Interaction With Faculty and Students - Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research

ADDRESS

I am indeed delighted to visit the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research and interact with the Faculty and students. JNCASR is a modern institute of higher learning and is a jewel in the crown of our nation filled with many great institutions of Scientific Research. It has shown in such a short time, how we can create in this country an institute of world class research where both the young and the mature can coexist, work in a focused way to further the frontiers of our quest to understand science. When I am in this beautiful environment, in the great institution built by Prof CNR Rao, many thoughts come to my mind and I would like to share a few of my experiences with you.

Scientist's as Technology Institute Builders

All of you know, in history, any country resolves itself initially into a few stout and earnest and knowledge giants. Particularly I took interest to study lives of three scientists, as I was interested in their scientific technological leadership qualities that focused the relationship of S&T and development of the nation. In the history of India, there may be many but I was very close to these three great personalities for one way or other. They are founders of three great institutions. I worked in two of the institutions directly and one in partnership. Dr DS Kothari, a Professor in Delhi University was an outstanding Physicist and also an Astrophysicist. He is well known for ionization of matter by pressure in cold compact objects like planets. This theory is complementary to epoch making theory of thermal ionization of his guru Dr Meghnad Saha. Dr DS Kothari set a scientific tradition in Indian defence tasks when he became Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister in 1948;. The first thing he did was to establish the Defence Science Centre to do research in electronic material, nuclear medicine and ballistic science. He is considered as the architect of defence science in India. His race continued and followed up with momentum working and contributing in the areas of strategic systems, electronic warfare systems, armaments and life sciences.

Now, let me discuss about Homi Jehangir Bhabha . He did research in theoretical physics in Cambridge University. During 1930-1939, Homi Bhabha carried out research relating to cosmic radiation. In 1939, he joined Sir CV Raman in IISc Bangalore. Later, he was asked to start Tata Institute of Fundamental Research with focus on nuclear science, mathematical science and established Atomic Energy Commission in 1948. Multi centers were born with his vision in nuclear science to nuclear technology, nuclear power, nuclear devices and nuclear medicine. These science institutions established multi technological centers, but basic science is the vital component.

Prof Vikram Sarabhai the youngest of the three and worked with Sri CV Raman in experimental cosmic ray. Prof Sarabhai established Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad with Space research as focus. In later years he become the Director of Space S&T Centre. The SSTC (1963) started with launching sounding rockets for space atmospheric research. His vision transformed into what is now the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) with multiple space technology centers. These centers are responsible for development and leading to launch of PSLV and GSLV injecting remote sensing and communication satellites respectively.

Nobility in Science

Great scientists and technologists are noble leaders. Prof Satish Dhawan who gave a great leadership to Indian Institute of Science and ISRO, also taught us nobility in leadership. On 10th August 1979, the first SLV-3 experiemental launch planned to take-off at 1500 hrs . I was the Mission Director and along with a 50 member strong team within the SHAR Control Centre with 6 specialists to assist me in critical decision making before take off. The automated computer count stopped indicating a possible anomaly in the propulsion system. My specialist team saw at the display that in the second stage of flight the pressure dropped in the reaction control system oxidiser tank that provides the 3 axis altitude control after the first stage rocket is separated. The specialist team advised me to go ahead with the count down ignoring the pressure drop as they felt that propellant stored was sufficient enough to last for twice the flight duration, I was advised to go ahead with the launch. I concurred and pushed the computer button to the launch sequence.

At T-0 the SLV-3 took off beautifully. The first stage had given predicted thrust and altitude and velocity needed at given altitude. The second stage initiated as per the tele data, but within a few seconds we witnessed the second stage and third stage and the satellite got caught into a tumbling motion and we lost the flight to the Bay of Bengal. It was 7 am in the morning. The whole team inspite of all its day and night hard work and sweat they were busy in collecting the data and was trying to establish the reason for the flight failure. Meanwhile, I was called by Prof Satish Dhavan to attend a press conference. Before the press conference, Prof. Satish Dhawan told me he is going to handle the situation and I should be present with many of the senior scientists and technologists. The press conference room was full with media. There was gloom , many questions were posed, some very powerful, thoughtful and also criticisms. Prof Satish Dhawan, announced " Friends, today we had our first Satellite launch vehicle to put satellite in the orbit, we could not succeed. It was our first mission of proving multiple technologies in satellite launch vehicles. In many technologies we have succeeded and few more we have to succeed, above all I realise my team members will have has to be given all the technological support. I am going to do that and in the next mission will succeed. Subsequently, a failure analysis board was formed to establish the cause.

