Although Vinayak V. Dalvie has been the Mumbai-based deputy secretary (education) to the governor of Maharashtra since November 2003, serving first with erstwhile governor Mohammed Fazal and currently with the incumbent SM Krishna, he prefers to regard himself as a teacher. “When I accepted this assignment in the governor‚s mansion, I requested I should be permitted to continue with my teaching,” he says. Having duly received gubernatorial assent, Dalvie continues to teach fisheries and endocrinology at the Masters level in Mumbai University. Moreover, he is visiting lecturer at the Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art. Inside the palatial seaside Raj Bhavan office-cum-residential complex in Mumbai‚s elite Malabar Hill, Dalvie assists the governor to discharge his duties as chancellor of 19 universities across Maharashtra (pop. 98 million).

Dalvie is eminently qualified for the several duties he discharges. With a Masters in fisheries and endocrinology from the University of Mumbai, a Masters in fine art from the Sir J.J. School of Fine Arts and MMS from Mumbai‚s Welingkar Institute of Management, he has been an active researcher of subjects as diverse as zoology and business management. Not an individual who believes that education can ever be completed, Dalvie is currently researching the potential of international marketing of Indian education in Mumbai‚s renowned Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies. Prior to signing up for gubernatorial duties four years ago, most of Dalvie‚s 25-year teaching career was in Mumbai‚s well-known Mithibai College from where he rose to positions of importance in Mumbai University, including director of students‚ welfare, foreign students‚ advisor and director of the information bureau. His continuous interaction with tertiary students has convinced Dalvie there is a bright future in marketing Indian higher education internationally.

“The future of higher education is bright in India though unfortunately today the situation is that foreign students aspiring to study in here are given an awful run-around. Moreover, most hostels built for foreign students have more Indians than foreign students staying in them. But I expect a turnaround in the situation in three-five years. Meanwhile, I will do what I can to rectify the situation while supporting foreign students seeking assistance in getting admission into colleges in Maharashtra,” says Dalvie, who believes there is a huge opportunity for attracting college students from the Gulf countries, Thailand and South America to India. Simultaneously Dalvie is working on creating research awareness in Maharashtra‚s 19 universities. “Governor Krishna recently launched Avishkar, an initiative focused on encouraging research culture in undergraduate, postgrad and doctoral students. Under Avishkar students will be given opportunities to exhibit their research projects at various events and interact with experts in their fields who will act as judges and reward them significantly. Higher education in India has a huge capacity to expand. I want to participate in the process of expansion and quality improvement simultaneously,” says Dalvie.

Gaver Chatterjee (Mumbai)