“Son... What do you do?” my dentist enquired while he was working his way through my wisdom tooth. The question was asked more to put me at ease than to satisfy his curiosity.
“I do research for a living,” I replied as soon as his drill took a pause.
There was a distinct change in the dynamics between us at that point. He started explaining in elaborate technical detail what my dental problem was. His explanation was interspersed with medical jargon, of most of which I had no idea. In short, I could sense my transition from a ‘just another patient’ to someone who is constantly trying hard to push and break the frontiers of human knowledge, at times with success and most times with failure, frustration and self-realisation. I am glad he realised the importance of what I am doing.
Research scholars constitute one of the underrated professional communities in India. They are expected to venture into the unknown and given chicken feed for subsistence. In this backdrop, the decision of the Government of India to hike the fellowship amount for research scholars comes as a good baby step in improving the prevalent research atmosphere, which has not produced a Nobel laureate in science since Independence in the country.
Further strides must be made in improving the infrastructure and quality of our institutions. Funds must be pumped in to improve the quality of life of researchers. It should be ensured that the ‘best brains’ in the country choose research as a career option. As of now that is not the case. The first choice of an IIT undergraduate, in most cases, would be either an Ivy League institution, a multinational corporation or a bank offering a six-digit pay cheque. This state of affairs needs to change. The best of students must be attracted to research at any cost; whatever steps initiated for this cannot go waste.
Brighter minds at research will translate to increased innovative output, which will pave the way for higher productivity in industry and improved quality of life for society. The industry-academia relationship will become stronger and this will result in greater funding levels. Thus, we will have a self-energising process at play.
As industries grow, so will job opportunities, leading to a strong and robust economy. This foundation needs to be laid as soon as possible. The gung-ho feeling surrounding the hike should be capitalised upon. In the contemporary world, the might of a nation is determined by its technological capability and administrative stability, unlike in the distant past when the expanse of the army and the will power of the leader would decide who ruled whom. We have administrative stability in our democracy. We need to foster the technological capability through research. This is not a huge task for the much-renowned ‘Indian brain’. Hence, all that is needed is to manage and channel our brain power.
The world is marching at a rapid pace with the 22nd century on the distant horizon. Research has been in the back-burner for too long. It cannot remain so if India wants to keep up with the world. Research scholars are the tiny cogs in the wheels of the bandwagon that will help our country keep up the pace.
rahulravick@gmail.com
