“Here come the Modi Toadies. FYI (for your information), Toadies: I support no Indian political party and oppose all attacks on free speech. Liberty is my only party.” Salman Rushdie, acclaimed author, responding to hate messages following his tweet in support of Indian writers who returned their awards (October 13) “The way to characterise policies of the government is — Congress plus cow. Policies are the same.” Arun Shourie, former Union minister, on the BJP-led NDA government (Indian Express, October 27) “It came as something of a shock that Modi was willing to sacrifice the ministry of education — overseeing the entire field, from the primary level to the highest institutes — to please the RSS and appoint as its head a school-leaver to show his contempt for the entire intellectual community.” S. Nihal Sigh, former editor, author and columnist, in his newly released book The Modi Myth (Outlook, October 26) “Almost all those who become or want to become teachers do so to join public schools. The teacher labour market is entirely driven by the public school system.” Anurag Behar, CEO of Azim Premji Foundation, in an essay ‘Market no fix for education’ (Mint, October 29) … Perhaps a start can be made towards tackling pervasive mediocrity in Indian higher education by inducting talent at the head of the human resources ministry itself. Smriti Irani has strong political instincts; she can be moved to a political role. Editorial in Times of India on the increasing interference of the HRD ministry in the IITs (October 30) “With the spectre of fascism hanging low… it is better that judges continue to appoint judges howsoever imperfect the system may be, rather than leaving it to the tender mercies of Narendra Modi and his not very merry men.” Manish Tewari, Congress spokesperson, in support of the Supreme Court judgement striking down the NJAC Act (Deccan Chronicle, October 31) Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp
