Vice chairperson, Seth M.R Jaipuria School, Lucknow and Jaipuria Institutes of Management

Where would you place education on your national list of priorities?
First on my list. But education is more than being merely literate.
 
How best to upgrade government schools?
Through the private-public partnership model. Reputed private schools should be allowed to manage government schools without any interference.
 
Thinker/philosopher you admire most.
Sri Aurobindo.
 
Your favourite Nobel laureate.
Albert Einstein.
 
Your leadership style.
In my book, it’s example by action. I believe in creating leaders at multiple layers of organisations and clearly defining organisational goals. 
 
Your favourite book on education.
On Education by The Mother, Sri Aurobindo Ashram.
 
For or against the Right to Education Act’s 25 percent reservation for underprivileged children in private schools?
The RTE Act is a brilliant legislation with far-reaching consequences. But it’s not the solution for eradicating illiteracy from India.

Should the education outlay be doubled by cutting defence expenditure?
I don’t believe in such quick-fix solutions. More important is to focus on the content and pedagogy of education.
 
How satisfied are you with the growth and development of the Jaipuria group of institutions?
The Integral Education Society with its Jaipuria Institutes of Management, Lucknow, Noida, Jaipur and Indore and Seth M.R. Jaipuria schools in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, Varanasi, Patra, Haridwar, Agra, Faizabad, Barabanki, Gorakhpur, Deoria, Gonda, Hardoi, Sultanpur and Sidhi, is synonymous with quality education in India. 
 
Pessimistic or optimistic about the future of education in India? 
I feel optimistic because there’s a genuine search for value-oriented education among educationists, at least in the private sector.