SARABHAI, SCIENCE, AND PEOPLE
I would straight away go to some areas of Sarabhai’s vision and contributions which are seldom talked about. Though undoubtedly his contributions to Space and to some extent Atomic Energy were large, to box him only into those will be making us lose his precious practical ideas about other aspects on which he talked about passionately and tried to make a New India. They were about taking S & T to the people of India – to solve their real life problems and also to have many sustainable solutions to remove poverty and to enable them to live in prosperity. Alas! He was taken away too early even before the then retirement age in Govt.!
But what he said, are relevant even now, because he also talked about the policy making, managerial, organizational, and administrative processes required to take potential benefits of S & T to the country and people. He wanted the scientists and engineers to take the lead as AGENTS OF CHANGE, in India.
I would start with a few PPT’s which were done earlier and are very relevant ever now. While talking on them I would also quote from his original talks or writings in a few places.PPT’s are from SARABHAI, SCIENCE, INDIANS.
(3a)(Slides not shown; text explains it)
There are many scientists who would like to quote Jawaharlal Nehru “Future belongs to those who make friends with science” It is from a great speech by him to the Indian Science Congress, in 1937 full 10 years before Indian Independence – which looked like “beyond horizon” then.
But most persons tend to forget the context in which he spoke those words. To briefly describe what he spoke in beautiful English, it would be something like this “My involvement in politics during the past several years brought me close to people – their poverty is appalling. So I searched for solutions in economics. I found little there. That led me to Science…….” etc.
The way Nehru used the word “Science” was holistic – not merely knowledge – seeking, but applications and also using those methodologies for shaping our attitudes to life in general – what he termed as, “scientific temper”.
This meant Science has to link to economics and to politics (that is policy making in several fields affecting human well-being).
Post Indian Independence despite Scientific Policy Resolution, very little was done to the linkages suggested indirectly by Nehru. Science was in ivory towers – very little was done to address solutions required for Indian People and India.
Vikram Sarabhai appears to have totally internalised these linkages. He looks at Science (research, product development, mass production and commercialization/ operationalization on a large scale) as a multiply linked continuum. His selection of scientific topics was around finding solutions for the problems of Indian people and Indian society. That is how he had oriented the entire Space Programme – the limited number of his speeches reproduced is the ISRO report, referred to earlier, “Sarabhai On Space” (1979) give ample evidence to his orientation. More importantly the small or medium or big projects he chose to pursued within ISRO (then INCOSPAR till 1969) clearly indicate his orientation of “Science” to solve immediate problems of India – speedily.
So was his approach to Atomic Energy – which was also oriented by Homi Bhabha in that direction.
In India later to Vikram Sarabhai, most of the S and T leadership have misguided the nation by interpreting the Nehruvian use of word “Science” as Basic Research. Sarabhai used the word “Science” in a manner similar to Nehru as in SPR but has enriched it by giving the details of R&D, industry required for large scale production and for delivery to the end users. (Show the document and say I have a whole set of quotes from him 1967 to 1970). Actually one has to read them fully as Sarabhai explains the complex subject in a simple, lucid manner. He had been forthright in telling as to what is wrong in the controls and oversight processes of the Govt. (They are so even now!)
In a paper Sarabhai presented at the third conference of Scientists, Technologists and Education in New Delhi (Nov 1970), he has given an exhaustive list of minimum critical programs to be taken up in the country, (not just Atomic Energy or Space).
It is a little long paper to read out here, though each sentence and words are precious.
One quote which describes his view of “Science”: “An essential ingredient for the success of the programmes of the type outlined here is an organization which permits an unbroken innovative chain linking up basic research at one end with commercial application at the other. “Science and technology” thereby become an integral part of each major national activity. It is for this reason that it would be wrong in principle to isolate Science and technological R & D in a separate Ministry. Moreover, by broadly relating outlay on R & D in a particular sector to the contribution to GNP that sector makes now or is expected to make in the future, or the sectoral plan outlay, we can ensure that appropriate effort is devoted in each area”.
