Lecture at the 91st Indian Science Congress

New Dimensions of opportunities for our nation

I am indeed delighted to participate in the 91st Indian Science Congress. My greetings to eminent scientists, organizers, delegates, young scientists, distinguished guests and citizens of Chandigarh. I wish you all a happy, prosperous, productive and creative 2004. When I was invited to address this congress, I was thinking what thoughts I can share with you in this beautiful environment. Friends I am giving you this talk based on my recent experience of visiting many scientific and technological labs and meeting young and experienced scientists. I was greatly reassured to learn that the focused attention of our scientists had lead to recent accomplishments in science about which we are proud of. In this connection, I would like to correlate our laboratory work with national needs.

Our nation is going through a major challenge of uplifting of 260 million people who are below the poverty line. They need habitat, they need food, they need health care, and they need education and employment and finally resulting into a good life. Our GDP is growing at more than 5% per annum. Whereas, the economists suggest that to uplift the people below poverty line, our economy has to grow at the rate of 10% per annum consistently, for over a decade. What are the scientific and technological tools we have now readily available for that? What quality of partnership and innovation our scientific community can provide?

Science: Partner to Developed India

The nation's vision of developed India requires greater thrust to scientific and technological advancements. Last few years, we are witnessing a number of technological breakthroughs in space technology, nuclear technology, defence technology, agricultural technology and ICT. Above all our IITs, IIMs have graduated as world class branded institutions. This has happened only due to our sustained faith in science and our policies that have helped in promoting scientific environment. I would like to convey some information based on my experience while working in various S&T laboratories for nearly four decades. I have seen happiness and pain. I have seen happiness when you succeed; also I have seen pain when you don't.

Every academic institution and R&D Organisation is a reservoir of knowledge. However, one of the problems with some of our laboratories is that they will always say that "I have already done it" I would call it as a laboratory Syndrome. This is because many underestimate the "last mile" problems in taking the technology from the laboratory to the field. The last mile is so simple that we think that we know precisely what has to be done, yet so difficult when we actually get down to doing it. The technology development is complete, only when the technology is transferred, absorbed and productionised to the needs of people. In this connection, I would like to describe the Law of Development.

Law of development

I was studying the development patterns and the dynamics of connectivity between nations, especially in trade and business. As you all know the world has few developed countries and many developing countries. What is the dynamics between them and what connects them? Developed country has to market their products in a competitive way to different countries to remain as developed country. The developing country to get transformed into developed country; they too have to market their products in other countries in a competitive way. Competitiveness has three dimensions: quality of the product, cost effectiveness and supply in time. Indeed this dynamics of competitiveness in marketing of products by developing and developed countries determines the law of development. We have to see our integrated missions for national development in this light.

Integrated Mission

As you all know, recently India Vision 2020 has been given a momentum by certain initiatives. Our Prime Minister announced on 15-Aug-2002 that India will become a developed country by 2020. He has also said that "All the national efforts have to be directed towards this mission". Also a task team has been formed for one of the largest projects of the country for the feasibility study of interlinking of rivers. He has announced road map for implementing 5000 PURA's (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas). Orissa will have the unique honour of having the first fully government initiated PURA. This has kindled many private agencies and NGOs to direct their efforts towards creating more PURAs which are economically viable and technologically sustainable. The official 10th plan document released recently aims at 8% GDP growth in the plan period. In such an environment, let us study what Scientists and Technologists can contribute in progressing such missions.

Agriculture and agro food processing

India has to now embark upon the Second Green Revolution which will enable it to further increase its productivity in the agricultural sector. With farmers in focus, farming technology as his friend, and food processing and marketing as partners is indeed the second green revolution. From now to 2020, India would have to gradually increase the production to around 400 million tonnes. The increase in the production will have to be done under the reduced availability of land from 170 million hectares to 100 million hectares with reduced water availability.

The challenges for the scientists and technologies would be in the areas of development of seeds that would ensure good yield even under constraints of water and land with organic farming. The challenges for the scientist is indeed a knowledge graduation from characterization of soil to the matching of the seed with the composition of the fertilizer, water management and evolving new pre-harvesting techniques for such conditions. The domain of farming would enlarge from grain production to food processing and marketing. Kurian type of co-operatives are required to be established for ensuring maximum benefit to the farmers. Some of the areas which need focus are: soil upgradation, dry land agriculture, temperature gradient and salinity resistant seeds and minimum water cultivation. There have been successful experiments carried out by TIFAC team in Bihar, where per hectare output of wheat has been tripled by farmers in collaboration with ICAR scientists through scientific methods. Such experiments can be replicated in many parts of our country.

