Press Release

Charles Wheelan's International Policy Practicum Class Visits India

In December, twelve Harris School students along with lecturer Charles Wheelan, PhD'98 traveled to Bangalore and Delhi, India as part of the first International Policy Practicum course coordinated through the School's Center for Policy Practice.

In the seminar-style course, select second-year students study an international policy issue and, at the conclusion, of the quarter take a faculty-led trip to a specific region or country, enabling students to interact with individuals and organizations directly impacted by the issue. In addition, students are required to meet with and interview relevant policy actors during their international visit and, after returning, organize and analyze the information gathered into a case study on the seminar topic.

In Wheelan's course-"Economic Liberalization in India"-students studied aspects of Indian economic reforms of the past decade, such as the economics and politics of international trade, India's history of economic isolation, and the current political backlash against outsourcing in the U.S. The seminar also provided an overview of Indian history, geography, politics, and culture. In addition, the students attended a private meeting with India expert Dr. Marshall Bouton, President of the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, and a lecture by David C. Mulford, U.S. Ambassador to India.

Following final exams, the group left Chicago in early December for India. While in Bangalore, the group met with various individuals to discuss the affects of current economic and social policies and the challenges that were yet to be addressed.

Students attended a luncheon hosted by Infosys Technologies Ltd., a leading consulting and IT service provider and met with the company's executives, including Nandan M. Nilekani, CEO, President and Managing Director, who provided great insights into what life was like in India before and after economic liberalization.

During a weekend trip to Mysore, hosted by Rotary International of Mysore West, the group experienced first-hand the underdeveloped infrastructure and the challenges that it can present. In addition to severe congestion and potholes, a hit-and-run between an ox and another vehicle caused a group of farmers to band together and block the road until someone paid for the dead animal. This hardly extraordinary episode seemed to be in a different world, far from the gleaming, hi-tech campus of Infosys.

In order to get a glimpse of life outside Bangalore, the group took a day trip to Shanti Bahavan, a school founded in 1997 by The George Foundation. The project targets young children from the poorest families and orphans from nearby villages in the hope that given proper care, support, and educational opportunities, they can overcome the cycle of poverty and social deprivation. While it is an ambitious project, Shanit Bahavan and The George Foundation are doing their part to try to make a difference for some of the over 300 million Indians who live in poverty.

In Delhi, the group focused on the political situation in India and met with several government officials, including the 29-year-old Member of Parliament Milind Deora who is affiliated with the Indian National Congress, the current ruling party in India. At the U.S. Embassy in India, students met with political and cultural counselors regarding the Indo-U.S. relationship and current U.S. policies. Over tea, students discussed the role and status of women in Indian society with Ms. Poonam Muttreja, Country Director for the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Other insightful meetings included visits with the Indian Correspondent for the Economist and the corporate executives of the company franchising Domino's Pizza in India.

During their ten days in India, students were able to meet with a diverse cross-section of leaders in the areas of business, government, and education, and overall students felt the experience and insights gained were worthwhile.

See the photos from the trip.

Listen to Charlie Wheelan's comments about the trip.

Read "Why what's good for India is good for us" Charlie Wheelan's YahooFinance Column.