Another quote: Preservation and Innovation: The Tasks of Govt. delivered at IIM Ahmedabad April 1967, “There is a need for a constant interplay between the basic sciences, technology and industrial practice if economic progress is to result from the activity undertaken . The wearing of several hats by the same person, and the mobility of personnel from one type of activity to another have undoubtedly provided the impetus for growth in the projects of the Dept. of Atomic Energy.
Contrast this with the practice prevalent in higher educational institutions for basic science and technology and national laboratories where the work of applying the results of research to practical ends had to be done by other units, not originally related to those laboratories or the men that work in them”.
How right and prophetic for India! It lacks today technological, engineering and industrial (and therefore), business strengths in most key sectors of electronics, ICT, biomedical, etc. It was/ is due to the fact that these ideas of Sarabhai, were not implemented the way he had described.
Sarabhai does not put the blame on non-scientists alone. Explaining as to why in spite of Scientific Policy Resolution (SPR) of GOI (in a Convocation Address Aug 1967 at IIT Bombay “Volunteers for Development”), our progress in using S&T is poor.
“We have not made a better investment in research and development leads us to complex issues. Among these one fact stands out very clearly. This is related to the attitude of scientists and technologists themselves. We have projected and come to accept unreasonably large time constants for undertaking even important national talks of great urgency. We have got accustomed to public sector projects which take five to seven years to mature and research and developmental projects which take eight to ten years to complete.”
He says further that normal types of factories like in electronics should be operational in two years.
Then he continues: “We have also to learn to mobilise research groups to be able to undertake development of systems in the periods of two to three years. It is only then that we may hope to keep our heads above water and swim with the advanced nations of the world” (This was told in 1967!)
Sarabhai was not modest in his goals for India. He was very clear that it is a competitive world in which India needs to compete and keep winning. He had also addressed about defence needs.
A quote “Most important at least for the defence, we need to visualize the needs of the equipment for the future and start designing now.”
I don’t have time to share other vital details in these papers, I have with me.
He was not unaware of the softer issues of management while talking above these new structures etc.
“Structures, procedures and techniques are important but these must be sustained by a cluster of attitudes conveying care, trust and nurturance on part of responsible persons ….”
At this point I would narrate a real life episode as to how he did these. (There would be 100 plus such items from ISRO persons – at least a dozen from me)
I think it is in 1967 or 1968 a series of four important Sounding Rockets (all got as gifts from other countries with lot of efforts by him, Bhavsar and Chitnis), failed one after other. It was devastating for all of us. I was also one of the payload maker (a transponder to give precise trajectories to scientists who have their payloads in the rockets). Two rockets carrying our transponders also failed….
Since we had stayed for a long period, C. J. Louis my colleague and I were given special permission to fly via Cochin to Ahmedabad (very rare those days – we had to take a long journey by train.) There was a transit at Cochin …. Louis and I got down to go to rest room. Louis spotted Sarabhai coming towards the rest room. Louis said: “Sundararajan let us hide; how will we face him …. What an affectionate expectation he had of our payload…”
Our small lab in PRL was in the same floor as Sarabhai’s, so he used to enter often and ask us about progress.
But before we could hide, Sarabhai came towards us, all in smile, telling “So the Spanish armada is back. Now tell me, can we have six transponders ready within six months?”
Same affectionate smile with which he used to enter our lab-room.
What else can us say. “Yes Sir…”
What a tall request for a team which is coming back with four failed rockets (may not be our fault)
It used to take 6 to 9 months for one payload, testing etc.
Well we did, I think, four in the next 8 or 9 months!
That is the vital gene or cluster of genes, he left behind for ISRO…
A brief list of projects requires for India was shown in next slide
(15 a) PPT not placed. Main items typed in below.
Sarabhai Missions
- Atomic Energy Power Missions
- Space
- Agriculture and Fisheries
- Power
- Communication & Electronics
- Transportation
- Mineral & Metals
- Family Planning
My poem in Agony & Harmony lists many of his achievements, written at NASA Maryland USA where I was, when I heard of the news of his demise. I will tell only the last 3 stanzas:
(From “Agony & Harmony by Y. S. Rajan, New Century Book House (P) Ltd. Chennai, September 2002) also downloadable from a link given in the website www.ysrajan.com (see Home Page last para))
Mahatma made our freedom fight / A mass movement from its isolation;/ Vikram brought our science to streets/ From lonely labs to production shops/
Fifteen years was his unit of time;/ Oh! Alas, Fate knoweth not;/
Snatched him amid his glory prime;/ Our loss and sorrow it careth not./
Thinking of his thrust on us, / Some calm descends on empty minds;/ Everywhere he lives and tells/ “Work, work to realize my dreams”.
