The Idea of India as a nation-state: I have been reading my country for all my life. I have traveled from textbooks to text messages. From highways of Bengaluru to the narrow lanes of Banaras. Many definitions have been given to India: Spiritual, democratic, a soft state, communal, traditional, ancient, modern, lively, a wounded civilization, a land of intellectuals declining at her own cause, rising, shining, a beheaded cultural republic etc. But what I discovered always was a rich and very rich scientific heritage. To me the Idea of India is not what defines her by personal self realization but it is the means that nurtures her as a nation-state. What we have lacked is the realization of building India after independence. Through the ages we have only tried to define India. Science means productivity. Every thought or action should be implemented to enhance science. Every profession should possess scientific framework. Ancient scriptures are not only historical artifacts or divine commandments but they also provide an aperture to look into the imaginations of people who have died in the past ages. There is a lot of scientific deliberation if we seek inquisitively. Even diplomacy should be initiated with utmost priority to science. Universities of US or UK dont give huge scholarships to students of India or developing countries. They have numerous scholarship programs for arts, humanities and cultural studies but for science they give very few opportunities at graduate level. We lack in quality of scientific productivity as well as in marketing strategy at global level. US universities run numerous online courses that could be accessed anywhere thereby making their presence at global level. Just compare California Institute of Technology (CalTech) and BHU. BHU is a vast university covering all the academic degrees under one umbrella but ranks nowhere in international ratings. While CalTech is a small campus producing high quality scientific research. There is simply no diplomacy if there is no scientific collaboration. Corporations mean business, co-operations mean advancement of intellection. Unless the ideas advance there could be no notion of an Idea of India. If anyone is really interested in the scientific heritage of my country, please read “A Concise History of Science in India” ed by Dr. D M Bose et al [2nd edition published by Indian National Science Academy and Universities Press] and “Nucleus and Nation” by Robert Anderson [published by University of Chicago Press]
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 04:29:11 +0000
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