Address at the Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony of the Biju Patnaik University of Technology

ADDRESS

I am indeed delighted to pariticipate in the foundation stone laying ceremony of Biju Patnaik University of Technology. All the more I am happy that this Technology University is being set up at Rourkela, the steel town, which is already in the steel map of India. On this occasion, we recall the dreams of our nation builders like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Shri Biju Patnaik who had the foresight and vision to set up a strong manufacturing base within the country so soon after independence. We realized that due to colonial rule and our non-participation in the industrial revolution, the steel production in our country at the time of Independence was less than 2 million tonnes per annum. Due to drained national economy to a large extent, there was hardly any capital formation which could be invested in integrated steel plants. That is where the national planners stepped in. The five-year planning process was started and a decision was taken to set up heavy industries like steel plants in the public sector. India started its modern journey into the arena of technical self-reliance not only with steel Industries but also with Technical Education.

When great minds meet

At this point I recall the meeting between Swami Vivekananda and Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata during a ship journey from Japan to Chicago. I have realized that vision not only leads to achieve what we want but also it generates great leaders and spiritual minds. I would like to share oneincident that inspired me particularly in steel sector. It happened in 1893. A ship was sailing to USA. There were hundreds of people in that ship including two significant personalities. Swami Vivekananda and Jamsetji Tata were in that ship. Swamiji asked Jamsetji for what mission he was traveling. Jamsetji said that he wanted to bring steel industry to India. Swami Vivekanda blessed him. He suggested steel technology had two components - one is steel science and the other is manufacturing technology. What can you bring to this country in material technology - you will have to build material science with in the country. Jamsetji was thinking and thinking and made a decision. Earlier when Jamsetji went to London he asked for technology transfer for Steel Plant. UK steel manufacturers looked at Jamsetji and said that if Indians make steel, Britishers will eat it. Jamsetji crossed Atlantic Ocean, talked to Americans and brought manufacturing technology for steel. And the Tata Steel was established in Jamshedpur. He seeded and worked for the steel plant. Jamsetji is not there now, but 4 million tones per annum steel is rolling out. The visionary Jamsetji gave one portion of his asset for starting a science institute today known as Indian Institute of Science at Bangalore.. , The message I would like to convey to this audience, dream gives vision, Vision gives thoughts and thought leads to actions. Jamsetji brought two establishment to this country - first one was steel plant and the other was an educational research institution. Hence have a goal, persevere and work hard to succeed. Today, we are witnessing today the emergence of a technology university by the side of steel industry. What a co-incidence of thoughts of visionary leaders like J.N. Tata & Biju Patnaik . Biju Patnaik was not only a dynamic leader of the state but also a forward looking leader of modern India who guided the Industrial sector of the country to greater heights of achievement.

I had many occasions to interact with Biju Patnaikji. I would like to recall and share my experience with you. You all know when we were developing missiles for our country in the early 80's, Chandipore sea in Orissa coast used to be my theater of action. The Interim Test Range has witnessed several development flight trials of India's strategic, tactical and cruise missiles, and un-manned arial vehicles with sophisticated instrumentation. The range complex provides tracking telemetry communication and launch facilities for those missions.

Army needed a flight test on a land range with the accuracy of impact as the final destination within 150 meters. This is called circular error probability (CEP) in technical terms. We opened a geographical map of India . There were four tiny dots at a distance of 70 to 80 kms from ITR. These are the Wheeler Islands. We could not go to Rajasthan deserts for obvious reasons. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are far away. At 2 am we decided that Wheeler Isands were the right choice for the missile impact test. Now the search for a suitable island started. A Helicopter was used to survey the area. Someone proposed asking the fishermen to guide us to the islands. Two of my colleagues drove to a place called Dhamra. From Dhamra they hired a boat and reached the Island and surveyed the whole place.

