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Wisconsin wants to go to Punjab, but Republicans say no

Arthur J Pais

About a year ago, when multimillionaire gas stations owner Darshan Singh Dhaliwal donated over $ 3 million to the University of Wisconsin to offer Punjabi studies at its Milwaukee campus, the school officials began toying with the idea of starting a satellite campus in Punjab. Professors from the American university could spend a few months in India teaching classes as well as helping their Indian peers introduce American-style curriculum. And there could be a steady exchange of not only academics but also students.

The UWM has a strong history of Indian studies, Marshall Goodman, the dean of UWM's College of Letters and Science, had said last year, adding that starting a campus in India would be an excellent idea.

To Dhaliwal, the campus could not only strengthen the ties between Wisconsin and Punjab but also be a visible memorial to the 300th year of the Khalsa.

For several months the idea seemed growing into a reality, with state Republican Governor Tommy G Thompson enthusiastically embracing the proposal. The campus to be set up in Chandigarh "would facilitate trade between Wisconsin and India, the world's largest democracy," State Administration Secretary Mark Burgher had said on many occasions.

But last weekend many heavyweight Republicans and Democrats threatened to vote down Thompson's request for $ 2.5 million in tax money to open the campus. And many readers of Milwaukee Journal complained that the proposal was yet another devious effort to import people from India for low tech jobs and pay them substantially less than the American workers. Some readers were outrageously insulting:

"Considering that Thompson's tax return states an annual income of over $185,000, I think we should hire a foreign governor and pay him $ 4 per hour. When are you people going to get mad at the corporate welfare?"

Wrote another reader: "The sole reason for such an incredibly stupid idea is to tailor foreign nationals for US jobs."

Another Milwaukee resident wrote: "Why don't we buy Tommy (the governor) a one way ticket to Punjab and really diversify their culture? "They could have tens of millions of Indians and one fat head!!!"

Calling the request for additional fund "an insult," state Senator Bob Jauch, a Democrat, reminded the governor that the University of Wisconsin campuses have been told for many years that there cannot be substantial improvements due to the lack of funds. To set apart $ 2.5 million in a foreign country would be a folly, he said, never mind what the long term benefits were.

Republican law-makers such as John Gard said there were more important things to be done in the state with the $ 2.5 million, and other law-makers belonging to both parties said the priority should be improve the university system in the state -- and only then think of setting up satellite campuses. Others complained that there was not enough money in the state budget to help women, children and the elderly.

The Chandigarh proposal would go to a vote in the finance committee on Wednesday. If it fails, the governor could try to send it to the full state legislature for another vote. There are also veiled suggestions that Punjabi businessmen in the Midwest could help to underwrite substantial part of the $ 2.5 million, if other efforts fail.

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