- December 31, 1971.
Most of the persons who were nurtured by Sarabhai in ISRO did wonderful contributions to India’s Space Programs.
But on the other societal/economics/large scale national projects, only one person attempted on the scales prescribed by Sarabhai. In ISRO he tried on a project to get Petrol from Sal Seed – then prevailing cheap crude oil prices did not suit its upscaling. Also he did many spin off products of Polymers used for the development of solid propellants for rockets.
After leaving ISRO he used the S & T system to do successfully a major Garbage and Toilet project for Mumbai on an operational large scale, which could have been replicated to many more cities. Several of them were commercially taken up. For a major Fertiliser Plant project, he got the then PM’s okay; S & T persons to execute it were reluctant to take up the challenge!!
I had the opportunity to work with that person. He helped build up of TIFAC. We did a number of successful projects in the way Sarabhai desired. But the greater Indian S & T system, about which Sarabhai had warned, had other cozier options. I won’t talk about it here.
That person I mention who not only did ISRO proud (even today) but also carried Sarabhai vision on societal relevance and did a number of items successfully, was Vasant Gowariker!
My aim in narrating about Vasant Gowariker in this Sarabhai talk is simple. It is an appeal to call S & T personnel, and others young and old present here not to look at Vikram Sarabhai just as the Father of Indian Space Program and an Atomic Energy Chief, but a person who looked at S and T as a tool to change and transform India. He gave details as to how to proceed. As of this date many are still relevant. Please use his methodology …. Complete the unfinished tasks … Many are waiting before you. You can create new ones!
I learnt from an excellent talk by one Kamal Bali of Volvo on 12/09/2019 about the new challenges before Indian Business waiting for SOLUTIONS in the manufacturing sector.
These are
- Digitalisation
- Rapid Urbanisation
- Sustainability (Ecological)
- Customers now want Solutions and not products (Arrogance of big Business will go)
- 50% of existing skill sets of people will disappear in 7-8 years. Totally new will come in 10 years.
- Learning to work and keep learning will be a real need for all.
Lastly, I want you to see a series of Photos. (Not attached in this write up)
That photos are at NIT Manipur Campus, where buildings were yet to come.
As Chairman NITM Governing Council I visited the places in the huge campus of about 350 acres, to see for suitable areas for various activities if NITM.
I saw from a distance some small structures. They could not be encroachment huts; they were small…. I was curious to see and walked towards it. State Govt. had given Commandos cover for me! I saw children running away. I told the commandos to stop and said I will go. I requested other NITM colleagues to go and get the children assuring them that we did not come to catch them.
So they came. The children have done the whole house/kitchen/dining table etc. from materials thrown away by others – that is garbage!!
What a set of creations!! One girl Sumitra replied to my questions in English (they were not good at Hindi). She explained each item. She said it was a team work when I asked, “Who did it!”
I wanted my NITM colleagues to follow through and help them with new projects. In the GC meeting I got a resolution passed that NITM should also help local school children to learn, using some NIT facilities…
My pain is that nothing much happened … My NITM colleagues have their set of problems in meeting the Govt. regulations etc. and other day to day problems. My authority was limited.
About a year I tried to track them showing the pictures …. No success. My term was ending.
The purpose of showing these photos here is to request you all that while doing big socially relevant S & T projects I mentioned earlier, do not forget tens of million such school children around our national lab / IIT’s etc.
Our elite institutions only call, if at all, top ranking students, for example DST’s INSPIRE, or some winners of awards.
This group of NITM Kids may not get the top ranks. India is made of many such children…
How do you involve these children with modern S & T tools to make them “Change Makers” for a modern India, which Sarabhai – wanted, articulated … say within a period of 5 years!! You may have to change your attitudes and rules and governance system. You may discover many Vikram Sarabhai’s then!
Thank you.
(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.))