We Indians are pretty smug when it comes to our contribution of Zero to the world.
Whenever anyone asks the question "what's India's contribution to the world ? " and we start reaming off things like Zero, Yoga, Spirituality, Worlds largest democracy, languages, Sanskrit etc.
But, when it comes to contribution which has effected Man's daily life across the world in the recent past, and we sincerely think about it, we really havent been able to do much.
Even those contributions which have come from Indians have mostly come abroad, in western institutions of US, UK, EU etc.(Remember Pranav mistry from MIT?).
Lot of us have questioned why is it that in spite of having a first class primary education system, we dont pursue excellence in thinking out of the box in our graduate programs, or for that matter our Post graduate programs?
It is a question we must seriously ponder over. A recent World economic forum ranking doesnt even list India as a nation spending anything significant (or even miniscule) towards R&D. No wonder we havent done much towards research or innovation.
But when I see these figures, It brings to my mind large number of advertisements I saw during the congress regime towards Biotechnology Research, and I am told by some senior scientists and doctors that the government is quite supportive of research in areas which can help in rural health, crop productivity and health, space research etc.
If this is true ( and I believe it is) then we must find out where is all this money going? Why are we unable to do something real with it?
One thing which comes to my mind is the submissive culture we Indians have learnt to grow up in. Perhaps that (and our confused social fabric) doesnt allow us to experiment( remember the photo journalist in 3 idiots), or maybe even when it does, we are really looking at ways to make a quick saving which will allow us to get a route to western institutions where they pay better for research!?
Whatever the case may be, It is clear that there is a genuine need for us to think bigger, bolder and way out of the box which will allow our children to talk about contributions of not aryabhatta but a certain living Indian who has given the world while still in an Indian institution, what others couldnt in a foreign university like the MIT.
Some probable areas of research which can make a real change in lives could be Health (cure and vaccines for Malaria, Dengue, Cancer), Space exploration, Next thing in Information Technology, Credible alternatives for GM food without the side effects, Maybe a better Flying machine?.
Whatever that invention is, one thing is certain, we Indians, known for our Jugaad, Mehnat, and long lineage, do have the capability to still build an ecosystem which can foster the best brains in the country to come up with the next big innovation for the world.
With the new CSR spend rule, it will be worthwhile for large PSU and private companies to consider investing in New Age think tanks, Research focussed universities and setting up large scale scholarships and talent search competitions for innovative thinking and fresh ideas towards changing the world.
And, what better time for it than now, with our population demographics being in our favour compared to the world!
