Hon'ble Governor of UP and Chancellor of JNCU, members of the Academic Council and the Governing Council, Faculty, Staff, Deans, Students and Parents/Guardians. Let me congratulate all those who are being awarded degree today. It is an honour for me to be invited to deliver this address. I have been in the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India in DST when Jananayak Chandrashekhar ji was PM. I have met him a number of times. He had a keen mind. In my youth I have followed his political career. He was a bright and committed noble leader who had deep faith in democracy.

In view of limited time, I am directly coming to few ideas that I want to share with you young people who will live close to 100 years in your life span and see many many fast changes in day to day lives, be it technology, business, personal lives etc. Yes, most of it will be fast and enjoyable for those who prepare themselves well in advance. Therefore, my attempt will be to share some scenarios for your PERSONAL LIVES and PROFESSIONAL LIVES. Both arenecessary to have healthy, active, successful, sustainable and happy lives. I will give some examples here but may elaborate some of them, extempore during my talk. I am not going to be goody-goody. I will follow Tulsi (quote during the talk).

Konnichiwa (with a bow)
Namaste (with folded hands)

It is indeed a great honor bestowed on me by the organizers, to be a part of this prestigious Seminar at a very great symbolic time of the countries and deliver a keynote address.

I bow to all of you present here and others who are watching.

I am really humbled by the distinguished speakers before me and more to come later.

In particular, I admire Prof. Kajita Takaaki for his work on cosmic rays. He comes from the distinguished and admirable tradition and proven performance of research scientists of Japan.

Not a small achievement as there are 25 Japanese Nobel Laureates after 1949 in hard sciences of which 12 are from Physics. Only 3 of them went to stay in the USA.

Most persons in India would be thinking of Japan only as a great manufacturer of high-tech products, dominant in automobiles, electronics sectors, materials, chemicals, pharmaceuticals etc.

The SIMULTANEOUS existence of world class, highly competitive industrial and business capabilities ALONG WITH massive demonstration of excellence in basic researchers in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology and Medicine carries with it several messages for us in India.

The recent Indian elections have thrown away all the political pundits into dustbins of history. They are searching for new theories for opposition unity to throw away Modi. Mamata was the hero for some time almost pushing her to misadventure in Goa. Seeing threat in it for him, Telangana supremo Chandrasekhar Rao wanted to become the PM and sought the help of Pawar and Uddhav; Pawar himself was(is) aspiring for it. Now the hero is Kejriwal, and he may try misadventures before bringing stability to Punjab. The tax rich super Municipality of NCR is a different cup of tea in governance. I am analysing the roots of the phenomena of Indian politics so far during the past 75 years: The distant past in fast forward mode and the recent ones in some detail to forecast the possibilities in the near to midterm future.

Much of what is in 21st century now, has been due to science technology and industry which gained momentum during the early 20th century. They had immense acceleration during the second half of the 20th century.

The nuclear bomb exploded over Japan was in a way, a sad metaphor for the explosive growth of human capabilities and activities. Even human population grew from then to now to about 500 percent or more. The 1957 Space era saw a tremendous boost to S&T and associated industries and a major arms race and “science race”.

AVATARS OF ACTION AND COMPASSION
MY ENCOUNTER

The Trinity of Indian Space Programme

Y.S Rajan remembers the stalwarts of the Indian Space Programme

When I began my research career at Ahmedabad in 1964, benefits from the Space Technology, even worldwide, had just begun to surface. The potentials were talked about; NASA was active. The then Soviet Union was active. There was a Space race. Very few in India could even think that it could be relevant to India and the Indian people, when the country was mired in poverty, severe food shortages, even a humiliation by China in 1962, constant war like situation with Pakistan, a lot of promises by the politicians with very little on the ground.

Science is important for India, is taken as accepted. But what is Science?

There are several ways it has been interpreted away from what Nehru meant when he said "Future belongs to those who make friends with science"(1937). For him it was an all inclusive word encompassing economy applications to attitude to life.