Now I will move to the second mission of SLV-3 that took place on 18th July 1980, it was 6.30 in the morning. The whole nation's attention was towards the SHAR launch complex and the control centre. The mission team were busy and computer took over the flight sequence from T-4 minutes. At T-0 the flight took off text book trajectory we were witnessing. After nearly 600 secs of the flight I realised every stage has given the required velocity including the 4th stage. I made an announcement, "Mission Director calling all stations. The SLV-3 has given the required velocity and right altitude to put Rohini satellite in the orbit. Our down range stations and global stations will get the orbit satellite beam the required data within an hour". There was a thunderous applause from all the stations and visitors gallery. The most important thing happened then. Prof Satish Dhawan asked me to handle the press conference with our team members. The message I would like to convey is, " When success comes in after hard work the leader should give the credit of the success to the team members. When failure comes the leaders should absorb the failures and protect the team members. I could not get this beautiful, technological education of failure management in any of the text books written by any of the Harvard or any of the management or technological institutes at that time. I would like to say particularly to this audience, since we will be managing hundreds of persons, dealing with a challenging task : There will be failure in a system, failure in a project, failure in the procurement action or failure in the administrative action even failure in the political system. It is vital to protect the team immediately after a failure from the onslaught effect of failures. Equally we should celebrate success of individuals and team. About us, Mahatma Gandhi has said in his autobiography; " it is always been a mystery to me how men can feel themselves honoured by the humiliation of their fellow men". A prophetic saying, it is.

Three Technological Events

I would like to share with you certain experiences from the events we have witnessed in the recent years. On 11th May 98 the then Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission Dr R Chidambaram and myself as Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister and some of our team members were working for the results of the underground nuclear three tests followed by another two. We were at very close to the test site and the countdown was progressing. At T-5 seconds and hundreds of parameters from instrumentation were displayed. The mission was to take place in a few seconds. At T-0, we witnessed the whole earth shrugged and thundered in front of us and all around. We saw part of the earth raising. What a powerful energy India generated through nuclear research?. This successful mission was the great partnership of DAE and DRDO. Self-reliant technology made the nation to become a nuclear weapon state. The idea to the event, it was indeed weaponisation mission completion. India can do it.

The second event is about a missile system. On 11th April 1999, the AGNI-II took off with computer command from the beautiful island range. 600 parameters from the missile were monitored in real time through a series of radars, telemetry stations and ship borne instrumentations networked with our own communication satellites. The AGNI with its payload reached with close accuracy on the target 2000 kms away. Also an Island missile Range was born. The partnership of DRDO labs with academic institutions and industries brought this important success and it is another triumph for self reliance, inspite of the technology denials.

Another event is about India's rocket technology. It reached its prime when the ISRO launched successfully the Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV-2 on 9th May 2003. India can compete in the launch vehicle services for satellite launching for other countries. This is the result of a great vision of self-reliance and sustained hardwork of ISRO and multiple institutions and industries.

These three events demonstrate that India has the capability to achieve a higher level of technological goals in spite of technology denials and control regimes. It means, if we have mission oriented programmes with leadership and political commitment, we will achieve these goals, however difficult they are. Can India bring technology to make impossible, possible.

