At the outset, I wish the
participants to the Centenary Session of Indian Science Congress and
the people of the nation, a purposeful and productive New Year.
My warmest congratulations to the Indian Science Congress on the
occasion of the celebration of their centenary. The Prime Minister of India
generally inaugurates the annual sessions of Indian Science Congress. In the
current year, the Association has elected the Prime Minister as its General
President. I congratulate Dr. Manmohan Singh for being elected as the General
President of Indian Science Congress in this historic year. It is a befitting
honour. I can from personal experience vouchsafe the abiding faith of Dr.
Manmohan Singh on education, science and technology. The good performance of
science and technology sector in the recent years, I believe, owes greatly to
the generous government support for S&T catalyzed (140) by
the Prime Minister.
I am an alumnus of Calcutta
University. Naturally, I am delighted to participate in a function (160) co-organized
by Calcutta University. As an alumnus, I fondly remember the defining role of
this university and Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee in nurturing the Indian Science
Congress in the early years. Kolkata has remained historically a city of
culture and knowledge. All Nobel Prizes awarded for work from India are somehow
linked to the city of Kolkata. Sir Ronald Ross carried out his pioneering
research on malaria in this city for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in
1902. Sir C.V. Raman’s remarkable discovery, the Raman Effect, for which he was
awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930, was made here in Kolkata. The
legendry Rabindranath Tagore and Mother Teresa were also awarded Noble Prizes
for their work carried out (280) in Kolkata. The earliest
organizations associated with science—The Asiatic Society, The Indian
Association for the Cultivation of Science and the Indian Science Congress
Association were established here. These organizations gave rise to celebrated luminaries in
science who promoted a (320) scientific culture. Sir J.C.
Bose, Prof. Satyendra Nath Bose, P.C. Ray, Meghnad Saha and many others built
the edifice of modern science in the country. Sir J.C. Bose is hailed as the
first of modern scientists of this country. His original contributions to the
invention of radio are well known. The recent discovery of Higgs-Boson particle
highlights the epoch-making contributions of Prof. Satyendra Nath Bose to Particle
Physics. I do hope that the modern scientists of this city would emulate the
examples of these leaders of science of the past.
ISCA presented me a compilation of
all the (420) addresses of General Presidents of the
Association as well as the inaugural addresses delivered over the years. These
make fascinating reading. In a sense, these capture the history of Indian Science
as it evolved over the past 100 years. In the year 1957, I was a student at
Calcutta University. In that year, the Prime Minister of India Pandit
Nehru (480) was the Chief Guest. The Chief Minister of Bengal,
the visionary Prof B.C. Roy was the President of the Science Congress. The
topic of B.C. Roy's address to the Congress was ‘On Science for Human Welfare
and Development of Country’. The topic then was akin to the theme of the present
session - 'Science for Shaping Future of India '. I was greatly touched by B.C.
Roy's concluding message and I quote: “The clouds of time may have hidden
for (560) us innumerable problems, trials and dangers, yet
time may also reveal solutions of unknown difficulties or delightful surprises
which man with his knowledge of Science should be prepared to turn to his
advantage with faith, hope and goodwill.”
Let me congratulate the Indian
Science Congress for selecting ‘Science for Shaping Future of India’ as the
focal theme for its 100th Session. Science has to be closely
linked to a culture within the society which is built on scientific
knowledge. (640) It calls for a scientific temper that Pandit
Nehru always used to talk about. Scientific culture demands that choices and
decisions are made by individuals, society and the nation on the basis of
scientific logic. Indian economy has been following a new paradigm of
development that is, faster, sustainable and inclusive growth with equity. It
is a new concept because it combines (700) the faster growth
with objectives of inclusiveness and sustainability. How to harness the forces
of science, technology and innovation to achieve this end calls for deep
deliberation. I am sure, you will discuss this in all its aspects and
implications with the seriousness that it demands. Science is one of the
creative endeavours of human mind. Pursuit of Science as a personal passion
cannot be regulated or directed when the thrill of pursuit is in knowing the
truth of the Nature. Prepared and creative minds are required to observe the
revelations of Nature. Science seeks universal and fundamental truth.
