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam — thinker, philosopher and scientist. 

Your favourite Nobel laureate.
Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. 

Your leadership style.
Inclusive. Effective leadership requires all stakeholders to accept, assimilate and disseminate the leader’s philosophy, vision and mission. 

Your favourite book on education. 
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s Ignited Minds and  2020-A Vision for the New Millennium.
Also The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got That Way by Amanda Ripley.

For or against the RTE Act’s 25 percent reservation for underprivileged children in private schools?
I would like to see a scenario in which even affluent households send their children to government schools. 

Should the education outlay be doubled by cutting defence expenditure?
Security of the country is supreme. I believe that education requires a safe and peaceful environment which only our defence forces can provide.

How satisfied are you with the growth and development of Rungta Group of institutions?
We have grown at quite a fast pace and in just 15 years are ranked among the country’s Top 50 private professional education providers. We are on the right track, but we have a long way to go to attain many of our goals.  

Pessimistic or optimistic about the future of education in India? 
Very optimistic! Very soon, we will succeed in finding ways and means to provide the best inclusive education to all our children and youth.