Health-care and bio-technology

In the Developed India Vision 2020, one of the important areas identified by experts is "Health Care", with the aim of promoting affordable and accessible health care. The expert team has identified malaria, HIV/TB both inter connected, cancer and water-borne diseases as major health-care concerns. Our scientists should provide innovative solutions for Indian health concerns through focused missions for drug development and treatment. The indigenous drug development in the form of vaccines, medicines and diagnostics will be very important to provide cost effective drug therapy to the one billion populations. This will also help us in competing in the world market through export. We are happy to recognise that the cost of our Pharma products is very low and very much competitive internationally.

The interfacing between medical science and various technologies such as precision mechanical engineering, Nano technology, material science and simulation has given rise to numerous techniques both curative and investigative and has provided the research worker with numerous tools to pry into the working of various physiological functions right up to the molecular levels. Developments in bio-technology and molecular biology have now made it possible not only to design drugs for specific properties but also to deliver them to the specific sites where they are most required. Medical research will lead to identify not only the genes that cause disease but also correct the defects through gene therapy.

Stem Cell Research

The recent identification and characterization of progenitors with stem cell properties has opened up new avenues that may be useful for treating functional impairments caused by the death of specific cell population. The stem cell may help restore functioning of certain defective organs, by repopulating or rescuing the damaged cells from further degeneration. There will be a revolution in the medical treatment for heart care, cancer, visually impaired and mentally challenged. It is essential to launch an integrated national stem cell research program.

During my visit to various laboratories, I happened to see the beginning of stem cell research for different purposes including brain research. I would like to share with you two very important stem cell research applications in the field of cardiology and visual impairment. When I met Dr. P. Venugopal, a famous cardiac surgeon, he told me about his experiences. He said in one of the cardiac diseases, where conventional, medical and surgical treatment were ineffective because of the affliction of the heart muscle, use of autologous bone marrow stem cells implantation into the diseased heart muscles had been applied in order to improve the function of heart muscle. This kind of application of this procedure is the latest and very few cases have been done in the world, the first time in India. This is expected to open new frontiers in the treatment of patients for regeneration of heart muscles, there by giving new hope for the patients suffering from end stage heart disease. The stem cells are being tried in other diseases like diabetes in order to offer cure for the patients suffering from long term and intractable diabetes. This is being applied by injecting the stem cells into the patient's artery supplying the pancreas. The results are still awaited.

Similarly, my friend Dr. Taraprasad Das has invited me to L.V. Prasad eye institute to witness his research results. He is planning to administer the stem cells in the affected retina portion of the eye region. I will be there on 19-JAN-2004. The patient, we all hope, will open his eyes for the first time and see the light, with Doctors research, care and God's help.

Energy

As you are aware, for meeting the targets of developed India our generating capacity has to get tripled by 2020 from the existing hundred thousand Megawatts of power. This has got to be achieved through three different sources namely hydel capacity, nuclear power and non-conventional energy sources primarily through solar energy. The hydel capacity generated through inter-linking of rivers is expected to contribute nearly 34,000 megawatts of power. The nuclear power plants should have a target of fifty thousand megawatts of power. The balance has to be generated through the conventional thermal plants. The present nuclear power capacity of 14 reactors which is 2820 megawatts is expected to go to 7400 megawatts by 2010 with the completion of nine reactors which are now in progress. Eventually as per present plan, DAE is expecting the capacity to be 20,000 megawatts by 2020. Recently, when I participated in Indian nuclear society seminar on 17-DEC-2003 at Kalpakkam, chairman AEC announced that there is a feasibility to enhance the 20,000 MGW power target to next quantum jump because of the experiences what will be gaining in the FBR and also thorium nuclear material research results anticipated.

Large scale solar energy farms of 800-1000 megawatts capacity hundred in number could contribute around hundred thousand megawatt. Solar energy is also available just 6-8 hours a day in India, a nation that is latitude-wise very well placed for solar power. This is considered a disadvantage because storage of electricity is prohibitively expensive; technologies are just not there for large scale electricity storage. We need to work in harvesting energy from space where solar energy may be harvested for almost 24 hours a day throughout the year. In fact, this very requirement for energy from space would give a totally different orientation to our scientific, technologies and Geo-political perceptions of space applications. A pioneer in Solar Space Power Dr. Peter E Glaser says that "solar energy does not know any borders on planet earth; therefore solar power mission can change the geo-political climate". By developing low cost fully reusable space transportation, energy from space mission would place India in the forefront of nations in the emerging new era of space industrialization.

