Indian politicians extraordinary: Yale

Indian politicians extraordinary: Yale

Having taught a group of 10 Indian parliamentarians, renowned faculty
members of the prestigious Yale University have found that Indian
politicians are ''extraordinarily intelligent.''

They are also quick learners of things than their counterparts in
other countries including the US and China.

''The students (Indian Parliamentarians) were exceptional,'' Linda
Koch Lorimer, Vice-President of the Yale University told NDTV.Com
after the conclusion of the first-ever ''Leadership Program for India
Parliamentarians'' held at the New Haven campus of the Yale
University.

Highly impressed with the level of active participation from these
Indian politicians during the five-days of intensive classes.

''Indian politicians are extraordinarily intelligent, extraordinarily
passionate about India's advancement and extraordinarily committed to
helping the nation and its people,'' Lorimer said.

Impressive traits
Jefferey Sonnenfeld, Chief Executive Leadership Institute of Yale
School of Management, who has also taught politicians from China and
the US, said he was ''amazed'' by quick grasping power of Indian
politicians. ''We wish, we had them for one more week,'' he said.

After instructing these Indian politicians, Sonnenfeld said the most
striking part of these MPs were their tolerance level, intellectual
tenacity and their commitment.

Having the experience of teaching American lawmakers, he said, he
really has tough time in keeping the US legislators in the classroom
for long.

''They (the US lawmakers) would constantly come and go. Nobody here
left. Not a single person, during the four days even for a minute
picked up a black berry or a cell phone. This is never the case with
US legislators and politicians that are always doing some hit and run
engagement they really do not see,'' Sonnenfeld said.

He added, ''This is an exceptional group of individuals. They are
alert, engaged, smart, and passionate. My one surprise was how
connected they were to business and management. Some run newspapers,
some run hotels. So they understand not just the political
environment but also some of the management challenges as well.''

Another faculty member, Barry Nalebuff, Milton Steinbach Professor of
Management, who gave practical lessons in negotiations said: ''They
are alert, engaged, smart and passionate.''

The programme was organized by the Yale Parliamentary Leadership
Program in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of
Commerce and Industry and the India-US Forum of Parliamentarians.

The first batch of the Indian parliamentarians' team was led by the B
J Panda, Janata Dal MP from Rajya Sabha. Other members of the group
were Deepender Singh Hooda (Lok sabha), Robert Kharshiing, (Rajya
Sabha); Chandan Mitra (Rajya Sabha); Dharmendra Pradhan (Lok Sabha);
R.C.S. Reddy (Rajya Sabha); Shahid Siddiqui (Rajya Sabha); and
Dushyant Singh (Lok Sabha.)

Objectives
The program was developed in consultation with the parliamentarians
and the India-US Forum of Parliamentarians and reflects the belief
that exposure to new fields and ideas can offer insight, perspective,
and new ways of thinking for one's own work.

The topics covered program include economic and social development in
India, democracy and the secular state, India - China economic
relations, affirmative action, Climate Change and Sustainable
Development, Foreign Direct Investment in India, Strategy,
Negotiation and Game Theory for the Politician, Strategic Thinking
for the Politician, and Energy Security.

''The effort has turned out to be far better than we had expected,''
Panda told NDTV.Com after the four-day course was over. Though no
exams were held at the end, they were given a certificate from the
University at a small graduation ceremony held Saturday evening.

When these MPs went to collect their certificate from Lorimore, the
rest from the group cheered just like a graduate student. The MPs
celebrated their graduation by having their dinner at a Ethiopian
restaurant in New Heaven.

''There was a degree of apprehension that we were going to get a
program where four days would seem like 40,'' Panda said about what
he and his colleagues thought the day he arrived in New Heaven.

''But I must tell you, it was exactly the opposite that has happened
starting from the very first session. Throughout these four days, we
have been exposed to some of the best minds in academia, we have been
exposed to new data, new perspectives, provocative thoughts on new
issues as well as on issues which we thought we knew and
understood,'' he said.

Panda said the special leadership course developed for the Indian
Parliamentarians by Yale University got them to think again on many
subjects: what is the impact of globalization on India's poor, what
is impact of economic growth on cast relations?

The MPs are so impressed by this leadership program that they have
already started talking about its expansion. ''I have suggested to
Yale that if they could bring this faculty to India and do a program
there we can cover much larger number of MPs,'' he said.

''The whole exposure to creative thinking, maximizing positions in
negotiating strategies is something that we have learnt from the best
management professors,'' Panda said.

The parliamentarians now move to Washington next week where they
would be meeting a host of government officials from the State
Department, Treasury, Pentagon and also Congressmen and leaders of
the America's corporate world.