Convergence of Technologies

It is very important when teaching enrich research, research is enriched by teaching. Hence, I expect this Centre and its Faculty to visualize a situation, that is convergence of technologies. The information technology and communication technology have already converged leading to Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Now, nano-technology is knocking at our doors. Particularly, JNCASR has made basic and applied research in a big way in new material science. It is the field of the future that will replace micro electronics and many fields with tremendous application potential in the field of medicine, electronics and material science. When nano technology and ICT meet, an integrated silicon electronics, photonics is born and it can be said that material convergence will happen. When communication technology integrated silicon electronics, photonics and sensors converges, we find radio chip and intelligent roaming. When biological science added with radiology, super humans will emerge. That means knowledge powered human beings. There will be nothing like an exclusive subject like bio technology, information technology or robotics science, in future. They all try to converge. Better this Institute is aware of the trends of the future so that we prepare the students and the research areas in the most useful and profitable way.

Next 50 years in Human Life

People's life will be enriched by IT driven knowledge products and systems, bio technology and space technology. As a Future Revolution ,it is predicted that the humanity will see, human habitant in one of the planets, space solar power radiating to earth electrical power. Also reusable hypersonic vehicles, with the speed of more than Mach Number 10 will fly intercontinental and also will be used for weapon delivery. Human life will be further extended for the reasons of genomic & biotechnology research outcomes. The MEMS and Nano technology will enter into human usage like the control systems of various transporting systems, medical technology equipments and aerospace systems. What can make India to get into advanced research in multiple institutions and generate many scientist. There must be a vision.

First Vision: India's freedom

India laid the seeding of independence in 1857. Freedom movement was the first vision for the nation. It took 90 years to get the freedom using multiple methodologies to vacate foreign powers. The vision generated leaders across the political spectrum, many scientific leaders, industrial leaders, literary giants, great economists and several accomplished persons. In science and technology area a remarkable event took place during 1920-25 in India. Internationally well known scientists were enriching the nation. They were Professors JC Bose, CV Raman, Meghnad Saha, Srinivasa Ramanujam and Subramanyam Chandrasekhar. In the book CHANDRA, Prof.Subramanyam Chandrasekhar describes "I mean it is a remarkable thing that in the modern era before 1910, there were no (Indian) scientists of international reputation or standing. Between 1920 and 1925, we had suddenly five or six internationally well known men. I myself have associated this remarkable phenomenon with the need for self-expression, which became a dominant motive among the young during the national movement. It was a part of the national movement to assert oneself. India was a subject country, but in the sciences, in the arts, particularly in science, we could show the West in their own realm that we were equal to them."

Independent India was born in 1947 with a label attached that it is a "developing country" pointing the fact that it is not economically strong; there is a high dependence still for defence systems. India has no world standing among the nations, inspite of its size and potential. Therefore, the question arises as to how we physically and spiritually remove this label of 'developing country' and become a 'developed India' in two decades of time. Independence was the first vision realised by the nation and its people. On that foundation we need to build the second vision of becoming a developed India with national, economic, food and social security.

Challenge in Change and the need for second vision for the nation

Since our independence in 1947, in many aspects of life, improvement in literacy, agricultural products, strategic areas, certain small and large-scale industries took place. Also, the life expectancy has increased. We are capable to produce sufficient foodgrains , cereals and milk. Today, India has the capability to design, develop and lead to production strategic systems for national development and security. Also, we have seen in the ambient conditions the growth in the Information Technology; the country is progressing in a limited way in software business and in hardware we are yet to take off. When India was clamped with economic sanctions in 1998, after the nuclear tests, by developed world, we combated successfully. The tools were food security and self-reliance in most of the strategic areas and production capability in certain sectors of industry. Now more than fifty years have gone by and we are called as one of the hundreds of developing countries, in a distinct way a separation from G-8 countries. We have many challenges. We are a nation of billion people. Nearly 260 million people who are below the poverty line have to join the mainstream of a good life. 100% literacy, health for all, multiple industrial and agricultural productivity and life style with value system has to change.

Creativity

Since our population is of a billion people, the society in its own way has to make innovations continuously, not only in urban areas but also in rural areas. For example, the honey bee network movement is indeed an excellent attempt. Creativity comes from beautiful minds. It can be anywhere and any part of the country. It may start from a fisherman hamlet or a farmer's household or a dairy farm or cattle breeding centre or it emanates from class rooms or labs or industries or R&D centres. Creativity has got multi dimensions like inventions, discoveries and innovations. Creativity has got an ability to imagine or invent something new by combining, changing or reapplying existing ideas. Creativity has an attitude to accept change and newness, a willingness to play with ideas and possibilities, a flexibility of outlook, the habit of enjoying the good, while looking for ways to improve it. Creativity has a process to work hard and continually to improve ideas and solutions by making gradual alterations and refinements to their works. The important aspect of creativity is: seeing the same thing as everybody else, but thinking of something different.

