President’s address to the seventh Convocation of Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) at Pune is a remarkable document aimed at inspiring our scientists and technocrats to induct new thinking and innovation into scientific researches. The address is thought provoking in more than one way. He began with a note of concern on security decline globally leading to a phenomenon that brings unprecedented responsibility on scientific and technological oriented resistance.
It is a reality that forces of disruption and destabilization of peace and progress in the world are trying to find new ways and means of perpetrating their crime against humanity. They are leaving no stone unturned to achieve their objective. This threat has become widespread and phenomenal and the President feels that the challenge has to be responded through new researches and innovations in the realms of science and technology. At policy planning level, there is the need of identifying and understanding the problems. This means that the boundaries of knowledge have to be widened and policy has to be made compatible with the goals set forth.
The threat of dwindling security scenario means that innovative faculty among the scientists and technocrats should be reshaped and remodeled. This cannot be achieved unless we create environment conducive to the goals that have been set forth. The desired environment does not exist in the country today. The level of excellence and innovative faculty is not up to the mark in our country. Millennia ago there were the days when Indian universities had dominated the intellectual world. But today no Indian university figures among 200 most prestigious universities in the world. This is a moment of introspection. It is true that we have developed a vast network of education in the country at all levels from elementary to the highest level. But with 650 degree awarding institutions and 33,000 colleges in the country we are confronted with lack of quality and quantity. This is a depressing scenario and we shall have to address it.
In his address the President has laid emphasis on the idea of development of culture of innovation. Our educational system has to be reformed and developed along the culture of research and innovation. It has two components: environmental facility and new approach to the phenomenon of acquisition of knowledge. It is pertinent to mention at this point that even the Prime Minister in one of his speeches at a convocation function of a university said that our standard of research and study had fallen and that was a matter of great concern. Holding degrees is not going to solve economic and employment problems of our youth. It is the creativity and innovation that would show the right path. The domain of knowledge has to be increased and creative capabilities have to be given exposure. It is also important that we adopt flexibility in conducting research and exploring areas where the faculty of innovation can flourish. How much we lack in innovative capability is explained by the fact that during 2011 only 42,000 patent applications were filed. In countries like China and the US this number was twelve times more. Why can’t we develop a system that would vigorously increase the innovative faculty among our young scientists and technicians? We can say with fair amount of confidence that our young and budding technocrats and scientist do not lack the ability and merit to make innovations. The problem lies in providing them the environment conducive to their urges for innovation. Owing to non-existence of environment conducive to exploration and discovery, we are suffering from bran drain. Our talented youth want to find greener pastures and thus the country is deprived of their contribution, which is vital to the progress of the nation.
Speaking about the role of the DIAT, the President was very clear in stating that our defence preparedness was closely linked to research and innovations in defence technology. It means that India shall have to take big steps in the path of modernizing her defence system through new technologies if we mean to ensure that our security needs are fully met. The decade 2010-20 has been declared the decade of innovation. It means that ordinary people should feel the impact of a changing style of life and environment. Research institutions, universities and workshops have to put their act together and move in the direction of innovative decade. One could imagine that there has to be a pool of research institutions providing technological monitoring.
President’s speech has also to be taken as a warning that slackness in the area of innovation especially in defence and security has to be taken seriously. India with huge manpower and widespread educational network needs to think of consolidating the effort for raising the level of research and study. That alone can help us address our economic woes and security threats.
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