My Harvard Reunion

On June 9th Harvard Yard was full of Students in the heart of Cambridge near Boston. Once again the old and young were trotting the familiar grounds and getting nostalgic about their connection with this primo educational institute of the modern world. Red Line Subway was crammed with relatives and friends of the students who were graduating. Flower, Coffee, Gift shops were buzzing with activity and cash registers were making noises as slot machines do in Atlantic City. Grand Fathers, Grand Mothers, Moms and Dads were blossoming at Harvard Coop while buying gifts to take home as momentos to show to their friends and family.

There was one young couple who actually got engaged to the cheers of passer bys right in front of Emerson Hall.

Harvard Coop was full of people as never seen before and for the first time I noticed that they even have gifts for infants. Gown/Capes/Hats were already sold out and one late comer was trying to plead with the helper to find him his Yellow/Blue Cape representing his previous higher college's color. Parking garages were sold out and the Charles Hotel Parking's Egyptian owner was minting money on that hot, humid day. People were walking in Black Gowns with Red Diplomas and sipping water from their bottles. It was an all American University as I used to imagine when I lived in India.

Everyone seemed young and energetic wheather going for their graduation or Alumni reunions. Harvard/Massachussetts/Sewers/Lowell/Science Center Halls were again visited by former pupils who once walked with confidence on their steps. I felt alive and behaved like a student asking questions to my old friends about Computers and their applications towards Bio-Technology and any new developments. Many people enquired me about India's IT revolution and 12% growth rate and how it impacts rest of the world. It was excitement written all over the place and everybody was a friend that day. This is America of my dreams.

Mr. Harvard was still sitting in the same posture on a high pedestal as I had left him last time when I had shined his shoes before my Final Exam. This custom reminded me of similar Indian Custom when me and my friends used to keep VidyaPatti(Juniper) leaves in the books and pockets as a good luck charm to pass the final examinations after we had done our morning Sanskrit Hindu prayer (Tamso Ma Jyotir Gamya), mandatory for all students. Even this mighty American University is not spared of superstitions and frankly Harvard staff encourages this superstition. This time I had no exam to pass but just as a precaution I shined his metallic brass shoes while my friends clicked pictures on their digital cameras.

There were people of all different colors and races in the Yard. This year South Americans had topped the list of foreign students, it used to be Chinese followed by Indians or Japaneese but now, Brazilians and Chilians were the leading foreign students and filling the coffers already totaling $2 Billion AUM for the CEO. There were; Hijab wearing Middle Eastern girls, kaffiyah wearing Arabs, Turban wearing Sikhs, Saree/Shalwar wearing Indian woman and many more exotic people from various continents.

There were tents all over with old students from 1950ies. You could still see some old timers hitting on young girl ushers who did not seem to mind the advances from old men. Frankly I never understood why they had 18 year old girls as ushers for every reunion tent.

You could still see old professors and their assistants walking around with Pipes and their old trade mark brown leather brief cases. Some of them were wearing the same suits as I had remembered during my time. My friend explained that it is fashionable for teachers to look different for e.g. all Literature and Arts professors wear turtle necks, all Business School faculty members wear neck ties, suits and brown shoes.

Amidst all this it was very hard to not notice America's consumerism at it's best. My thoughts took me back to India when I used to toy with the idea of joining IAS and reading through the books on Public Policy/Planning and 5 years Yojanas initiated by Nehru. IIT/IIS were conceived by Nehru in 50ies as model colleges where world class top-notch education would be provided to the merit based students. IIT/IIS are still the high quality institutions that are only few notches behind Harvard or MIT and yet they don't have the money making, business oriented model as American Universities but at the same time they are only open for limited students who can qualify the passing scores.

On one hand we have emerging countries such as China and India that provide almost free, high quality education that promotes elitism, and on the other hand we have western Universities such as Harvard, MIT, Cambridge, Oxford etc that are basically run same way as any bank in NY would. It costs $50,000 a year to study at Harvard with some promise of financial assistance if you are very bright; that only leaves either very rich or very brilliant to apply.

Concept of free education as prescribed in India and China sounds very competitive and noble but has it's limitations as it only takes few brilliant minds and leaves semi-brilliant or mediocre students behind in turn breeding frustrated Citizens. Whereas American Capitalism based educational institutions have turned the education as money making, culture exporting, value-imparting system that brings the world together and shows what America is capable of to the outsiders.

This is an all American marriage between Industrial and Educational establishments that is breeding the next generation of thinkers and leaders that will lead the world and promote American ideals.