 Online edition of India's National Newspaper Thursday, Dec 04, 2008 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version |
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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh receiving a memento from scientist C.N.R. Rao (left) at the inauguration of centenary celebrations of the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore on Wednesday. Governor Rameshwar Thakur looks on. BANGALORE: Sending out a strong message in the wake of the recent acts of terrorism, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asserted that “no coward, no terrorist, no enemy of our secular and democratic republic will ever succeed in destroying the unity of our country.” He was inaugurating the centenary celebrations of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) here. Making a specific reference to the attack on the institute three years ago, Dr. Singh said the terrorists targeted the IISc because “this great institution and this vibrant city [Bangalore] have come to represent the spirit of a resurgent India.” He paid tribute to Prof. M.C. Puri, who was killed in that incident. Earlier in the day, Dr. Singh said the Union government proposed to establish a National Science and Engineering Research Board, on the lines of the National Science Foundation in the United States. Addressing scientists and researchers after dedicating to the nation the International Centre for Materials Science and the C.N.R. Rao Hall of Science here, the Prime Minister said the autonomous board would promote basic research in science and engineering. “It will provide unfettered financial assistance to researchers, academic institutions, research laboratories and industrial concerns.” Reiterating his government’s commitment to double the financial allocation for science and technology to two per cent of the GDP, Dr. Singh called for a blueprint to make basic sciences and mathematics the preferred discipline of children. The Prime Minister noted that many brilliant engineers who had migrated to the West were coming back as they wanted to be part of India’s “growth story.” He stressed the need for creating a similar conducive environment to attract Indian scientists back from foreign countries to take part in research. India would need a huge step-up in investment in basic sciences if it wanted to be one of the top-ranking scientific nations. Prof. Rao said the Hall of Science was an open house for young children to learn science and carry out experiments. Institute’s focusAt the IISc, Dr. Singh said the institute, which has come to be the “most visible symbol of India’s presence in basic research in science and engineering,” must now focus on the problems of energy, health, water, food security and climate change. Conceding that the special grant of Rs.100 crore made by the Centre to the IISc four years ago “was not enough,” Dr. Singh said, “We are doing all we can to free the processes of public funding of research from unnecessary bureaucratic impediments.” Speaking of the contributions made by scientists J.C Bose, Ramanujan, P.C. Ray and C.V. Raman, he said: “There is a feeling that this momentum has not been sustained in post-Independent India,” adding “the entire knowledge pyramid in the field of basic science needs to be revitalised.” Dr. Singh said: “Newly industrialising nations like China and South Korea have leapfrogged ahead of us by their mastery of science and technology. China has made impressive strides in science by its own efforts and by linking itself to the best institutions around the world. We must also be open to beneficial links with institutions around the world. ”
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