IIT-Bombay connection

The corridors of power may have many Stephanians crossing paths, but the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, (IIT-Bombay) is now emerging as having been the alma mater of many key people in governance. The institute that has produced big names in the field of technology, business and entrepreneurship, also has its fair share of people who are the brains behind many innovative governance initiatives, and political strategists.

Rural development minister Jairam Ramesh, believed to be one of the main influencers of the strategies of both Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi, is one such. Many in the Congress believe Ramesh was the first person that both the Gandhis thought of when they decided to push the land acquisition bill, which is now in its final stages.

After Rahul Gandhi took up the issue of the farmers at Bhatta Parsaul who had been protesting against the acquisition of land for highways, he was insistent that the bill be made an effective law. Ramesh, who graduated from IIT-Bombay with a mechanical engineering degree in 1975, also played a very important role in the Congress’ political strategy and campaign that helped it return to power with an impressive tally in 2009.

Another IIT-Bombay alumnus, Nandan Nilekani, has led of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government’s ambitious Aadhar initiative. Being the chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys Ltd, is considered as the brain as well as the face of this landmark scheme. With the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme being looked upon as the main vote winner for the Congress and the UPA in the next elections, Nilekani has emerged a pivotal figure, despite being an apolitical person.

If Ramesh is the force behind Gandhis’ strategies, his college mate Sudheendra Kulkarni remains the Man Friday of former deputy prime minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani. Kulkarni was Advani’s main political aide during his heyday in national politics. What Kulkarni said in his newspaper columns was considered to be an articulation of what was on Advani’s mind. Even recently, when the BJP veteran was virtually isolated over the elevation of Narendra Modi as the political face of the main opposition party, it was Kulkarni who publicly came out and spoke for Advani.

The Gujarat chief minister meanwhile has another IIT-Bombay alumnus as a vocal supporter—Manohar Parrikar, chief minister of Goa, and a metallurgical engineer. Parrikar, a batch mate of Nilekani, went on to become the first IIT graduate to become the chief minister of any Indian state. He was also the first BJP chief minister to come out in support of Modi. Parrikar’s friends believe that if Modi becomes the Prime Minister, Parrikkar’s political influence will spread from the tiny state of Goa to the corridors of power in Delhi.

Then there’s also Sanjiv Bhatt, who has become a figure of controversy. The Gujarat IPS officer hit the headlines with his fight against Modi and became a favorite of his rivals, to the extent that his wife was made a Congress candidate against the Gujarat chief minister in the last assembly election.

Politics is perceived to be of little interest to those in the IITs, but IIT Bombay seems to have much to do with politics and governance these days.

Ajit Ranade, Mint columnist and chief economist AV Birla Group pointed out other IIT-Bombay alumni who are/have been involved with governance such as, Shailesh Gandhi, former Central Information Commissioner; Jay Narayan Vyas, minister in Gujarat’s cabinet for more than a decade; V. P. Baligar, principal secretary to CM, Karnataka; Satish Agnihotri, director general, shipping, Union ministry of shipping; Shripad Dharmadhikari, leader and spokesperson associated with Narmada Bachao Andolan for more than a decade.