Water

Friends I would like to share with you my deep concern about water. Ganges flows across India and Brahmaputra flows through different countries and enters into India. Rhine River, Danube flows into many European countries. Blue Nile and White Nile flow through many African countries and join at Khartoum and then flows as Nile from Sudan to Egypt. I studied the routes of the rivers and also see the exponential increase in the requirement of water. I noted that the flow volume remains almost constant. It was reassuring to note there are many international rivers flow through many countries and enrich them. This experience is essential in implementing our interlinking of rivers programme for benefiting the nation. The nations have to join; scientist and technologist have to assist in finding solutions for effective and equitable utilization of water for ensuring prosperity of all nations. We should collectively find solution to this problem.

Globally, there are a few solutions to solve water shortage. The solutions are redistribution of water, water re-cycling and prevention of wastage, rain-water harvesting and inter-linking of rivers. What is the solution as a scientists and technologist can provide for these missions? We must find scientific solutions to these missions so the missions are executed in a cost effective manner maintaining the eco-logical balance and bio-diversity.

Another important solution is to create new perennial sources of fresh water by seawater desalination. India attaches importance to research and technological solution for various desalination processes. But we are only in pilot plant stage. We need to work for large volume desalination plants, which can cater to the needs of big cities both Multi Stage Flash and Reverse Osmosis. Our scientists should also carryout research in the areas drinking water generation. Another area of research involves culturing of water through sea water bacteria, releasing hydrogen ions which can be converted into drinking water. This is probably a long term solution to water problem. Regional cloud seeding with the cooperation of participating states with the effective seeding techniques needs to be explored in our country.

ICT - Knowledge products

I visualize by 2005, I will sit in front of my computer , I will give a talk and I will also give voice commands for the operations and navigating through my computers. My talk should be digitized and converted into the text with out having to train the computer for voice recognition for my voice. We in India, have not ventured into developing our own operating systems, language independent software so as to achieve self reliance in the software sector. We also could do better in the development of knowledge products and tools, using which many domain specific applications can be developed and deployed for the services sector.

For effective competitiveness, the fusion between research, innovation and astute marketing should occur. This is best done by forming an effective triangle of industries, researchers from academia/R&D and the student community. With this collaboration and combined committment it is possible to develop innovative products in the many areas including:

- Localized Indian operating systems that seamlessly apply across General purpose environments, real- time applications, embedded systems including smart cards, utilities ranging from Microwave Ovens, washing machines, camera, cell phones to small form factor palms and PDAs.

- Scientific applications software in the areas such as CFD, Structural Mechanics, Bio Informatics and drug design, and Computational Chemistry and Physics

-Educational Courseware design and deployment

- Application Servers framework for middle tier business applications

-Information Security products based on our indigenous knowledge and languages such as Sanskrit, Hindi, Tamil and others which have unique encryption capabilities.

Core competencies that can be exploited in information security, scientific software development, entertainment, education, hardware - software codesign, IC Design and wireless can also spearhead a strong domestic market, and make our IT industry more robust and strong.

Space

Today, competence has been established for advanced remote sensing and communication satellites and their applications. Our launch services and satellites are cost effective and we should enter into the global market aggressively. The exploration of the moon through 'Chandrayaan' will electrify the entire country, particularly young scientists and children. I have discussed with Chairman ISRO about the moon mission project. He has promised to take a small piggy back moon payload package apart from the moon orbital mission, and place it on the moon surface to monitor few parameters. Proposals on payload and suggestions from this enlightened audience can be sent to Chairman ISRO.

I am sure the moon mission is just a start towards further planetary explorations and manned missions which will lead to Mars exploration vital for our economic needs. Similarly when I visited VSSC and Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, I was reassured about the development of reusable launch vehicles. Space technology is a major enabler for the development of our country, with its uniqueness and wide-spread applications such as tele-medicine, tele-education, e-governance, resource mapping and mining in other planets.

Defence

I would like to share one good example from the defence ministry they have a demanding user. User demands performance, cost effectiveness and timely delivery. Also, there are Defence R&D Labs and Defence production centres in avionics, instrumentation, radar, armament, missiles and electronic warfare systems. There is an experience in readiness to transfer the technology and the method of marketing the products. For the successful transfer of technology, technology absorption is very vital. This cycle: readiness for production, technology transfer and technology absorption and cost effective production in an integrated way is available. Many of the civil sector laboratories do not have this kind of experience.

