All India Radio Address on Technology Day

Celebration of Technological Achievements 

Dear citizens, my greetings to all of you on this Technology Day. On this day every year, I have decided that I would like to share with you, the technological progress made in our country towards enriching the society, signifying our national spirit that ?we can do it?. Technology day is a day to commit all of us to use the tools of technologies to transform India into a Developed nation.

Based on my visits to laboratories and participating in Science, Technology and Industry forum and our detailed analysis, I would like to highlight to the listeners the milestones and the progress India has achieved technologically in the year 2003-2004. We had received hundreds of inputs from our technological community across the nation in various disciplines. For brevity, I would like to discuss nine technological events, which have the potential to penetrate into our economy and assist the transformation of our society. They are: Seed Cotton Productivity; Electricity Generation from Municipal Waste; A Brand in Automobile Technology; Fast Breeder Reactor; Birth of an Indian Cryogenic Engine; Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) crossing the Sonic Barrier; Mapping the Neighborhood by the Children; Synergy Mission for Environmental Upgradation and Digital Library in every Panchayat.

Seed Cotton productivity

Textile industry is very important for the Indian economy. The basic raw material is cotton. India is the third largest producer of cotton in the world. However, compared to the world average of 700 kgs of seed cotton per acre we produce only 350 kgs of seed cotton per acre. It is indeed a technological concern for the nation. On 4th March 2004, I met the members of the CII National Council, where Shri Oswal of Vardhman group, who had adopted the village Nava Pind in Punjab during the year 2003, brought out one important achievement. This programme was a cooperative movement of the farmers, scientists, trainers and the industry, launched in Nava Pind village having an area under cotton of over 1200 acres. A training programme was launched for farmers starting with soil characterization, matching the cottonseed to soil, water and fertilizer management. They were also trained on proper application of fertilizer and pesticide during the seeding and growth process in the right season and proper irrigation techniques to enhance the productivity of cotton.

This form of exposure that the farmers had is a holistic approach that combines the understanding of the crop dynamics, environment, best farm practices and of course the Agricultural Technology. The project resulted in increasing the average seed cotton yield of the village from 450 KG per acre during the year 2002-2003 to 950 KG per acre for the year 2003-2004, that too at a considerably reduced investment. This led to the increase in net return per acre in the village from Rs. 2400 per acre to Rs. 17,000 per acre (a seven times increase in return). Let us celebrate the success of this co-operative movement model and replicate it across the nation among the cotton growers, which has the potential to generate wealth of over Rs. 25000 crores a year for the nation.

Electricity Generation from Municipal Waste

Increased urbanization, have led to a serious problem of accumulation of municipal solid waste. Efficient and environmentally clean disposal of garbage has always been a major technological challenge. While being a threat to the environment, mounting garbage is also a rich source of energy. The potential for converting this waste into useable energy, which will eliminate a major source of urban pollution, was realized by one of our innovative organizations- Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council of DST which helped in developing a completely indigenous solution for the processing of waste into a source of fuel. This fuel could, in turn, be used for generation of electricity through mini plants. Two entrepreneurs in Andhra Pradesh adopted the technology with refinement and established two independent plants in Hyderabad and Vijayawada generating over 12 megawatts of electricity which is being supplied to the State Grid. We acknowledge the combined effort of our scientists, technologists and the industries in making technology socially useful, environmentally appropriate and economically significant. India needs thousands of mini power plants using municipal waste. This can be a mission of corporate houses, small-scale industries and social upliftment organizations.

A Brand in Automobile Technology

It was the dream of our nation, to have a car designed, developed and manufactured by us, being driven in the roads of world capitals. But for many years, we have been producing automobiles using imported technologies or under licensed manufacture. Now a new situation has emerged for the last 3 years in the country with the industrial commitment of TATA Engineers, workers, managers and partner industries who have made a seminal national contribution in the form of Indica, a brand of automobile technology. It has not only attracted the Indian car lovers but it has got a demand in the western market too. For the first time, in Indian technological history a four-wheeler automobile has been designed, developed, manufactured and exported. This Indian export will pave the way for Indian automobile industry to become internationally competitive and give birth to a multinational business. Let us celebrate the success of our visionary industry leaders, automobile technologists, designers and industrial partners who are responsible for making the industry to find a place in the export map of the automobile world.

Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR)

When I think of energy security through non-conventional sources in the country, I am reminded of Dr. Homi Jahangir Bhabha, who gave a vision of three-phase programme of nuclear power to ensure energy security. The first phase of this programme led to the maturity in building pressurized heavy water reactors in the country. Dr. Vikram Sarabhai was the visionary, who recognized early in the 1970?s, the need for developing Fast Breeder Reactor, which can achieve a power capacity of five hundred thousand mega watts. The Fast Breeder Reactor generates more nuclear fuel than it consumes due to gainful conversion of fertile isotopes like U238 and Th232 into Pu239 and U233 respectively. Dr. Vikram Sarabhai also understood the complexity of FBRs and drew a road map for inter disciplinary research in reactor engineering, materials, chemistry, reprocessing safety, instrumentation and other allied disciplines at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research. The experiences in construction, commissioning and satisfactory operation of the Fast Breeder Test Reactor have demonstrated the mastering of the multi-disciplinary technology for energy production. It has also created a pool of specialists in various disciplines related to complex technology of fast breeder reactor.