Unfortunately it was interpreted for funding etc. as basic research only by the powers-that-be in Science and Technology, thus making India weak in technology and industry and defence largely dependent on imports. We have written about it in this website also. What are the linkages between Science, Technology, Engineering, Industry, Markets.

I had an opportunity to deliver a talk on Vikram Sarabhai in Mumbai, commemorating his 100 years. People know him mostly as the father of Indian Space Program. He had a clear vision about science being used for every aspect of India's economy, defence etc... and he boldly articulated them.

Within the time limits of the talk I have quoted from his original speeches, as to how he desired science has to be organised in India. Alas he passed away too soon. But what he has said is all the more relevant as India is facing severe global competition....Read on.....

(Talk delivered by Y S Rajan at Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai on 16th September 2019 at the National Conference on India in Space and Nuclear Energy: Achievements and Challenges - A Centenary Tribute to visionary Dr Vikram Sarabhai on the occasion of his Birth Centenary Year 2019.)

The big national exercise with 5000 experts was followed by the book India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium. It did create a lot of hope in Indians during 1998 and thereafter Vision 2020 had become a household word in Indian languages as well.

Now we are in the year 2020. What has happened? What was told in the book? What comparison now? Some consider the book as a dream of Kalam. Some look for check lists. In reality it is neither! A good assessment was done by Dr Kalam and Y S Rajan in the book Beyond 2020 (2014). Also Way Forward is given, including actions to be taken by various persons (including youth) and agencies, Panchayat leaders, MLA’s, MP’s, intellectuals, media, etc. are given.

In this Twitter, FB Like, emoji, phase of life today, many want a quick summary! Though it may not cover all items here is one...

India has been a fascinating country over several millennia and is so even now. Being an ancient civilization situated in a geographic location conducive to support of biological diversity, it naturally grew as a great agricultural economy. Its people created habitats for themselves adapted to the local conditions of soil, weather and other features conducive to life. These were called ‘GRAM’ (villages) with different names in the different languages which grew over millennia. But it was not that India was without towns and cities. There were many mentioned in ancient epics and subsequent literature. However since Indian economy depended on the huge agricultural work force (as was with many old civilizations) which lived in villages, welfare of villages acquired a great significance in the minds of people who desired well being of all Indians.

To download the full article, please click here.

Keynote address at National Confernce at Doon University (Centre for Public Policy Research)

In part, the Uttarakhand economy was a “money-order-economy” because a great number of sons of soil were going to Delhi, Bombay, Bangalore, Pune etc to work in ordinary jobs and sent money to their families.

But another very great finding by me was that people who belong here, went away for greater achievements as eminent doctors, academicians, defense personnel, institution builders etc. They made their mark all over India and the world. I called them the “diaspora” of Uttaranchal or Uttarakhand! Great achievers by nay Indian and global standards.

India Aerospace: The Future

India's ambitions in high technology areas had an early beginning since independence.Aerospace is a notable example. India's performance is good. But still a lot more needs to be done to create many profitable industries in these sectors and be in an excellent position globally.

A frank talk was delivered by me at Thiruvananthapuram on 22 September 2017 on the occasion of 68th Annual General Meeting of Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI), Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Memorial Lecture. In addition to mentioning some crucial problems of the past ( with the intent that we don't continue repeating the same mistakes), a number of specific items have been given for taking IMMEDIATE actions. Though some bitter truths were also told by me, the talk was well received. There was a vigorous Q&A. Later too many congratulated me. I thank the aerospace professionals for the same. They are itching to do something concrete which can successfully compete in global markets.

The talk was later published in the E-News of AeSI January 2018, Release 01.

For view / download I am attaching a copy of talk here...

WHAT IS BEFORE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE

You need to spear head a new movement INCOME FOR ALL INDIANS. Not as dole but through their work and continual improvement of their skills and opportunities to earn more and live better. It is equivalent to our Independence movement which drew many young persons. Colonial power no doubt tried to divide Indian youth by clever tricks and partly succeeded.

