THE FUTURE TAKES ROOT

How India's best colleges are shaping their students to be part of the country's growth objectives

- ABHINAV SINGH

A recent conversation with an outgoing student left a lasting impression on Professor John Varghese, principal of St. Stephen's College, Delhi. When Varghese asked the student about his future plans, he replied that he was joining IIT Madras to study chemistry. Varghese was happy. But, when he heard what the student wanted to do after going through IITM's renowned chemistry department, he was elated. "Sir, you said during an assembly that though our college had successful alumni, we do not have a Nobel laureate," the student said. "I am going to try to win a Nobel Prize." Moved, the principal responded with a hug. "If the students have such aspirations, they will surely do very well in life," said Varghese.

This is just one example of the students at India's top colleges aiming for the sky. As the country pushes on towards its vision of being a developed nation, today's students will have a key role to play in ushering in a better tomorrow. Viewed in that context, the responsibility on colleges takes on a whole new significance.

Nothing less than excellence will suffice. Colleges also have the vital duty of character building.

Thankfully, India's best colleges have always been aware of their critical task, even if parents, or indeed students, are sometimes guided by more short-term goals. While academic rigour is a given in the country's top colleges, there also seem to be a lot many initiatives afoot that are geared towards the wholeness of developing young minds. And, they stem from clear long-term vision.

You can feel this consciousness in the ambience of St. Stephen's, which has been ranked the best science college and the second best arts college in India by THE WEEK-Hansa Research Best Colleges Survey 2024.