February 9: Dr. R A Mashelkar, director general, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), yesterday passionately appealed for discarding the conventional system of education and launch an `innovation movement' which would encompass all levels of society while surging toward national development.Speaking on `A challenge for Indian science and technology in relation with industry' organised by Vivek Vyaspeeth at Mahatma Phule Hall here, Mashelkar called for striking a partnership between modern science and India's traditional knowledge, which so long have remained apart.``Time has now come to reflect and see whether today was just a mundane extension of yesterday or an opportunity to look at today as a launching pad for a better tomorrow. We need to raise our levels of ambition and realise that tomorrow's societies will be knowledge-based societies which can understand the economics of knowledge,'' he said.India has an advantage as it has the tradition of knowledge, however the biggestchallenge is to generate that usable knowledge and create wealth, Mashelkar stressed. He however hit out at the conventional approach towards education which taught and tested the student for information alone. ``Why can't we create fundamental systems which can produce smart observers, clever analysts and creative synthesisers?'' the director general asked.``Unfortunately, in our structured educational system, innovations have been restricted to only a particular community,'' he lamented. ``We need to throw away that conventional thinking and excite the participation of every single individual,'' Mashelkar said adding that countries like Malaysia and South Africa had national innovation policies. ``We are dealing with a new intelligent customer and it is essential for this innovation to percolate down to the industry,'' he added.``New industries are formed after major breakthroughs which are immediately spotted. Unfortunately - these accidents are not taking place in India,'' he grimaced and lamentedthat ``the eyes did not see what the mind does not know. The major problem is that we have become very complacent and only do things when driven to a corner,'' he rued asking why was it that India could never remain permanently angry or motivated enough.``We need to have prepared minds which can identify the creativity, the unconventional minds who prefer to do things differently instead of following set patterns,'' Mashelkar said, adding that people beyond the laboratory should be a part of the innovation movement. ``Technology alone will not suffice, it was vital for engineers and technologists to also have an understanding of socio-economic aspects and societal needs,'' he emphasised.Mashelkar further highlighted the importance of forging partnerships between India's vast traditional knowledge base and modern science. Knowledge has not been value added, he said lamenting that scientists were simply happy producing papers which were acknowledged by the western world. Dr. V G Bhide, formerVice-Chancellor, University of Pune presided while Bal Phondke introduced the guest.
