Last week, I met up with my old College – St Anne’s, Oxford. We at the University are working on strategies to get more students from India, especially those without privilege, but with ability and talent, to apply...pass it on please. For all the cynics who think the UK doesn’t want more Indian students – well I will be in India sending the message from Oxford University we do and I will be in Singapore with the message in March with former fellow alumnus and Chief Sec to the Treasury Sir Danny Alexander, who will be spreading the message out there.
And if you want an even more official indication that Britain wants the best and the brightest, well straight after my meeting with my old College I had an appointment at Number 10 and the same message came across ‘from the horse’s mouth’ were his words. As I said to the BBC when they tried to report otherwise -you were simply not in the room which is why you are misreporting. Let alone of course that the UK PM in India made it clear -and I was there in the room when she did.
And by the way, there are over 1,000 scholarships available for new Graduate Study at Oxford in 2017-2018!
We want the best and brightest from around the world to study here....and for very personal reasons why...
The Debt:
Who gets up for school at 0350 on a Saturday – especially after a long long week of work? Me and a bunch of school kids. This morning I will visit the kitchens of Akshaya Patra in Bangalore that feed children in schools in India who cannot otherwise get the meals they need for a full stomach. Which will otherwise lead them choiceless and probably child labourers. After all, otherwise a child that cannot feed itself, must earn the money to feed itself when poverty is destitution.
I was lucky, God shone his grace upon me and I was born into a family that gave me an education – the best in the world. But my fellow Indians are not so lucky. So I owe them a debt of honour. And this morning seeing the kitchens in full swing, I will redeem that promise made long long ago to myself aged 12 – that I shall never be less deserving in my studies than all those left behind.
Coming top of my class, top (eventually) in virtually every single exam, and winning prizes, was done because of the sacrifices of others. To repay a debt to them was done for all those left behind.
If you have a child who does not study, does not appreciate all they have. Bring them here. Show them this or any Akshaya Patra India supported school.
It’s done, because one day, India will again not have malnourished children
