Interaction With Students, Sambalpur

Education Promotes Creativity

I am indeed delighted to address and interact with the students of different schools of Sambalpur district. My greetings to the Principals, teachers and all students. I have met over 4,00,000 students/youths of our country. I am aware of their dreams and concern. I thought of sharing some thoughts based on that experience.

Story of atom and Human species

I want to talk to you about Nuclear reaction. What is fission and what is fusion In our country we have done both Fission and Fusion. Fission is used in power generation and nuclear bomb making.

What is Fission

Definition: a nuclear reaction in which a massive nucleus splits into smaller nuclei with the simultaneous release of energy

The splitting of a heavy nucleus into two roughly equal parts (which are nuclei of lower-mass elements) accompanied by the release of a relatively large amount of energy in the form of kinetic energy of the two parts and in the form of emission of neutrons and gamma rays.

What is Fusion

The Principle is a nuclear reaction in which nuclei combine to form more massive nuclei with the simultaneous release of energy. Lots of research is going on to use fusion for power generation.

The basis of all of these is the Einsteins discovery: E= mc2.

Number of elements

Do you know how many elements are there in the world In periodic table, the first one is Hydrogen. It has only one electron and one proton. It cannot stay in a stable state by itself. It can combine with another Hydrogen atom to form H2 or Two Hydrogen atoms can combine with one O atom to form H2O, which is water.

Thorium has the Atomic Number 90. Uranium for example has the atomic number of 92 and Atomic weight of 238. Plutonium; atomic Number is 94 and Atomic weight 244.

These heavy metals are used in making and mastering atomic energy. Do you know what you are made up of

Cells Molecules- What are these made up of Atoms.

How many atoms are there in the world As per Periodic tables there are 109 named elements and 3 unnamed, so totally 112.

Constitution of human being

How many atoms you are made up of Trillions. You have mostly carbon, Hydrogen nitrogen and Oxygen, You also have a bit of Calcium, sulphur etc.

I also have the same thing. Our ancestors also had the same type of atoms. Animals also have similar type of atoms. The non-living tables, chairs are also composed of atoms. The atoms that are arranged and sequenced to make you, is unique combination that will never be replicated and never had existed before either.

The some of the trillion atoms that are in you may have come from Mahatma Gandhi, from people whom we may not even know, may have come from some plants, even some animals or non living things like a rock etc. Is it not amazing that different arrangements of atoms make different things From living to non-living, from one species to another species, with very different and unique characteristics, even within the same species.

Life of a species

Most species live generally for 4 million years. But atoms live for several trillions of years. Take the Acorn seed. It has dreams of becoming a Big oak Tree. These dreams of how it will look like when it becomes an oak tree is already written in the acorn itself. This is the genetic code. This is what distinguishes from living arrangements of atoms and non living arrangements of atoms. Though it is written in every acorn how and when it will become an Oak tree, it is not necessary that every acorn will become a tree. The chances are one in 10,000. Others will fail to make it due to environments; they may even be consumed as acorn themselves.

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 GSLVs. 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

Question and Answers

Q.1 There is a wide gap in the outlook, life style and amenities available with rural people and urban people. So can one pattern of education in India suit all of them

- Manoj Kumar Nayak, Class IX, Govt. High School, Burla

Ans. There is an effort to develop media to reach all the nooks and corners of the country, making the borders invisible. In such a situation it should be possible to aim at common education pattern for all the people in the country to ensure equality of opportunity for the entire population. However, additional emphasis is needed in imparting knowledge to rural India through modified method of teaching. For this the teachers have to play a major role.

Q.2 Solar and geothermal sources can meet major energy requirement of any country. What is the present status of harvesting these resources in Indian context

- Subrat Mishra & Soumya Ranjan Mahanta, Class X, Govt. High School, Burla

Ans. India presently produces less than 1% of its energy requirement from solar sources. No significant breakthrough has been made in the utilization of geothermal sources for generating power though potential exists for generating over 10,000 MW of power.

Q.3 Houses, villages, districts, states & countries have tensions on the issue of boundaries. Aquifers, rivers, animals and humans do not obey borders. Can we live in a world without boundaries or borders

- Lohit Sarangi, Class X, Jyoti Vihar High School, Jyoti Vihar

Ans. The moment all of us become givers and not constant takers, we will be in a position to live in a world without boundaries or borders.

