‘We Are The Crazy Boys,’ Says New Education Minister Prakash Javadekar

“We are the crazy boys,” new education minister Prakash Javadekar says with a chuckle, as he describes the passion and zeal that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ministers share for his development agenda.

“We have a very capable team under PM Modi. It’s team India – passionate about development and passionate about sustainable development. We are “doers,” crazy boys in that way,” Mr Javadekar told NDTV the morning after his new assignment as Human Resource Development or HRD minister replacing the high-profile Smriti Irani became the top headline from PM Modi’s cabinet reshuffle.

Mr Javadekar, singled out on Monday for a promotion to cabinet rank, played down the elevation describing it as a “technicality” to allow him to take over from Ms Irani, who has been shifted to the less prestigious Textile Ministry.

“To be HRD minister you need a cabinet rank. It is a technicality,” he said, promising a roadmap for education after “getting a brief” from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

That process, he said, would involve consultations with “everybody,” including Ms Irani, and invited ideas and suggestions. “I will consult everybody, my doors are open to all,” the minister said and added, “I will build upon good initiatives taken up by Smriti Irani and will consult with her.”

“Education is not a subject of party politics, it is an issue of everybody,” said Mr Javadekar, whose party the ruling BJP has been accused by rival parties of trying to “saffronise education,” by setting a right-wing agenda through syllabus and textbooks in schools and colleges. He rejected the allegation of “saffronisation” saying, “there is no such thing.”

He said he saw education as “an emancipator, a real change agent” and emphasised the need to “revolutionise our education,” improving its quality and making it more meaningful. The Prime Minister he said had a vision for education that he would tap in scripting his roadmap.