Home : Press
Releases : GO WEST
Indian
Express: GO WEST: 'I know I
am not the first, every expratriate Indian is accosted by such questions.
"My son wants to be a filmmaker like you and we think he should
go to New York University" ' - By Riyad Wadia
During my recent
three-month stint in India, the one plaintive query that confronted
me most often was, "Do you know where I can find information on
places to study in the United States?" And I know I am not the first,
every expatriate Indian is accosted by such questions from friends
or acquaintance (and in some irritating cases, perfect strangers).
"My son wants to become a filmmaker like you and we think he should
go to New York University. My daughter is very intelligent, what
do you think about Cornell University?"
Initially, I
took time out to talk to these various 'sons' and 'daughters' helping
them with ideas and solutions. But soon I grew impatient and began
to bark a standard reply, "Why don't you go on to the Internet an
check out some websites? It's all to be found on the Worldwide Web."
But of course
then, I had to deal with crestfallen look on their faces, which
was not easy to handle and so it was fortuitous that I bumped into
Mohit Lalvani, the Managing Director of Educationmatch.com,
just before leaving the States this time round. Lalvani (and other
career vocation counselors like him) have found an excellent niche
in the Indian desire for a higher education overseas.
"In the late
'80s, there were early signs of a boom among the upper-middle class
students wanting to go to American and European Colleges for further
education," said Lalvani, as we sipped cool fresh lime sodas at
the Willingdon Club verandah." I was part of that cycle. I went
to Richmond College in London and then transferred to a New York
University to complete my Bachelors in Business Management. Most
of my friends and school mates from Bombay were studying in the
US at the time." When he graduated in 1990, he was offered a job
at the Adelphi University in the International Admissions department.
During this time he traveled extensively to recruit qualified students
from India.
As he became
involved with the process, Lalvani recognized that there was no
formal system to help prospective students, "Actually, filling out
applications is a pretty standard procedures. But obviously new
students, fresh out of the Indian school system, get intimidated.
All they need is a guide to help through, to help them tailor their
aspirations to the choices available. And that's where I felt I
could be of service. The idea of the business grew quite naturally."
After two more years of working at Adelphi's Office of Financial
Services, Lalvani mastered all aspects of financial aid. Returning
to India in 1995, he joined hands with Ms. Sonal Parekh (who had
already set up a consultancy service here) and together the founded
Education Concepts & Options (ECO).
"What started as a small office grew very quickly and even we were
amazed at the number of students who wanted to apply.?"
In these few
years ECO has created programmes and
packages for students that train them for the standard tests, familiarize
them with the rituals of application-filling and help them find
institutions that can best maximize their interests while fitting
into their budgets.
"Most Indian
students think of going only to the big universities like the Ivy
League colleges but in reality smaller colleges can offer excellent
programmes better suited to their desired field of studies, often
with stellar faculty and facilities." What with the dotcom boom
looming on the horizon, Lalvani formed Educationmatch.com
in January last year to reach out to students all over India (and
overseas)." Our time tested success at placing students, securing
them the desired loans and getting hem through the daunting visa
process allowed us the confidence to reach out globally through
the Net," say Lalvani with a sense of justifiable pride. Rahul Bhatt,
an ex-Mumbai student who is today a Vice President at the formidable
Goldman Sach in New York, opines through a testimonial on the Educationmatch.com,
"I wish I had (the websites) such interactive counselors……… I would
have saved time & Money."
Having gone
through the process many years ago myself, I share his view. And
the next time some aunty asks me to recommend an international college
for her munna-munni, I will confidently point her to the
web.
The sad news
this week was the permanent closing of Desh Pardesh, the
annual South Asian cultural festival held in Toronto for the past
10 years. It seems the money needed to provide for the infrastructure
of this wonderful cultural and political platform has been impossible
to raise in the Canadian multicultural community. Desh Pardesh
(see www.deshpardesh.net)
has contributed much in terms of providing a face to desi
culture. During its run, the festival would screen films, stage
plays, conduct seminars and conferences and give a platform to all
kinds of political and social issues. It was diverse in its canvas,
instrumental in providing a voice to minority views. It became a
much-coveted pilgrimage site in the cultural calendar of aspiring
desi artists. Through its superb press relations and audience
outreach, it managed to get high visibility within its geographical
reach.
Ultimately its
biggest contribution was that it inspired several similar festivals
and platforms in other countries and provided a blue print for how
to showcase diversity. Its end at a time when the sub continent
is finally making its presence felt culturally in North America
and Canada is not only a big surprise but also a cause for concern
for the artists and political activities of the South Asian Diaspora.
Desh Pardesh RIP
Back
to Press Releases
|
