His Excellency The Ambassador of India Talks to Yemen Times Long live Indo-Yemen Friendship [Archives:2000/10/Interview]
March 6 2000
Yemen has traditionally maintained a special relationship with India based on the principles of friendly cooperation and mutual enrichment. India has been a major support to Yemen in promoting her economy, education , culture, technology, tourism, trade and so forth. Both the countries are committed to work towards ushering in an era of meaningful partnership ensuring sustaining growth and development in the new millennium.
With a view to finding out the contours of his vision, the traits of the present scenario, and outlines of the future dimensions of this relationship, Dr. Ramakanta Sahu of the Education Supplement, Yemen Times met His Excellency, Mohinder Singh Suman, Ambassador of India in Yemen and filed the following:
YT:How do you evaluate the existing relations between India & Yemen?
Mr. Suman: Indo-Yemen relations are quite historical and friendly. During 1999 a very significant and important visit took place from Yemen to India and it was that of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Yemen Mr. Ali Abdullah Saleh. During this visit which took place in March 99, His Excellency had a very useful meeting with India’s Prime Minister Mr. A.B. Vajpayee. During this visit, though short, many matters of mutual interest were discussed. After this VVIP visit to India, an Indian delegation visited Sana’a to take part in the third session of the Indo-Yemen Joint Committee for Technical, Scientific and Economic Cooperation in July 1999. During this session further possibilities for cooperation in various fields-technical, economic, scientific, cultural and educational were identified. Also two agreements, namely cooperation in cultural matters and agreement on cooperation in civil aviation were also signed at the conclusion of the JCM.
YT:Kindly mention the educational opportunities in terms of scholarships etc. available in India for Yemeni scholars.
Mr. Suman: So far as the educational opportunities are concerned, India offers numerous opportunities for higher education in the fields of humanities, agriculture, science, technology, medicine etc. India has 229 University level institutions. Out of these, 34 are agricultural Universities, 18 Engineering and technology Universities, 14 Universities of Medical Sciences and 8 Open Universities. Speaking of Colleges, there are more than 8000 colleges affiliated to various Universities. Out of these colleges, 151 offer MBBS and higher degrees in medicine, 78 in Dentistry, 126 in Pharmacy, 170 in Agriculture and allied courses, 438 in Engineering and 305 in Management.
So far as the grant of scholarships by the Government of India is concerned, the GOI grants 30 scholarships, administered by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), which is a wing of the Ministry of External Affairs. 23 Scholarships are given under the Cultural Exchange Program and 7 under the General Cultural Scholarship Scheme of the ICCR. Besides, Yemeni students wanting to pursue higher education in India can also do so through the self-financing scheme of the Government of India. The Ministry of External Affairs is responsible for administration of the self-financing scheme for Yemeni as well as other foreign students.
In addition to these, the GOI also provides 25 scholarships annually to Yemeni professionals for short term professional courses in various technical and other fields such as banking, small scale industries development, rural development, rural employment, agriculture production etc. The Government of India also pays for the airfare under this scheme in addition to the allowances for board and lodging and payment of training fees.
YT: What are the major fields or priority areas in which the Government of India encourages pursuit of higher studies in India by Yemeni scholars?
Mr. Suman: All areas of higher education in India are open to Yemeni students. Those in the academic field are aware that the distinctiveness, flexibility and quality of higher education in India have been attracting more and more students from other countries to come to Indian Universities for higher studies in contrast to the expensive Universities in the USA, the Western Europe and Australia. Higher education in India is subsidized and therefore, affordable. This is a big advantage for students under the self-financing scheme. Yemeni students who have the same social and cultural values as Indians, feel a greater sense of belonging and confidence to pursue higher studies in India.
YT: What role can the Embassy of India in Yemen play in this regard?
Mr. Suman: The Embassy of India which represents the Government of India would like to see more and more Yemenis receiving higher education in scientific and technical fields. This country needs manpower with higher order skills. Besides, with a view to further raising the standards of local colleges and schools, the country needs more and more teaching staff with higher qualifications such as Doctorate or Masters degree. This is needed in scientific/technical subjects and in humanities also.
YT: What is the current state of English Language Teaching in Yemen and how do you assess the contribution of Indian professors in this regard?
Mr. Suman: English is a foreign language for India and Yemen also. But since the world has become a global village, the knowledge of English is an important component for pursuing higher technical and scientific education. India has, in fact been offering a lot in this respect. We are happy at the enthusiasm and sincerity that the Yemeni students have shown in their pursuit of higher education.
YT: In the past, several get-togethers in the Indian Embassy, Sana’a have been organized for Yemeni Returned Study Fellows. What benefits are purported to be achieved by such events?
Mr. Suman: Such get-togethers of the Yemeni Alumni from Indian Universities are arranged annually on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who was among the greatest luminaries of the Indian freedom struggle, a great educationist, India’s first Education Minister and Founder-President of ICCR. Hence, this is a good occasion for a get-together of students who study in India at various points of time. For us also, it is an occasion of renewal of friendship with the Yemeni alumni from India. This event is held on a large scale in India, particularly in New Delhi where a large number of foreign students are studying. The occasion also coincides with International Students Day. Cultural programs of various countries are presented by the foreign students on this occasion for the domestic as well as the international students community in India. It would not be an exaggeration to call them Ambassadors of friendship and goodwill.
YT: Are there any proposals to further expand academic and cultural exchange programs between India and Yemen in future?
Mr. Suman: Yes, very much so. We have requested the Government of India to increase the number of scholarships to Yemeni students. Also NIIT, a prestigious Indian computer teaching institute has opened a branch in Sana’a for the benefit of Yemeni students. At the same time we are working on a proposal to open a Sana’a chapter of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in Sana’a which will further offer openings for technical, scientific and English studies.
YT: Thank you very much your Excellency for very illuminating views. We hope our readers, particularly a cross section of young Yemeni scholars would feel encouraged to prosecute higher studies in India and the Indo-Yemen comradeship would go from strength to strength in years to come.
Mr. Suman: Thanks.
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