Working in my current role often brings to mind scenes from the popular Netflix series Mirzapur. One moment that particularly resonates with me is when the Superintendent of Police gives his subordinate a clear directive—granting him a free hand to rid Mirzapur of the notorious mafia don, Kaleen Bhaiya. It was a powerful moment of trust and delegation. I recall echoing this tone while leading my own team: “Go and clear the place,” I would say to one of my trusted colleagues, empowering him with autonomy and authority.
Leadership, I’ve come to realize, often boils down to clarity of vision, empowerment, and trust. Surprisingly, Mirzapur, known more for its raw action and drama, has some underlying lessons in leadership and strategic execution. I remember watching the first episode during a snow-laden winter day—just one episode, I told myself. But the direction, suspense, and character arcs compelled me to watch the next. The creators masterfully built curiosity into each episode—a valuable takeaway for anyone looking to design engaging learning or work environments.
This principle of building curiosity is something I find sorely missing in our current educational landscape.
As someone deeply connected with the field of education, I’ve been observing a stark mismatch between educational evolution and economic reality. On one hand, the narrative around India’s economic progress is celebrated. But on the other hand, the lived experiences of the lower-income class remain static. Their economic conditions—and even their concerns—are unfortunately unchanged over the years. I hear the same stories from clients today that I used to hear years ago. It’s disheartening.
We are in a time when education is gradually transitioning from theory-heavy to practice-driven models. Yet many institutions still cling to outdated frameworks. The focus, unfortunately, remains on expanding physical infrastructure—buildings and land—while neglecting what truly matters: strengthening faculty, upgrading laboratories, and making education more experiential. The world’s top institutes, both in India and globally, succeeded not through buildings but through bold pedagogical choices and emphasis on skill development.
The rules of success are deceptively simple: prioritize quality, adopt practical approaches, invest in human capital. The real question is—who is willing to follow them consistently?
Another pressing concern is the declining interest in core engineering branches. Students today are reluctant to choose streams like mechanical, civil, or electrical engineering—not because they lack potential, but because job opportunities in these fields are shrinking. In contrast, computer science continues to attract top talent, driven by high employability and lucrative salaries. This shift tells a story about how the market shapes educational preferences.
So, whether it’s the hard-hitting realism of a crime drama like Mirzapur or the sobering realities of education and economy, the lesson remains the same: clarity, courage, and continuous adaptation are key. If we want to build better institutions, create more jobs, and uplift lives, we must be ready to challenge outdated systems and make hard decisions—not unlike the SP who decided to clean up Mirzapur, one step at a time.
Sajad_08phd12@nitsri.ac.in
