Why I Go To India

India?? are you sure ??
Again , a common question appears softly from everybody whenever i answer their question ; 'Where will you go to continue your study ?"

Many people became surprised ( if i couldnt say 'shocked') whenever i give my honest answer.India ? A third world country with thousand millions problem.A melancholic- cultured people who ilustrate beautiful romance story with dancing and running in the rain.Thousand million people who live underpriviladge, with funny accent.The land of the cows, snakes etc etc..But i just smile and answer confidently,"YES!, India.

Well, to be very honest,If only i could get better quality as well as

affordable education, i would not go anywhere but staying in my beloved country indonesia. If only i could afford the education expenses in advanced countries which have most famous reputation for education like USA and UK, i would have gone there, to 'taste' a sophisticated education system and advanced-estabished developed country as well. But the thing is, i couldnt get it all. That is why, now i am here, an amazing 'land of wonder' called India.

Sometimes i wonder, why some (or most ) of people are so ' overriactedly under estimate' india as 'one of ethe poorest and backward country in the world'.I think it's because they are not very well informed. In fact, now India has an economy ranked as the tenth largest in the world in terms of currency conversion and fourth largest in terms of purchaisng power parity. It's also recorded one of the fastest annual growth rates of 6.9% for the year ending March 2005. It is true that 25 % of Indians still live below the poverty line, but a large number of middle class now emerged along with the rapid growth of the IT industry.In recent years, India has emerged as one of the largest players in software and business process outsourcing services, with revenues of US$ 17.2 billion in 2004 to 2005. Many small-scale industries provide steady employment to workers in small towns and villages.

It is also very interesting how that 'black imaged' India becomes brighter picture now. How India 'wake up' and 'make up'. In this case, i believe that education hold one of the most important role on all those inprovements.

India has had a long, interesting history of education and has been a seat of learning for . Its current state presents a much varied picture. While the country boasts some of the best Universities [ IITs( Indian Institutes of Technology), IIMs(Indian Institutes of Management), AIIMS (All Indian Institutes of Medical Sciences) ] in the world, it is also dealing with challenges in its primary education and strives to reach 100% literacy.Kerala has been the only state to reach this goal so far.

Showing its gender sensitivity, the government of India also move aimed at curbing both population growth and preference for male children, the government of India has announced free and reduced cost education for girls.The program offers free education at high school level to all girls of single child families. Those with two girls and no other children may receive discounts of up to 50%. As a continuation of India's policy of promoting education, the program includes provisions for fellowships of US$ 45 per month for those undertaking post-graduate studies.

All levels of education, from primary to higher education, are heavily subsidized by the Indian government. That explains, why education here is sooooo much affordable, for its citizen also foreigners like me.

(to b continued)