Kapil Sibal: A relentless reformer

The Anna Hazare camp may have had many sparring matches with him, and painted him in unflattering colours, but HRD and telecom minister Kapil Sibal has turned out to be the UPA-II government's most impressive success story. Ever since he took charge of the HRD ministry, which the late Arjun Singh had turned into essentially an agency to approve deemed universities, the lawyer-turned-politician has green-lighted in landmark changes.

The implementation of the Right to Education Act (RTE) Act and the Central Board of Secondary Education's move to make the Class X exam optional have been milestones that are as significant as the introduction of the 10+ 2 system.

And the recent launch of the world's cheapest computer tablet - Akaash - was yet another feather added to his crowded cap.

That is not all. The man has more radical reforms up his sleeve. Setting up of innovation universities, extension of the RTE Act to secondary education, containment of educational malpractices - the list is long and ambitious.

But what probably qualifies as his next much-awaited initiative is the introduction of a single engineering entrance examination for the entire country. The minister, who continues to champion the cause of "destressing" education, is keen to replace all engineering tests (including the IIT-JEE) with a common entrance examination. The decision, announced recently, should be implemented by 2013.

Sibal's colleagues attribute his achievements and "grand" vision to his "non-conformist" nature. Interestingly, the minister also feels the same way. About his inspiration, he smiles and says, "Nobody."

He apparently just likes doing things "differently".

"I am irreverent by nature," says the Stephanian and Harvard Law School alumnus. "I don't believe in the norms that exist around me. I don't draw my inspiration from one person. My inspiration is to do things differently."

Maybe it was the same nonconformist streak in him that inspired him to visit Antarctica in 2005. That made him the first science and technology minister or MP ever to undertake the feat.

Change, an idea that Sibal has a natural affinity for, has interestingly been a constant in his life. Sibal qualified for the IAS, but he declined the appointment and instead started his own law practice.

After a successful career in law - the high points of which were his appointment as additional solicitor- general of India in 1989 and his appearance in Parliament in 1991 to defend Justice V. Ramaswamy in the impeachment proceedings initiated against him - he entered politics.

He has served as the spokesperson for the Congress in the 1999 and 2004 elections, won the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha seat twice in succession, and progressed steadily up the ministerial ladder.

But his journey hasn't been a cakewalk. His education reforms have met with tough criticism and resistance from different quarters.

The RTE Act, which guarantees education to every child aged six to 14, continues to draw flak from academics, education experts and state governments. This has been the biggest roadblock in its implementation on the ground.

Sibal also hasn't been able get 13 education reform bills through Parliament because of political opposition. This is where his confidence and courage stands him in good stead. Unfazed by the setbacks, the minister has started meeting MPs to garner political support for these bills.

"I am trying to explain why the old system needs to change. I am sure they'll understand," says the minister. His sincerity of purpose will definitely win him converts.

Turning point

• Kapil Sibal's progress has had its share of unexpected twists, so there has been more than one turning point in his life. "There are a lot of things that changed me. My studying at St Stephen's College (left), the decision to not take up the IAS opportunity and then my move to quit my law practice to join politics - all these have been major turning points in my life," says the minister who takes pride in being a nonconformist and doing things differently.