Now compulsions of electoral politics are attempting more vicious divisions among the youth. Please rise above them and think of all youth on the lines I have described. To begin concrete actions please impress upon all MP’s and MLA’s to spend their annual MPLAD money for sustainable INCOME generating projects as given above. Then impress upon all big companies to do the same and not spend in “show off” projects.

You can continue your regular work to earn your livelihood and do this as extra work. Celebrate MP’s, MLA’s, and corporate houses which do well. And praise others who help to uplift even a few persons. I don’t want to describe how exactly you could do. You will definitely find a way if you really believe in the cause of you fellow Indian youth. Great speed is of essence! Also translate this message in all Indian languages to reach many more.

World wide we are witnessing devastating cyclones and floods. Also some earth quakes. Nature appears to be in great fury. Not all these can be attributed to climate change - an easy unseen enemy!!! The damage in Mumbai was primarily due to many years of negligence of sewage disposal, garbage collection, status of precarious buildings, etc... Even in USA such negligence component will be there. No doubt there are changes in weather systems. There is a need therefore not only to limit emissions but also to limit consumption of natural resources. But that should NOT be done by keeping bulk of the world population in poverty. That is real sustainable development and not the single point solutions being touted.

I have addressed them in detail in many articles in this website and in my book Mission 21st Century...I have also addressed Natural Disasters.

I am placing here a set of PPT's presented in an International Partnership Summit organised by CII in 2016.

We can find solutions that will keep ALL Indians having a good life, not necessarily worrying about comparisons.

View PPT

Series of Articles on "Living With Nature In Modern Form - Mission For The Twentyfirst Century" - Ideology of Diversity - Role of Youth - Article 21

The word development has many political, economic and other connotations. But the way it has been stated in the letters of the USAID Administrator and other papers that followed. I see a clear ray of hope. The way it has been focused in the background papers for the conference, this world DEVELOPMENT can really become a flood light of hope for billions people around the world, if we all do the actions well. The papers have dared to touch the real ground truths about poverty in current societies. Bulk of real poverty of the world today revolves around rural poverty of people who live in and depend on the incomes of poorly endowed lands.

Y S Rajan, Principal Adviser, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)

Delivered at the International Conference "Western Values and European Identity" organized by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung on 12 December 2005 in Berlin. Views are personal

Twenty First Century 2006

1) Years before the birth 

Of the century twenty first 

Many dooms day predictions 

Of stuck up machines,

Paralysed communications

In flight failures in aviation,  

Many such hi-tech worries 

Creating business opportunities 

Quietly is born the century 

Life moving on smoothly

2) No abating of petty terrors, 

Daily violence, lives in turbulence 

Inheritance of the earlier century 

With growing riches ’n technology 

Majority of people still in penury 

Hopes of future 

Fears of the present

3) Growing wealth, individual debts

Huge money flows, trade deficits

Arms trade, non-proliferation vows

Daily violence, libertarian laws

Companies in search of profits

Outsourced unemployments

Faster movement of peoples and goods

Growing unrest of immigrants

Rapid pace of science ‘n technology

Resurrection of old theology

More and more education

Also growing drug addiction 

Endless list of contradictions

No let up in aspirations

4) Symbols of the extremist violence

Shaking the walls of Western liberals

Unable to grasp the links

With Punjab, Kashmir, Afghanisthan

Iran, Iraq, Pakistan 

Kargil, Balkans, Palestine, 

Chechanya ’n tiny Eastern Timor 

Jews and the Nazi terror

Earlier times of colonial plunder

Annihilation of heathens ’n tribes

Single truths ’n ideologies

Loss of Buddha’s statue

Suppression of a Buddhist state

Violence and Ahimsa

Former winning the present

The latter the hope of future !