Q.4 We are proud to have you as the President of our country, but at the same time have we not been deprived of the services of the Father of modern space science & technology for India

- Somya Shree Samal, Class X, Madanawati Public School, Sambalpur

Ans. Space science and technology is one of the developments needed for the overall transformation of our society. The technological growth in space science and technology has taken place substantially and many scientists have today achieved competence in development of space technology products. The new generation of scientists and technologists are performing extremely well and have realized the dreams of our space science visionaries.

Q.5 Orissa is rich in natural resources. In spite of this, our State is in poor condition. What are the steps you suggest to be taken by us so as to improve this status

- Seema Pradhan, Class IX, Belphar Refractories High School, Jharsuguda & Surabhi Pattnaik Modern Public School, Barpali

Ans. My suggestion to you all will be that you should excel in your studies and make yourselves equipped to transform the condition of Orissa. You should think in terms of becoming entrepreneurs who can effectively utilize the rich natural resources of Orissa and produce value added products needed in the national and international markets. Also you can think of converting the long sea shore into places of tourist attraction and developing sea-food products. Such thoughts and actions will enable you to transform the State when you grow up and take up responsible positions in various fields of national activities.

Q.6 What shall be the vision of India when I will be of your age

- Jogesh Panigrahi, Class IX, Budharaja High School, Sambalpur

Ans. Human being has a constant urge to achieve progress in all walks of life. Realization of one vision sows the seed for the next vision. Interplanetary journey and safe return might be a common feature. Probably one of the visions you could have is to create a colony in Mars.

Q.7 The opinion of a scientist like you and the opinion of the President of India remains similar or differs on certain issues of your concern

- Swati Panda, Class IX, Govt. Girls High School, Burla

Ans. My views of today have evolved out of my work in different organizations in different capacities. This evolution is the basis on which my present opinions are manifest on different issues.

Q.8 More than 100 superconductors with critical temperature exceeding those of the best conventional superconductor have been discovered. There have been dreams and plans of building super conducting trains and large energy storage systems. So what is the stand of India in the research & development in this field

- Pratikash Bagh, Class X, St. Josephs Convent H.S.School

Ans. There are projects in Japan for designing and making high speed trains using magnetic levitation. As far as India is concerned we are in the basic research stage of superconducting materials and material phenomena.

Q.9 In your book Ignited minds you emphasize on the need for river linking as one of the greatest missions of India. But often we are told that river linking may also result in several human, ecological and political problems. As a pro-active President, what kind of visionary actions will you spell out to overcome these problems

- Samyak Sibashish, Class VI, St. Josephs Convent H.S.School

Ans. While considering the project on inter-linking of rivers it is necessary to consider all aspects of the project namely, human, ecological and political. The ecological problems can be addressed by making a certain percentage of additional allocation of funds for afforestation and implementing it to ensure preservation of ecological balance. Regarding human and political problems, it is necessary to have a consensus approach of convincing people about the overall benefits of the project for the humanity.

Q.10 How can we ignite the minds of millions of Indian children who lead a miserable life in terms of child labour, orphans living in the streets, thus rotting in the world of exploitation and agonies

- Anup Kumar Singh, Class VIII, St. Josephs Convent H.S.School

Ans. Assent has been accorded for the 86th Constitution Amendment Act Right to Education Bill for children between the age group of 5 and 14 years. Urgent action is needed for providing suitable school infrastructure and appointment of good teachers for running the schools for providing quality education to the children blended with the modern technologies of e-learning and tele-education. While doing so a review of the syllabus is also required to prevent overloading of the children for ensuring blossoming of their creativity. Also it is essential to educate the parents to send the children to school instead of deploying them for work. In case of orphans it is essential that the NGOs take care of them and provide the necessary education. There are number of orphanages in the country which are doing good service in this regard. But this has to multiply in large numbers. Students who are rich can persuade the adoption of poor children and undertake to educate them in quality schools.

Ten point oath for the youth of the nation

1. I will pursue my education or the work with dedication and I will excel in it.

2. From now onwards, I will teach at least 10 persons to read and write those who cannot read and write.

3. I will plant 10 saplings/Trees and ensure their growth.

4. I will go to rural and urban areas to reform atleast 5 persons from the habits of addiction and gambling. 5. I will take responsibility for removing the pain of ailing persons.

6. I will participate in the mission of realizing the economic strength of India by combining education with value system and by transforming religion into spiritual force.

7. I will not support any differentiation on account of Community or language.

8. I will lead an honest life free from corruption and will set an example for others to adopt a transparent way of life.

9. I will always be a friend of the mentally and physically challenged and will work hard to make them feel normal.

10. I will celebrate the success of my country and my people.