ISRO Chief spills the beans about Higher Education in India

Bangalore: ISRO chairman G. Madhavan Nair, who is to retire by this month-end after an illustrious career at the space agency, feels that the country’s higher education system is not up to the mark, churning out graduates only for routine jobs.

Mr. Nair, also Secretary in the Department of Space, called for improving quality to produce high-class technologists and scientists.

‘Not up to the mark’
“The level of education and knowledge being imparted by many colleges... they are not up to the mark. Instead of concentrating on quantity, these institutions should concentrate on quality,” Mr. Nair told PTI in an interview.

"I am not happy with the education system in the country. The bulk of applicants (who applied for scientific and engineering jobs at ISRO this year)... they are not able to get even 50 per cent marks in our entrance tests."

Nair said if the quality level is not up to the mark, then one would only get people for clerical or routine jobs. If real technologists for manufacturing and scientific research were to be produced, the quality had to be far better.

Appointed as ISRO chairman, Nair's tenure saw realisation of 27 space missions, of which 25 were successful, with India's maiden moon mission Chandrayaan-1 being the pinnacle of glory for the country's space agency. Nair got two extensions in 2005 and 2007.- PTI
ISRO chief to retire by month-end

Fake degrees
Compounding the problems of poor quality of Higher education is the Fake Degrees, where detection and conviction is almost negligible. The Courts and Judiciary which have pending and backlog cases for the next 450 years is likely to enhance rapidly Fake Degrees in India and its export to other nations. Are we producing Scientists, Technocrats, Engineers for research or Bureaucrats and clerks for routine white collar jobs?

Can our National Highways double as power grids?

There are about 70,548 kilometers National Highways alone, and thousands more in state highways, suburban thoroughfares and rural roads (approx 33 lakh Kms). Could all that asphalt be replaced by solar panels and emedded with conductors to feed solar and wind power generated enroute- and that would also double as the nation's power grid?

A pure creative outside the box, yet pragmatic thinking involved in this idea. The obvious solutions that this idea could offer to the world are obvious. Can India beat China in Green Power Technology?

This is the kind of thing worth risking a fair amount of money on. If it can't be made to work cost-effectively, it really is an idea that society can comfortably say "Ah well, it was worth the try."
National Highways Authority of India

Sino- Indian Relations: Recapturing 1962 debacle

Tawang located at 10000 feet, in Aunachal Pradesh, then known as NEFA, was basking in the glow of the afternoon sun and was at total peace on that quiet afternoon of 8th September 1962, when suddenly everything changed and the wheel of fate started turning in an irreversible direction, quickly gathering momentum.

The events starting with the Chinese surrounding the Dhola post, at the tri-junction of India, China and Bhutan, on that fateful day of September, subsequent move of the brigade forward, abandoning Tawang, the Divisional Vital Ground, unprotected, with just a modicum of troops, culminating in the attack by the massive Chinese force deployed astride the Thagla ridge on the ill-prepared Indian forces, the troops of 7 Infantry Brigade, trapped, down below in the valley of River Namkachu, the dissemination of the Brigade in a few hours. On 20th October 1962 and the subsequent escape by some of the lucky ones are recorded by me, then a Captain, the Signal officer of the brigade, I was there in person and a witness to the events leading to what happened on that morning of October of the year, in my book, 'A Soldiers Journey Through Life With Two Wives".

The book was released on 2nd March 2009 by Lt Gen P Mohapatra, AVSM, SO-in- C and Senior Colonel Commandant Corps of Signals. With the 47th Anniversary of the Conflict of 1962 round the corner and the Sino- Indian relations, once again, appear to be getting strained, the book may be of interest to those following the current disturbing developments.

Brig Lakshman Singh VSM (Retd)