“A brand needs to reinvent itself. It also needs to keep its reputation untarnished. A brand like IIT can’t be setting wrong questions”. Anand Kumar, founder of the Super 30 IIT-JEE coaching programme, in a critique of the IITs (Outlook, July 6) “Cut eight days of military spending to give all children access to 12 years of free education.” Malala Yousafzai, Nobel peace prize winner (Deccan Chronicle, July 8) “Is there one invention from India that has become a household name in the globe? Is there one technology that has transformed the productivity of global corporations? Is there one idea that has lead to an earth shaking invention to delight global citizens? Folks, the reality is that there is no such contribution from India in the past 60 years.” N.R. Narayana Murthy, mentor of IT behemoth Infosys Ltd, in a convocation address at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (July 16) “There is one clear, discernible, modern value that is spreading unstoppably and that is the yearning everywhere in India for education… For the first time in Indian history, all Indians dream of being educated. This is the greatest hope of India.” Kanti Bajpai, educationist and foreign affairs expert, on ‘The Indian Dream’ (Times of India, July 18) “I ask them not to yield to an economic model which is idolatrous.” Pope Francis, continuing his antipoverty campaign with a harsh critique of capitalism as a system that sacrifices “human lives on the altar of money and profit” (Time, July 27) “Throughout his long and distinguished life, Kalam retained a child-like curiosity and enthusiasm. His infinite capacity to absorb new ideas and learn, and readiness to spread sensible ideas and successful models made him a great communicator and teacher…” Jayaprakash Narayan, founder of the Lok Satta Party, in a tribute to former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (1931-2015), The Hindu, July 30)
