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Journalism of Courage
Technology day has just gone by and a grateful nation salutes those who work to provide India with its true security and growth. Scientists have never let the country down when their mission was clearly spelt out and political support unstinted. Problems arise while integrating technology with widespread growth.
In many areas, technology has done India good. For instance, our scientific community has provided India with a larger number of seeds than any other scientific establishment in the world. It has literally provided the backbone for the country8217;s food security and agricultural growth. Jehre Behrman, at the University of Pennsylvania, gave a numerical estimation of the overwhelming contribution of R038;D to India8217;s agricultural growth in a set of precise studies which I hope will be replicated by Indian economists. In the nineties, hybrid rice, castor, soya, among other crops, helped growth and tissue culture for trees and genetic improvement for herd management. The fast breeder reactor using our almost unlimited reserves of thorium and the geostationary rocket to really backstop space, both for the economy and defence, are just some more examples.
It is, however, important to further strengthen and consolidate the mode of policies which expand India8217;s knowledge base, keep it at the global frontiers and consolidate the links between the structure of broad-based growth and technology. The farmer, the artisan and the housewife must be able to perceive the concrete changes science brings to their lives. The excitement of science has to be a part of the horizons of young Indians, at present being targeted by all kinds of fanatics.
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India is the only non-OECD country which defies the digital divide
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I had at one stage tried to find out all the innovative schemes other countries have to support science. We found that we had the most number of such schemes in India but China had a scheme called 8/92 which we didn8217;t. It provided support at a global level to selected young researchers who dared to work on the global frontiers of research. At my prodding as minister of science, we started a scheme called the 8216;Suvarna Jayanti Fellowships8217;. I have two recollections of that particular decision. One, that a very eminent aging scientist wanted this scheme to include people like him. Two, in the first list produced, there were few people from the universities 8212; most were from the official establishments. We sent the list back since. In terms of the money put in, universities definitely do better, although I was told those other fellows did better. But now again there is hardly anybody from the universities who gets these fellowships.
The Technology Development Board TDB was set up when I was minister to help in productionising the fruit of Indian science. It is a remarkable organisation. It is run by an autonomous board which has representatives of the corporate sector involved as well. Ashok Ganguly, at my request, took personal interest in the project and the Chambers of Commerce really got into the act. Some very competitive projects, which otherwise would not have seen the light of day, covered the last mile and I always feel good when I read their dividend announcements. Somehow one now gets a feeling that the link between business and the TDB is tending to weaken. Indian industry and the science establishments need to have the stamina to pursue good ideas with tenacity.
Finally, it is great to honour our scientists on Technology Day, but will someone get down to fixing the responsibilities on those who framed some of our top scientists in espionage cases. After the report produced by a committee I chaired on recruitment and training of the higher civil service is published, I hope to push the agenda of reform. Both Justice Venkatachaliah and my committee have not agreed to undermining the constitutional privileges of the higher civil service. But, of course, together with privileges go responsibilities.
