What ails Indian science?

IN AN issue of Science, a prestigious American journal, Prof. C.N.R. Rao, a distinguished Indian scientist, painted a despondent picture of our research community. He commented that political interference and personal animosities have been impeding creativity and innovation, and the younger generation has been showing a lack of interest in science.

Earlier, Prof. U. R. Rao, former chief of the Indian Space Research Organisation, has said Indian science is both `mandalised' and bureaucratised, and there has been proliferation of scientific institutions without adequate funding or accountability, producing mediocre research stuff of no consequence. He suggested restructuring of the country's science policy with adequate investments to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Also, Prof. S. R. Valluri, former Director of the National Aerospace Laboratory and Aeronautical Development Agency, has said that our scientific institutions have sanctified the system of patronage and helped create unhealthy power centres by including a few scientists to sit in committees empowered to sanction grants, honours and awards and thereby creating a coterie for self-preservation.

Addressing the Indian Science Writers Association, the Secretary of the Department of Electronics, had earlier lamented that mediocrity had crept into Indian science, which was repetitive, imitative and lacked excellence.

The CSIR Review Committee had earlier commented that science (in the CSIR) had perished while a few scientists had flourished. A controversy has now been brewing in CSIR laboratories over the recent resignation of the Director of the National Physical Laboratory (New Delhi).

A general decline

This would suggest that there is a general decline in the quality of science and excellence, and the Indian scientists have become materialistic. They lack devotion to science. As a result, mediocrity and sycophancy are having an upper hand in the institutions. A survey by the National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies (New Delhi) has revealed that more than 80 per cent of the scientists in our universities have a poor image of their profession.

True, some institutions such as the Atomic Energy Commission, ISRO and Electronics have been successful in exploring new frontiers of research, and have made significant contributions in developing indigenously designed Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles, conducting successful nuclear tests at Pokhran in 1998 and export-oriented electronic production. But the overall scientific output in terms of returns from the infrastructure built with enormous investment has been far from satisfactory because the country continues to depend largely on foreign knowhow.

No accountability

One reason is that there has been no accountability and scrutiny in these institutions to assess their performance-oriented programmes for effectiveness. In the reports presented to Parliament every year, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has brought out serious lapses and shortcomings in the working of certain scientific institutions in respect of wasteful expenditure, ineffective monitoring of programmes, etc.

Millions of rupees are spent on a number of big research projects, which have not achieved even 50 per cent of the target in 10 years. Also, we have few peaks of excellence both in terms of men and institutions. This is partly because of the uncongenial atmosphere that scientists have created for themselves which has been crippling our scientific activity. A critical and unbiased evaluation of our performance has been absent.

The unhealthy environment has led to brain drain, compelling scientists or doctors to leave their homeland to earn a decent living. The NISTDS study says that of the 51 Ph.Ds produced at the molecular biophysics unit of the Indian Institute of Science (Bangalore) between 1974 and 1984, 27 have gone abroad, and of the 44 Ph.Ds produced by its solid state and structural chemistry unit during 1980-89, 32 are in other countries. The situation is the same at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (Bombay), the National Chemical Laboratory (Pune), the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (Calcutta) and the Indian Association for Cultivation of Science (Calcutta), the study says. It was earlier reported that many top doctors left the All India Institute of Medical Sciences to join private sector hospitals to earn more money.

It is unfortunate that our scientific establishments have become bureaucratic in their functioning where scientists adopt an attitude similar to that of administrators. And some of our big laboratories look like Taj Mahals built to glorify science and bury it. The Indian Science Congress session has become an annual ritual where a big `mela' is organised and a few thousand scientists gather without much deliberation.

Our scientists have also been lacking a scientific temper; the spirit of enquiry and drive for truth, which characterise scientific endeavours, have become major casualties. The scientists have been adopting unethical practices in the process of gaining power and position. They abandoned their scientific outlook and attitude and adopted anti-science postulates as an easy way to quick fame and success. As a result, it has become difficult to inculcate scientific temper in society.

Certain scientists have exploited their political links to get a stranglehold on the scientific establishment, and have created a coterie of ``yes-men.'' They have risen to occupy high positions, thanks to their godfathers.

Also, an element of scientific dishonesty has crept into Indian science. This malaise, barring some exceptions, pervades the entire scientific and academic community because of greed for bureaucratic power and a comfortable life. The desire for quick results and instant fame has led to the proliferation of frauds and quackery in the scientific community.

Give and take basis

Some scientists manage to win awards on a mutual give and take basis, even though they left science long ago. A study by the Indian National Science Documentation Centre found that a handful of top scientists had cornered most of the awards during 1980-93.

Prof. Valluri earlier said that science is important for the economic transformation of the country and therefore, society cannot leave the scientists alone to do what they please as long as they are spending public money. It is important that the scientific activity in India is de-bureaucratised and made result-oriented to uplift society for the betterment of life.

Y. P. GUPTA

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