Dr. K. George Thomas
Our great dream is to transform India into a global hub for innovative research and knowledge generation which can substantially contribute to its economic and social progress. Advances in science and technology should play a major role transforming India to a developed nation. Countries across the world have recognized the scientific potential of India. New Scientist, a premier science magazine, has dubbed India as the world's emerging "knowledge superpower”. Another report by London-based Demos forecasts that the rise of China, India and South Korea would reshape the global innovation landscape. "The centre of gravity of innovation has started moving from the West to the East," the report says.
How can we achieve these goals taking care of the needs of our large population who are underprivileged and poor? Science definitely can play a crucial role in the future of India. Poverty will never be beaten without the advancement in science and technology. Quoting Professor C. N. R. Rao, the science adviser to Prime Minister of India, “You cannot be industrially and economically advanced unless you are technologically advanced, and you cannot be technologically advanced unless you are scientifically advanced."
India has a large pool of highly talented young minds; our democratic principles and ability to communicate in English are additional advantages. Thoughtful efforts are required to attract our young generation to the field of science and technology and this investment can take us forward in fulfilling these dreams. Our curriculum in science in the undergraduate level is outdated and it is not sufficient to generate scientific curiosity. Overemphasis on examination rather than providing knowledge is another reason for the disinterest among students. Market forces are driving young generation towards management and information technology based fields. Career based on science should be made more attractive so that young minds will be attracted naturally.
Independent India has succeeded in identifying and grooming highly talented technologist through IITs. However, our performance is not matching in the field of science education. Majority of the undergraduate and postgraduate science institutions in this country are affiliated to state funded bodies which suffer from poor facilities. Today, lack of funding cannot be considered as a constraint for the developmental activities in science. I believe many of our institutions lack leadership and commitment. In last four years, Government of India has recognized the need for world class science education institutes having research as its integral part and established five centrally funded Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER). These institutes may not be sufficient to fulfill our future needs and hopefully more centrally funded institutes in the area of science and technology will be established in future.
(author is a Scientist of the Photo sciences & Photonics Group of the National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science & Technology (CSIR), Trivandrum; recipient of the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in Chemical Sciences (2006) and the fellow of Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore)