Things moved faster there after. The district authorities including forest and environment officers visited the Island. Soon after I got the Defence Minister's clearance to acquire the Islands. The formalities were gone through with the Orissa Government and the forest department should transfer the land. I personally met the concerned senior officials to make the file move to the desk of Chief Minister. I also wrote a detailed letter to the Chief Minister explaining why we needed the Islands for DRDO work, specially for use as a range for experimental purposes. Within 10 days we got an appointment with the Chief Minister. I had heard a lot about Chief Minister Shri Biju Patnaik, particularly about his days as a pilot and his friendship with President Sukarno. When I entered the Chief Minister's chamber, he welcomed us warmly and exclaimed 'Oh my friend Kalam, I have followed your work from the time of Dr Sarabhai to now. Whatever you ask, I will give" . In my presence he signed the Orissa Government's decision to give to DRDO all the four islands and said, 'Kalam, I have given the approval you have asked for, I know you will use it well. Your mission - the missile programme - is very important to the country. Anything needed from Orissa will be yours.' Then, suddenly he held me and gave me a very affectionate hug. He said in a demanding tone 'Kalam, you have to give me a promise and assurance to the nation. The day India makes its own ICBM, I shall be stronger as an Indian.' There was silence. I had to respond immediately. Biju Patnaik was a man with a tremendous personality and deeply impressive as a leader too, one whose love for the nation transcended politics. I looked, straight into his eyes and said , 'Sir, we will work for your mission. I will discuss your thought in Delhi.'

It is therefore very apt that this University of Technology is being named after a personality who was himself wedded to modern technology. I find that this University has set out a Vision for itself. Without a Vision, we cannot hope to look into the future at all. The first step in achieving a goal is to have a dream. Dreams turn into thoughts and thoughts generate action and it is only concerted action which can result in achievement of our goals. The Vision of this University of Technology has been further developed into a 'Mission' and 'Objectives'. These are all laudable goals. A proper framework has thus been set up and it is now up to all of you - the teachers, the staff, the students and the educational administrators to ensure that the university is set up on a firm foundation to march confidently ahead on the road to technology education.

Technology is the greatest driver of modern nations. Geo-politics converts technology into a nation's policy. It can also lead to economic prosperity and capability for our national security. For example, developments in chemical engineering can bring about higher yields of crops while the same science can also lead to development of chemical weapons. Similarly, rocket technology developed for atmospheric research can also help in launching nuclear warheads. It is therefore up to a nation to steer the course which technology will follow in a nation's development path.

We have developed a vision known as Vision 2020 to make India into a developed country by the year 2020. What is a developed country? In my opinion, a developed country is one which has the capability and capacity to look comprehensively at wealth generation and wealth protection. A developed country evolves strategies, technologies and missions in an integrated manner to achieve these objectives. The Technology Vision 2020 document prepared by the best scientific and technical brain-power of the country has addressed the wealth generation and wealth protection aspects in a comprehensive manner and has identified technology as a linking factor. Five areas have been identified in which the country is required to take integrated action in case we are to achieve this vision of a developed India by the year 2020. These areas are :- (i) agriculture and food processing, (ii) education and health care (iii) infrastructure development (iv) information and communication technology and (v) self reliance in areas of critical technologies. All these five areas are closely inter-linked and concerted action on all these five fronts will lead to national, food, economic and defence security. A strong partnership amongst industry, business and the academic institutions like the Biju Patnaik University of Technology at Rourkela will be essential if we have to accomplish our Vision 2020.

I would like to share my views on technical education in India. It is not mere technical literacy that is required in the knowledge world of today. What is required from students of universities like yours are knowledge intensive skills and the ability to generate, share, adapt and adopt knowledge skills in a continuously changing world of business, economy and technology. We have to keep running the knowledge race. I am glad that the Biju Patnaik University of Technology at Rourkela has also started to run this race. Already, the University has two constituent colleges and 95 affiliated colleges offering education in engineering, architecture, pharmacy, computer applications and management. However, we also have to create more educational and employment opportunities in Orissa. We must increase higher professional educational opportunities for girls also. With modern education in engineering, technology, management, hi-tech applications, pharmacy etc., women can do equally well if not better than their male counter-parts. Such an emphasis on higher technical education for women will enable us to make full utilisation of our vast human resources. This is vital if we are to succeed in this era of 'knowledge-society'.

The Biju Patnaik University of Technology provides a great opportunity for the students, the R&D community and the industry of Orissa to work together and to harness their full potential, thereby leading the State and the nation to the status of a developed country. Our 'will and commitment' can make it happen. The laying of the foundation stone for the permanent campus of this University is like lighting a lamp. This is an auspicious beginning. Let us carry it further from here. Let us carry this lamp in our hearts and further ignite many more lamps through this one. This lamp will lighten up the entire India and all its regions. An ignited mind is the greatest source on earth. Once a young mind is ignited, it can drive all of us with a resolve that can transform India into a developed country through technological partnerships at various levels all over the country.

My best wishes to all of you on this occasion !