An Olin Postdoctoral Fellow at the Law School (Boalt Hall), University of California, Berkeley,
Dr. Gowda’s research interests focus on how people and societies make decisions about risk. Currently, he is focusing his research interests on policy issues affecting India. A prolific writer and academician, Dr. Gowda has coedited two books, Judgments, Decisions and Public Policy, and integrating Insurance and Risk Management for Hazardous Wastes. He has also contributed invited book chapters and published articles in various international
journals.
Dr. Gowda is also the Director of the General Insurance Corporation of India. A Founder Secretary of the Karnataka Quiz Association, Dr. Gowda was national runner –up on BBC TV’s Mastermind India Quiz Show.Garden City College was indeed honoured to host the academician during Teachers’ Trove 2008. GCC World Correspondents - Jyoti Shokhanda, Douglas Ssentongo and Dharmik Shah - engaged him in a conversation on the sidelines of
the festivities.

Excerpts: GCC World: Share with us the happenings in your childhood?

Dr. Rajeev Gowda: I had a very inspiring childhood and belong to a family of freedom fighters. My parents sent me to St. Joseph School in Bangalore, which is today celebrating 150 years. I had some of the best peers who played a big role in making my life productive. In my childhood, I used to read and exercise a lot by cycling. In those days, we did not have the
technology so evident in the world today- computers, television and many more. Looking at Bangalore today, it is not safe to ride a bicycle any more.

GCC World:Did reading books influence your career?

Dr. Rajeev Gowda:Oh yes! I used to read on a daily basis. Yesterday, one of my students gave me the book, A few days with Molly where in a student talks to his professor and a few days after granting the interview, the professor passes on. I do enjoy reading because as a
teacher, we are like students. The only way we can enrich our lives is by reading.

GCC World: You have co-edited two books on Public Policy and Decisions. Tell us something about these books?

Dr. Rajeev Gowda: These are academic books that deal with real world problems and try to provide solutions. They revolve around the way people behave in different situations and are aimed at helping improve on the ways the policies are being implemented.

GCC World: As a teacher, what is the one thing that makes you proud?

Dr. Rajeev Gowda:The moment is yet to come. That will be when my students will turn back and say that I have done something honorable in my life. I will be proud if my students scale greater heights in life.

GCC World: You plan to plunge into politics, what is your take on Indian politics?

Dr. Rajeev Gowda:Depressing to say the least! There is no quality in leadership and corruption has become the norm. The sad thing is that youngsters do not want to take part in the electoral process and instead remain mere spectators.

GCC World: Recently, Garden City College organized a discussion on the nuclear deal. So where do you see India in the years to come?

Dr. Rajeev Gowda:The nuclear deal signed recently with the US, recognized India as a nuclear power and so will enhance our technological capabilities. The reason for my support of the deal is because India is a growing economy with a lot of potential. We have a lot of thorium which can boost our energy sector and our fuel sector. India needs scientists to usher in newer technologies.

GCC World:Earlier people used to take teaching as their profession because they were passionate about it. Today, not many consider it a profession and are not passionate about it.

Dr. Rajeev Gowda:The only way to encourage people to take up teaching is to create better incentive structures and make it more rewarding. Teaching is not a dull profession as many tend to imagine. We get to meet new batches of students every year and learn new things from them.

GCC World:You are a professor at IIM, what is your view on the reservation quota at the institution?

Dr. Rajeev Gowda: People talk about alternatives such as primary education but even that is not accessible to all. These days, everyone goes to private colleges for quality education. Those with money get education and the rest are left out. The challenge is to find space for deserving cases.

GCC World: Does education still have relevance or it is just a routine grind we have to go through?

Dr. Rajeev Gowda: People in India have turned their attention to competitive examinations. The fault lies with the universities that continue to focus on outdated syllabi. One will argue against going to the university because the education is not relevant. The syllabi are not updated (delete: and)
since teaching does not take place in a meaningful way. If you change this, there will be no need for coaching classes and the magic of classroom experience will not be taken advantage of. We need to recreate this.

GCC World:Any memorable experience from your student days?

Dr. Rajeev Gowda: I was in a class and my Hindi teacher was narrating a poem which I recreated in a funny way. The best part was that my teacher was praising me instead of getting angry because as he put it, at least someone was listening to him.

GCC World:Any message to Gardenians?

As students,
Dr. Rajeev Gowda: unleash your potential academically and in extra- curricular activities. If you want to do something, you can certainly do it.”