Defence technology has led to the development of long range missile systems and super-sonic cruise missile, Light Combat Aircraft, Electronic warfare systems, radars, under-water sensors, combat vehicles and armaments. The indigenous development of technologies for these systems, in spite of technology denials and control regimes have created a strong base in the country should lead to substantial self-reliance in defence systems. Also, we must generate export business with friendly countries. The Indo-Russian joint venture programme - BRAHMOS is one of the leading examples of development, production and marketing of state-of-the-art missile system for deployment by both the partners and export to friendly countries.

Virtual University

We should start looking at the possibility of creating a Virtual University in India through networking of all the universities and other educational institutions for imparting universal tele-education. Virtual university will provide a common platform for teaching schools, colleges and universities and even vocational courses. This will give equal emphasis on theory and experiments in spite of the fact that it will be done in the cyberspace. Such is the power of the technology and our understanding of it.

This facility would also help in expansion of telecommunication and IT services. All this would lead to synergising the strengths of different universities in promoting quality education to our students in a cost effective manner and provides connectivity to the good teachers. Recently I inaugurated a Digital library and I was delighted to see that millions of pages have been digitized. Nationally the number of libraries has been digitized and is networked under the leadership of Prof. Balakrishnan and Prof Raj Reddy through the Ministry of Communication and Information technology. The mission of Digital Library of India has to spread and reach every college and school in this country with connectivity to outside world by 2005. In a decade's time, a PC would be able to store 1000 time more data - that means 30 million books can be stored in the PC.

PURA

PURA will be the platform of application for all the science and technologies which we have discussed so far. PURA - Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas envisages linking of 10 to 15 village clusters with four connectivities such as Physical Connectivity, Electronic connectivity, knowledge connectivity and there by achieving economic connectivity. Majority of our population lives in villages. The development of the nation requires enhancement of economic connectivity of the villages. Out of the 6 lakhs villages in the country about 25,000 PURA complexes would emerge. All the technology missions discussed above will have application in PURA complexes. The scientific community should work for providing cost effective solutions for making PURA an economically viable enterprise.

Early recognition of talents

Friends, the genius in Ramanujan had to be discovered by Prof. Hardy. This has been cryptically remarked at that time by Poondi Namasivaya Mudaliar with anguish "It is the destiny of our nation that an Indian brain requires an acknowledgement from a foreigner. Why our people are hesitant to appreciate such a personality". We would have come across similar instances in our laboratories and institutions. Can our scientific community spot the talents early and nurture these buds to blossom? Those who spot such talents and make them blossom will themselves be a different kind of a flower as described in the Bhagwad Gita: "See the flower, how generously it distributes its perfume and its honey. It gives to all, gives freely of its love. When its work is done, it falls away quietly. Try to be like the flower unassuming despite all its qualities". What a beautiful message for all generations of this Nation.

Conclusion

The next 20 years period, I consider, is a period of economic development for the country. Science and technology has to contribute continuously for this mission. I would suggest to the scientific community to take up the following goal oriented challenges, which I believe have significant research component but still remain socially relevant.

1. The Agricultural research has to be directed towards doubling the yield of grains per hectare; this will ensure food security for the growing population inspite of continued reduction in the availability of water and cultivable land.

2. Interlinking of rivers is a necessity for the nation and is the largest programme of the country. It needs advanced R&D inputs from all disciplines of science and technology.

3. The technology of desalination using solar power has to be developed very urgently to meet the energy and drinking water demands.

4. Nuclear scientists have to ensure between now and 2020, twenty thousand mega watt power and more gets added to the power grid. Also the technology of exploiting abundantly available thorium has to come in a mission mode.

5. The development of vaccine for HIV has to be completed and put to use with in two years.

6. Integrated research for Stem Cell utilization for many diseases has to be carried out in a mission mode.

7. Space scientists should aggressively market the already proven launch systems and satellites. The aerospace community should make the hypersonic reusable launch vehicle a reality within a decade.

8. Defence ministry in collaboration with scientists, technologists and also industries should lead the export of missiles, tanks, aircraft, electronic warfare systems, sonars, radars, armaments and other military equipments to friendly countries.

9. ICT community should develop indigenous Indian language independent infrastructural software and value added products.

10. Scientific community should become knowledge partners for PURA in realizing cost effective connectivities, energy and water conserving habitats through entrepreneurship, leading to rural prosperity.

11. Science and Technology should take its discoveries and developments to the betterment of the life of differently challenged people.

12. Scientific community should be ever alert to spot Ramanujan and nurture them even in the budding stage like what Prof. G.H. Hardy did.