With this experience, a Fast Breeder Reactor of 500 MW capacity has been designed and structural integrity demonstrated using a simulation model. A pilot plant scale reprocessing facility has also been commissioned and reprocessing of FBTR fuel has commenced successfully. Two peer expert groups have reviewed the final design of FBR 500. This has provided a proof of Indian design capability. Based on this confidence a project has been sanctioned to the Department of Atomic Energy for setting up of the first FBR by a newly formed company called Bhavini at a cost of Rs. 3500 crores by 2010. Let us celebrate the success of our nuclear power development scientists and engineers and their partners in the industry for making the dream of fast breeder reactor a reality for the nation, which will lead the country towards total energy security within the next two decades. ?Let us empower the nation with quality power.?

Birth of an Indian Cryogenic Engine

Friends, as you all know India has specialized in solid and liquid rocket propulsion systems. However, for the Geo-synchronous launch vehicle rocket system of ISRO, the cryogenic engine mounted in the apogee stage is very vital, since it gives more than 450 Seconds of energy. This is 50% more than the energy provided by a solid propulsion system, which could give only 300 seconds of energy. The cryogenic engine will enhance proportionately the higher payload carrying capability of the launch vehicle. ISRO had planned launching of indigenously developed geo-synchronous satellite launch vehicle, before 2000. Hence there was a necessicity for India to import the cryogenic technology from Russia, which was the only country willing to offer the technology to us with certain constraints. We used the Russian technology for the first two GSLV?s. Parallely India started the development of 7.5-ton thrust cryogenic engine on its own. Now India has completed the development of this cryogenic engine, which will be used in our future GSLV launch vehicles and its derivatives.

On 5th Dec 2003, when the indigenous cryogenic engine performed for 1000 seconds thrusting time against the flight requirement of 700 seconds, it was a moment of great joy for the space science and technology community in India. The cryogenic engine of Indian design is powered by 70% liquid oxygen at 80 degree Kelvin and 30% of liquid hydrogen at 20 degree Kelvin as a fuel. The technological challenges in the development of cryogenic engine are: special materials due to low temperature operations, and long term storage needs and safety in handling. The cryogenic engine development coupled with hydrogen fuel research will give a hope for locomotives and automotive development. Let us celebrate the successful development of cryogenic engine in India, which gives the technological strength to the nation and enable us to compete in global space technology market. ?We can master and conquer the space?

LCA crossing the Sonic Barrier

Friends, it was the year 1989. In the Paris air show, when the fighter aircrafts of USA and Europe were flying at Supersonic speed crossing the sonic barrier, I looked at the Indian team of Designers and Project Leaders whose eyes and ears were locked on to the airshow. This event inspired me to write a Tamil Poem, which means:

Let us sweat with unity of minds,

Let us build our own super sonic fighter aircraft,

Fly it in Paris airspace crossing the sonic barrier,

With Thunder and lightening spreading the Indian glory,

At that time the Indian Light Combat Aircraft programme of DRDO and HAL was in the drawing board. That dream has now been realized with the three LCA aircrafts flying in formation at Bangalore airspace crossing the sonic barrier and attaining supersonic performance. TEJAS, the Light Combat Aircraft will go to user in 3 years time. TEJAS is the smallest lightweight aircraft, highly maneuverable with maximum composite structure; with low radar cross section area and above all it will be globally competitive. How did we achieve this? I still remember in 1998, when India became a nuclear weapon state, the US companies had terminated the contract on joint development of flight control systems for LCA. How did we overcome the challenges of technological denial regime? We formed the national teams for composite wings and for the flight control systems. With time bound mission mode project management system, experts drawn from multiple organizations positioned as one single development team, we have achieved a remarkable development success. This type of technological denial inspires our scientific community and opens the door for faster development. When we see LCA flying, we are seeing our Indian aspirations of realization of the doctrine that ?We will win and master the skies?.

Mapping the Neighbourhood by the children

In my many interactions with school children, parents, teachers and educationist, I have been told that our existing educational process tends to emphasize learning by memory rather than strengthening creativity. The essence of Science & Technology on the other hand is embedded in two of the most fundamental impulses ? the desire to discover and the desire to invent. It is vital that our education process nurtures and nourishes these two impulses.