5) Nearer home in India

A near chaotic democracy

Mixed with hypocrisy 

Leftist, rightist, or centric

Looks like isotropic

Centred around oneself

With hidden agendas

And populist promises

With violence of various forms

Worse than animal sacrifice

And the caste indignities 

Modern populist forms

With libertarian garbs 

Left shining in media glitters

Anarchists capturing sexy flutters

Intellectuals with selfish goals

Market pundits with sensex trends

Common people with day’s income

Being only their lives’ main theme 

Survival at one extreme

Supremacy as another theme

Global forces and local tyrannies

Contradiction continues!

6) Human rights, voting elections,

Freedom of press, demonstrations

Exposed bosoms, dancing bars

Various forms of civil wars

What is freedom and liberty 

Creating mothers out of children in puberty 

Or women suppressed by traditions

Identity politics of blind beliefs 

Or divisive forces of arithmetic?

Blind forces of masses or votes

Or crazy sounds of media bytes?

Some idealists still wielding guns

To annihilate the social goons

7) Twenty first century

Goes so crazy

With media frenzy

And the markets in tizzy

People in penury

And politics of hypocrisy

The spiritual leaders

Some lost and some found

Scientists abandoning 

The path of truth

And amassing wealth

‘N wearing crowns of power!

8) Mother Earth crying

With her children consuming 

Wastes amassing

Still it is the human

To find solutions

For sustained harmony

Between non-living, living 

And the unknown many

High seas ’n  outer space

Planets ’n asteroids

Physical spaces all pervasive

And virtual universe

For sensory delights

And knowledge games

The inner space ever expanding

Peace ’n happiness more eluding

Beautiful parks, fountains of blood

Human flesh for human vultures 

Eagles with a longer vision 

Flying away into oblivion

Traffic jams till eternity 

Price being paid for longevity 

Soothing flickers of light

Even under the terrible plight

Continuing hum of divine music

Even amidst the din chaotic

9) Will twenty first century 

Evolve the human

In search of a new divine

With science in full union

And ten billion humans

Living in a grand unison

With local traditions

In convergence with universal

And cultural diversity

Along with scientific unity

Cherishing individual liberty

In harmony with the collective

Opposites in symbiotic

And multiples in syncretic 

Unity in diversity

And diversity in unity?

Y S Rajan

20/4/06

11 pm

“This poem was written recently. May be seen along with my earlier poem “Waiting for the Twenty First Century” – 14/11/1989, already placed on this website”.

Invited Paper

SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, INDUSTRY AND MARKETS*

* The Second Sir CV Raman Endowment Lecture delivered at the National College, Thiruchirapalli on 28 February 2014 by Y.S. Rajan Honorary Distinguished Professor Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Bangalore & Chairman BOG, National Institute of Technology Manipur, India Email : ysrajan1944@gmail.com

Published in the JOURNAL OF AEROSPACE SCIENCES & TECHNOLOGIES VOL.66, No.2

Abstract

The lecture brings out the distinct aspects of Science, Engineering, Industry and Markets in the contemporary context. It also emphasizes the need to look through their linkages well in advance, if the benefits are to be derived for the economy and society. That in turn will enhance support for science.

A key note address delivered on April 8, 2011 at the Inaugural session of the National Conference on sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change, the fourth round table meet at Kolkatta, organised by National Council on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change (NCCSD) and South Asian Forum for environment (SAFE) on April 8-9, 2011.

Technology helps in creating new products and services and in turn promotes creation of more wealth. Economic “forces” create demand for generating new products and services. The economic forces (market forces) also lead to innovation of newer methods of distribution of products and services and in turn distribution of wealth for various people in the value chain.

We are now in the midst of the penultimate session of this wonderful partnership summit (22nd edit and going strong). I am grateful to the organizers for giving me this unique opportunity. The co-panelists are persons with great experience. Those who have coined the words for this session have done a great job: it defines the existential reality of individuals, societies, nations businesses and international community.

We are now in the midst of the penultimate session of this wonderful partnership summit (22nd edit and going strong). I am grateful to the organizers for giving me this unique opportunity. The co-panelists are persons with great experience. Those who have coined the words for this session have done a great job: it defines the existential reality of individuals, societies, nations businesses and international community.