Chinese to become world language of importance:Seshan

With China emerging as a major economic force, there was a need for educational institutions to teach the Chinese language, former Chief Election Commissioner T N Seshan said today.
"Chinese is going to become the world language of importance," the outspoken Seshan said in his address at the 'Distinguished Alumni Series' at Madras Christian College (MCC), his alma mater here.
"Introduce Chinese (in educational institutions). In five years, world may have to look at China as the number one economy," he said after receiving the first 'Distinguished Alumni Award,' instituted by the prestigious 175 year-old college.
In a brief address laced with humour, he said he had to 'rush' to this college for admissions after failing an engineering seat interview where he was asked how many films a particular veteran actor had featured in, for which he had no answer.

However, even in MCC he was admitted not for his high marks but only due to an acquaintance who had already studied there, he said to peels of laughter from those present including K M Mammen, President, MCC Alumni Association and Chairman and Managing Director, MRF Tyres.
Seshan also recalled his visit to MCC with former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi during its 150th year celebrations.

To questions from students, Seshan said India could well become a superpower by 2020 and expressed confidence that despite the scams that were emerging out, youth of the country will take successfully the nation forward in this quest.

As an advice to the institution from where he graduated, he said that at least some of the departments should be made world-class by having the best brains participating in it.
To a query on students joining politics, he made a remark in jest that they already were in politics with their parents and girlfriends, evoking laughter, and said there was no need for them to make the plunge into politics.
Chandrika Tandon, founder of Tandon Capital Associates, also received the Distinguished Alumni Award.