Culture (800) of Excellence is the second nature of creative
scientists. Eminent scientists of the world have always been concerned as to
how their understanding of natural phenomena could be applied to solve social
problems of the future. Sir J.C. Bose, more (840) than a
century ago, on 5th March 1885, wrote in his diary, ‘I have been thinking
whether the solar energy that is wasted in tropical regions in a new way could
be utilized. Of course, trees conserve the solar energy. But is there no other
way of directly utilizing the radiant energy of the sun?’ The seed for
artificial photosynthesis was sown then. Even now it is an active area of
research pursuit globally. His disciple Prof. Satyendra Nath Bose was a
powerful communicator and an inspired teacher. He delivered lectures on ‘power’
and ‘nuclear energy’ in a language that laymen could understand. He motivated
generation of people to move towards scientific endeavour. Public and political
understanding of science (960) is crucial. For that, I would
like to urge upon you all to apply modern tools for communicating science
in (980) a manner that can be understood by the common man.
This understanding would contribute to the creation of a Science culture in the
Indian society. The prime concern of any government in a country is
enhancing the well-being of its people. Technology has the power of changing
the lives of the people by creating physical well-being. Countries have
undergone transformational changes, all in one generation, from a relatively
weak to an emerging economy. In this transformational change, technology-led
economic growth has played a key role. While technology can be considered a
logical extension of knowledge gained from Science, it is much more
than mere application of Science. Technology is contextual. There is an
economic value to technology. We all are a witness to the transformational
changes being brought about by mobile telephony and internet. The number of
mobile (1120) phone users in India was around 19 crore in
October 2012 which is the second highest in the world after China. The mobile
phone density of 74.21 per cent of India compares favourably with the other
top-ranking countries. The internet, another marvel of technology, has become a
vital source of information and communication. India ranks third after China
and the USA in terms of number of internet users. However, the penetration of
internet use as the percentage of the population is only 11.4 indicating the
huge potential for future growth.
Another transformational application
of technology is Aadhaar project which focuses on electronic transfer of
benefits directly to the beneficiaries of various social sector schemes. I
understand the roll-out of Aadhaar-enabled service delivery has already started
in twenty districts. In the Budget 2012-13, a target for covering fifty
districts (1260) has been set which, I am sure, will be met.
It is essential to innovate if we have to compete (1280) in a
globalised economy. India has declared 2010-20 as the decade of innovation. The
announcement of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy today lays the
roadmap for the development of an eco-system for innovations and for
encouraging, recognizing and rewarding the innovators in the society,
especially the grassroot innovators who through their genius are adding value
to the processes which directly impact the local population. The new STI policy
has also addressed the issue of rightsizing our research and development
system. Balanced economic growth, especially in emerging economies like India,
is of paramount importance. Productive engagement of our youth in agriculture,
manufacturing and value-based services holds the key for a balanced growth of
the country. The new STI Policy, (1400) I am confident, will
pave the technology-led path for change ensuring prosperity with peace and
inclusiveness.
We need an educational system which
lays importance on development of a scientific culture within the society. Mere
economic growth without the attendant (1440) knowledge
capacity to manage the dimensions of change would neither suffice nor be
appropriate. Our ancient universities, whether these be Nalanda or Taxila,
focused on value based holistic education. Perhaps it is appropriate to quote
from an address of Rabindranath Tagore delivered ninety years ago : “You know
the traditions of our country are never to accept any material fees from the
students in return for teaching, because we consider in India that one who has
knowledge has the responsibility to impart it to the students.” Swami
Vivekananda always spoke of fusion of cultural values of the orient
with practical methods of the occident. Innovation is a modern means of
converting knowledge into social value and wealth. Indian philosophy
seeks to balance the pursuit of wealth and material success with the mastery of
the self and the quest of inner happiness. The deeply introspective, yet
practical wisdom of Indian philosophy must find resonance in the metaphor of
competition and conquest (1600) popularized in the modern
world.
You can find this exercise on YouTube by following the links given
below:
