|
|
|
SCIENCE STIFLED BY OFFICIALDOM
|
 Addressing the 97th Indian Science Congress, at Thiruvananthapuram, in which more than 5,000 delegates from India and abroad participated, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called upon scientists to liberate science from bureaucratism.
Addressing the 97th
Indian Science Congress, at
Thiruvananthapuram, in
which more than 5,000 delegates
from India and abroad
participated, Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh called upon
scientists to liberate science
from bureaucratism. He
asked them “to engage with
the Government to liberate Indian science from the shackles
and deadweight of bureaucratism and in-house
favouritism.”
No doubt, as the Prime Minister mentioned, red tape,
political interference and lack of proper recognition of
good work, had set back India from making any great contribution
towards new discoveries and progress.
What is the condition of DRDO, ICAR, National
Chemical Laboratory, National Physical Laboratory and
many other fast-breeding institutions? They are all headed
by senior scientists. But the Government’s mode of selection,
seniority and promotion makes them bureaucrats
dealing with files in offices, rather than with the instru-
ments in the laboratory. They do turn out PhDs, but most
of them are mediocre. The degree they get is more because
of serving their guides and seniors than because of service
to science.
The problem is bureaucratisation of the sarkari scientific
community. But his calling on scientists to set things
right, cannot work. It is the system devised by politicians
and bureaucrats that stifles science. A genius or innovator
is repressed, as no senior would like his junior to outshine
him. No wonder, our national laboratories explore and
experiment to produce nothing. The DRDO failed to make
a light combat aircraft or a main battle tank for decades,
compelling the Government to buy them from abroad.
Also, in a country where money is what matters, youngsters
are made to choose careers that bring fat salaries. Few
take to research in fundamental science and, those who do,
get frustrated and go abroad where facilities and funds for
research exist. Referring to Nobel laureate V.Ramakrishnan’s
recent comments, that Indian scientists needed greater
autonomy, the PM said that the shackles of bureaucratism
and favouritism should be removed. But who will do it? Not
the very politicians and bureaucrats, who have a vested
interest in maintaining the status quo.
|
TO READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE SUBSCRIBE ALIVE
|
|
|
|