Competitiveness and innovation

One of the important need is to understand, where we stand in the competitive world. The indices of world competitiveness are based on the global competitiveness report prepared by the World Economic Forum. The competitiveness is defined as, 'the ability of a national economy to achieve sustained high rates of economic growth'. In that order of ranking, USA 1, Finland 2, Taiwan 3, Singapore 4, Sweden 5, France 30, Germany 14, India 48. What decides world competitiveness? It is a combination triangle consisting of progressiveness of industry, technology push and governmental deregularisation status. All the three aspects have to work for achieving world competitiveness. In terms of overall GDP size, we are 12 in the world; in terms of per capita GDP we are 57 in the world. Is this status acceptable to us? Especially the young. I believe we should work for fourth or fifth position in terms of GDP as well as in terms of world competitiveness. This position should be reached before 2020 and we should aim for higher position in the later decades. I will share with you some ideas about the strategies and the tool to realise this status. That will pave the way for a developed India.

Building innovation systems

It is through the process of innovation that knowledge is converted into wealth and social good. Further, innovation is an important factor for the competitiveness of both service and manufacturing sectors. Innovation tends to emanate less from R&D and more from other sources, including organizational change. Hence there is an urgent need to establish an efficient innovation system in the country. Such a system would involve creation of clusters, which are networks of inter-dependent firms, knowledge producing institutions (universities, colleges/institutes, research institutes, technology providing firms), bridging institutions (e.g. think tanks, providers of technical or consultancy services) and customers linked in a value-addition creating production chain. The concept of clusters goes beyond that of a firm network, as it captures all forms of knowledge sharing and exchange. Thus an innovative system with its clusters would tap into the growing stock of global knowledge, assimilate and adapt it to local needs and finally create new knowledge and technology. For such an innovative system to succeed, the following are necessary: (a) improving inter-ministerial coordination and ensure consistency and credibility in policy formulation; and (b) introducing new mechanisms to support innovation and technology diffusion, including greater use of public/private partnership.

Development and Leadership connectivity

For the nation today, what is needed is a combination of technology and leadership using the technology to bring economic prosperity. 'Developed India', as defined by us can be only powered by economic strength. The economic strength has to be powered by competitiveness and competitiveness has to be powered by knowledge power. Knowledge power has to be powered by technology and technology has to be powered by innovation and business. Business has to be powered by innovative management and management has to be powered by leadership. What are the characteristics of leadership? A leader will neither be a commander nor a super boss, but he or she will be a visionary, facilitator of the team and a thinker. Above all, the nobility of the mind is the hallmark of the leader.

Conclusion

The next 20 year period, I consider, is a period of technological transformation of India. I anticipate new emerging economic and technical situations where there will be many new technologies which can help us develop. India is now standing at the gate of the knowledge society and with our skill development in the field of information technology what we need is a little bit of an entrepreneurial push and an increase in our competitiveness. With these tools we will be prepared to take on the new trends as in the case of Internet and with minimal government interference and support and we can hold our head high and stand amongst the internationally developed countries of the world. My experience of working has shown that we need role models who will ignite the minds of the young people. My appeal to all the members of this Forum is that you have a key role to play in the development of the minds and vision of these young leaders of today. They look up to you as role models for their future and if we are successful in igniting their minds, we would have done a great service for the state as well as for the nation. I get an impression that the Indian mind has begun to get ignited and with an ignited mind I'm sure that he can move the most powerful forces on the earth, under the earth and above the earth. I am sure the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research will take a lead to pave a way for the young to work for complex programs and projects by giving a sense purpose and confidence to chalk out their career so that they strive to become future leaders of science and engineering to contribute to national development.

Thank you.