Ailments of Indian science and suggested remedies

It is heartening to see a series of communications in your journal, starting with Avinash Khare (Curr. Sci., 1998, 74, 191), dealing with ailments of Indian science and suggested remedies. From time to time, since the early 1970s, many reports and writings have been available dealing with this topic. It is also nice to sing praises of our achievements, provided these help boost our budding young scientists. We still have plenty of them available but the worry lies in their dwindling with the passage of time. Perhaps our leaders in science as well as the environment around have not helped matters to improve. It is my feeling that we have attempted mostly symptotic treatments, just scratching the surface of the sick body. May I put forward some viewpoints that may sound unconventional/revolutionary:

1. Can we work out mechanisms
that may convert all the national
awards/prizes/incentives presently offered to individuals into ones that are bestowed only to successful teams of scientists?

2. Let us forget identifying criteria for excellence in black or white! Excellence is too transparent to need parameterization. It is embedded in diligent work put in towards achieving a set of high goals, free of self-centred objectives.

3. Everyone agrees that rejuvenation of the entire educational system is central to success in the long run. We need to break all bureaucratic hurdles in
order to generate teams of scientists
consisting of right persons from universities, national labs and industry to achieve accelerated rise in our economic wealth by developing nationally-desired technology missions. Can we not reshape the rules rather than bow down before outdated procedures, rules and regulations, laid down by persons long dead! Political will can become available provided we scientists are honest about objectives based on the needs of our society.

4. Discipline at the work place should be based on the actual progress made towards achieving the objects. Personal dictates of any individual need to be curbed, as also the feelings about high and low status of working individuals. Wherever the spirit of free give and take prevails, best results can be expected.

5. Some mechanisms need to be worked out that may help generate viable teams. This may require free transfer of positions from one institution to another in order to achieve the desired objectives.

6. It is worthwhile to discourage research publications of low impact quotient. Instead, there is a strong need to encourage studies and results worthy of patents of some commercial value.

As and when our national wealth and economic status rise to an international trigger level, we can afford to provide greater freedom to self-centred individuals to do whatever they may fancy. It is hoped that the ongoing dialogue and discussions will continue through your esteemed journal.

NARENDRA NATH

259, Sector 7,

Urban Estate,

Kurukshetra 136 118, India

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