Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Future of science

The article by N.R. Narayana Murthy (Nov. 13) is interesting both for the points he has raised and for the fact that an entrepreneur like him is concerned about the future of basic science in India. There are several talented students, motivated towards basic science, but they never pursue it due to parental pressure. Parents need to be counselled first about the career growth and opportunities available in this regard. Only a good pay packet, coupled with the freedom to pursue one’s interest in teaching and research, will outweigh the incentives available in corporate jobs.

Also, there has been a steady decline in societal respect for erudition and knowledge-seeking. The advent of the electronic media has created icons who are generally far removed from scholarship.

M. Sivakumar,

Hyderabad

There is a huge unrecognised science already existing among the stigmatised castes. One can proceed in one’s creativity only on the basis of one’s cultural moorings. Science grows indigenously. Understanding requires connecting to a previous experience — a reference point. Suppose you are asked to explain the feelings that you develop if you live on the moon. You obviously cannot tell because you simply do not have that experience. Advanced, sophisticated technology has been made a basic need for scientific research today. As a result, the environment of research and the day-to-day environment of the vast majority have been divorced. Einstein, Dalton and many others did not have at their disposal any sophisticated machinery. Their approach was totally deductive.

Scientific research has been deliberately entangled with technology to promote the commercial interests of MNCs today. The IITs must mean Indian Institutes of Thought. There should be a ministry to explore and promote the pre-existing knowledge among the Backward Classes and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.

Y. Markendeyulu,

Hyderabad

We do not lack manpower or resources. What we lack is the political will to convert our R&D road map into actions. What can one expect from our ruling class which has set no minimum standards of education for itself to occupy seats in the Legislature or Parliament? We have top economists at the helm of affairs dictating our financial policies. Unless our educated class and the doyens of industry and agricultural sectors enter the political mainstream, quality R&D in India will remain a dream.

Varsha S. Shenoy,

Mangalore

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