Promises couched in elevated rhetoric are beautiful to hear. In the sphere of higher education, for example, promises conjure up visions of excellence, productivity, concentrated work and teaching. No doubt it was such a vision that induced scientists engaged in work abroad to join academic institutions here under the Union government’s Ramalingaswami Fellowship scheme, paid through a monthly grant, house rent and Rs 10 lakh annually for research in five years. But the invited scientists have been left bereft of salary and research grant without any reason given for the hold-up. A prestigious government fellowship is not expected to be the jumla that the 2014 pre-election promise of Rs 15 lakh in every Indian’s account turned out to be. Since the scheme has operated from 2007-08, the funding should be part of the established system. Where has the fellowship money gone? It should be acutely embarrassing for any government to fail invited scientists, casting them into straitened circumstances and stalling their research. Yet there have been no reports of interim support or apology so far. Perhaps Narendra Modi and his men do not feel that the matter is important, let alone embarrassing.

Pledges and schemes give the appearance of a forward-looking, idealistic approach to education. This was in evidence in Mr Modi’s glittering dream of Institutions of Eminence, a highly desirable tag given to 12 institutions that were considered qualified enough. But the promised government support of a fixed amount of funding has not lived up to expectation. Or up to the plans for 15 years that the institutions submitted. They have not received even half the amount promised as the five year-period nears its end. This has hindered their longterm plans. Whether it is for infrastructure expansion of IoE institutions or for research by scientists with a fellowship, the government has turned out to be quite cavalier in disbursing the funds that are due. Appearing to love education is not the same as loving it, understanding its needs or even, it may be suspected, desiring its goal of high intellectual achievement. The clue to the government’s sense of priorities lies in its enigmatic miserliness in two of the most striking areas of higher education. Independent intellect is most acceptable when cash-starved — and education is a fairy tale soothing to listen to.