A Hyderabadi jewel in India’s crown 

ASCI FOUNDATION DAY DIAMOND JUBILEE TODAY

Emotions, a sense of nostalgia and memories of a golden past will touch a new-high when a globally reverred temple of learning achieves a major milestone on Wednesday. Indeed, euphoria will be the order of the day all around the Hyderabad-based 10-acre Bella Vista campus housing the architectural marvel, Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), as it readies for a memorable Foundation Day celebration.

Unlike, the programmes on December 21 of every year, there will be an exclusivity this time around as it will mark the ‘diamond jubilee’ of the pre-eminent institution that is acclaimed for being a one-of-its-kind college for practicing and professional managers, whose erudition touches a new peak once through with their sessions.

In a befitting diamond jubilee celebration, the highlight of the day will be a lecture on ‘Affordable Healthcare for the Indian Poor’, with the keynote address being delivered by Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Secretary, Department of Health Research and Director-General of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Its tryst with history, evolution and growth since its launch in 1956 provides for a motivational reading. Almost all Prime Ministers and Presidents of India have visited this abode of learning at varying periods. A first-time visitor to the sprawling campus will get bowled over by the idyllic serenity to the place that can be experienced the moment the individual steps into the picturesque locale.

Not far from the hustle and bustle of the ever-busy Khairtabad crossroads, the over 100-year-old majestic ASCI building stands tall having withstood the vagaries of nature. Amidst sprawling lawns, well-maintained gardens and awe-inspiring fountains, which greet the visitor, Bella Vista, originally a palace of one of Nizam’s sons, provides the perfect ambience for learning to hundreds of participants, who descend from both India and abroad.

Upon reaching the porch of the building, the sense of royalty doubles with the state-of-the-art classrooms providing the ideal setting for getting enlightened. The red carpet leading to the lawn, an array of glittering trophies lined up towards the left, the inscription by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (he visited on October 23, 1958) bearing his praise for ASCI and the dim glow from the chandelier add to the structural elegance.

Incidentally, the building’s French architect christened it as Bella Vista, a Spanish term denoting ‘beautiful sight’, since its location provided a breathtaking view of the serene Hussainsagar Lake that is just yonder. The original structure was built by Muslehuddin Mohammed, a Bar-at-Law, who rose to be the Chief Justice of the High Court of Hyderabad.

He lived there from 1905 till his death in 1914 subsequent to which it was awarded to ASCI’s society for public use. Although, inspired by Henley-on-Thames College of UK, ASCI is no way inferior in terms of consistent qualitative output. “Every civil servant must have passed through the portals of this place of learning at least once in their career.

The College is the mother of all management and business schools in the country,” observes K Padmanabaiah, Chairman of the ASCI Court of Governors, the administrative council. Incidentally, he is a celebrated product of this college! In its quest to retain its independent nature, ASCI is not dependent on any governmental funding.

Revenue is generated by imparting training (Management Development Programmes) and consultancy (Research and Management Studies). The Society consists of 94 members, including PSUs and banks besides State and Union Government departments. “It is an autonomous and self-supporting public purpose institution.

It is a matter of pride that in the six decades in existence, over 1.5 lakh managers and administrators have been trained here. Keeping pace with the nation’s rapid transformation in a multitude of sectors, ASCI is providing intellectual leadership so that India enviously position itself in a globalized world,” points out the current Director-General (In-charge) Prof Paramita Dasgupta.

The college trains about 4,000 participants annually in around 125 training programmes. It boasts of an incredible clientele, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Children’s Fund, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific, the United States Agency for International Development, the Department for International Development (UK), Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Commonwealth Secretariat, Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (Germany), the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation, to name a select few.

Even as the institute scripts yet another glorious chapter this December 21, the management ought to remain ever grateful to the dynamic visionary TT Krishnamachari, TTK to millions, as it was at his behest and persuasiveness that ASCI saw the light of the day. Driven by his gut-feeling on the need to have an exclusive college for practicing managers so as to build managerial capability in an emerging independent developing nation, TTK not only succeeded in securing government support for his idea but also successfully persuaded business leaders and industry captains to come on board.

Thus was born Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), a unique collaborative project of the government and the corporate sector. In a way, it is playing a significantly vibrant role in churning out tomorrow’s managers, administrators and thinkers. And will keep doing so.

By S Maitreyee