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Journalism of Courage
Ninety is a hoary number, one presumably that represents a great maturing and development. Yet, a rather pessimistic mood marked the 90th Indian Science Conference which has just ended at Bangalore. And while President Kalam could still bring his outer space enthusiasm to the proceedings, Prime Minister Vajpayee preferred to strike a more down-to-earth note. He spoke about the bureaucratisation and lack of opportunity in our labs and research establishments, which has resulted in choking young talent 8212; pushing it out of the country or into other sectors.
This, unfortunately, is not new. It has been with us for as many years as we have had a national science conference, and possibly earlier. One need just recall that sad figure, Srinivasa Ramanujan, today recognised as one of the great mathematical genuises of our age. It required another great scientist, British-born geneticist and philosopher J.B.S. Haldane, who had adopted this country as his own, to encapsulate this tragedy when he observed over four decades ago, 8216;Today, in India, Ramanujan could not get even a lectureship in a rural college because he had no degree. Much less could he get a post through the UPSC. This fact is a disgrace to India. I am aware that he was offered a chair in India after becoming a Fellow of the Royal Society. But it is scandalous that India8217;s great men should have to wait for recognition.8217;