An attempt in this direction has been made in a pilot programme called ?Mapping the Neighbourhood? initiated by the Department of Science and Technology. In Almora district in Uttaranchal children from 20 schools have been motivated to use mapping techniques to investigate and map basic socio-economic, environmental and ecological issues being faced by the neighbourhood community. Armed with the scientific and technological tools such as Global Positioning System (GPS), Geographic Information System (GIS), Space Imagery incorporated in the hand held computers, the children are creating maps with the neighbourhood details to improve their understanding of the immediate environment. These maps will enable further the technological community to find solutions for the regeneration of fast disappearing natural sources of water, improving road connectivity, finding better locations for electricity and water distribution points, reducing traffic congestion and improved systems of garbage collection. The children propose to extend their understanding to issues of agriculture and irrigation, health and nutrition and so on.

I believe that this method of learning restores the joy of discovery and invention and through this programme we can ignite the minds of the youth and take the country to new heights. To achieve this the programme must be implemented in at least 30 thousand schools all over the country.

Synergy Mission for Environmental Upgradation

The status of environmental cleanliness is one of the indicators of development of a nation. As a nation, we have to keep our environment clean and tidy including all our places of worship and rivers. I am delighted to learn the Kali Bein rivulet, the place where Gurunanak Dev is said to have received enlightenment and which had over the centuries turned literally into a sewage ridden, weed choked drain, is today flowing clean and proud due mainly to the efforts of Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal in partnership with the Punjab State Government. From the discussions, I understand that he organized people?s participation in stopping the massive flow of sewage into the Bein and cleaned 160 km long polluted and choked rivulet within the last three and a half years by deploying on an average 3000 volunteer workers per day. Today one can feel the flow of fresh water in this rivulet released from the Tarkina Barrage by the government about a year ago. The revival of the rivulet has recharged the water table as the hand pumps that had became dry for the past 4 decades are now pumping out water. Baba not only did the cleaning up operation by clearing Bein from the weeds and hyacinth, but also built bathing ghats at five places. He also built more than 100 km long kutcha road on the bank of the rivulet.

While I was thinking how we should solve the problem of improving the environment of rivers and religious places, I find one of our enlightened citizens has taken the initiative and demonstrated the power of ignited individuals to solve societal problem. Let this model spread in all the places of divine worship and inspire the pilgrims to participate in the divine task of clean environment in water and air. ?Thousands of local initiatives will lift India up and make it green.?

Digital library in every Panchayat

The Digital Library is a unique technological need for India since it gives connectivity to our past civilizational heritage with its palm leaf inscriptions of science, medicine and cultural history including the history of many kingdoms such as Chera, Chola and Pandya through rocks and stone engravings. Digital Library can act as a vehicle to demolish the Digital Divide ? the divide between the haves and have-nots of information, knowledge and hence the wealth.

The Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India initiated the Digital Library of India Project in 2001 as a collaborative work between the Indian Institute of Science and the Carnegie Mellon University. Subsequently, with the support and guidance of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, more than 20 Centres across the country have been started. These include religious institutions, Government organizations including the Rashtrapathi Bhavan and many universities. Till today, the project has created more than 70,000 books in various languages available. The total contents exceed 25 Million pages. This work has demonstrated the Digital Library can be a cost effective dissemination mechanism to remote villages libraries through the Internet and DVDs. Very soon, the DVD or a small hard disk will have the capability to store almost all of the library needs of a Panchayat.

India in a decade?s time will become the connected country and also it will be connected globally. Digital Library will become a friend of rural people in each panchayat through Village Information Officers, Scientists, students and tourist leading to knowledge society. It will provide value addition to the knowledge products. ?Past, present and future confluence in the Digital Knowledge World can enable India to cast its future.?

Conclusion

The nine events of technologies, which I have discussed so far, are indeed part of many more technologies we need, for leading the nation as a prosperous country. Also, these nine technologies have to spread throughout the country to have a real impact. Doubling of seed cotton productivity will bring prosperity to our farmers. Electricity generation through mini-plants from municipal waste will enrich our environment and provide energy security to the nation. When Indica car plies on the roads of world capitals, it will ignite the youth of India to increase productivity in every field of technology to make the nation globally competitive. Commissioning of large number of Fast Breeder Reactor will provide energy security and also potable water through seawater desalination process. When an Indian communication satellite launched by cryogenic upper stage orbits in the space, the nation will have competitive export market. When LCA flies in the sky it gives a pride to our Armed Forces of flying indigenous fighters in the air space and make India a leading exporter of military equipments. Widespread use of mapping the neighbourhood by school children will enhance the creativity of our youth and make them contribute towards societal transformation. Number of Synergy Missions for environmental Upgradation will make India clean and green. Digital Library in every panchayat will enhance the knowledge of the youth and it will become part of beautiful rural life. Let these technological successes multiply and bring smiles in the faces of billion people. That is indeed the celebration of technological achievements. Dear citizens, my best wishes for success in all your missions.

May God Bless You.