India @75 and @100
On 15 August 2021, India celebrated its 75th Independence Day. On this occasion, IE presents the perceptions of a few distinguished personalities on India@100. These are top think-tanks in the fields of education, technology, academia, nuclear energy…
The questions:
- Five major landmarks in the march towards the 75th anniversary of independence
- Your vision on India at its centenary, ie. 25 years hence.
- Three areas to focus through the next 25 years
- Views on the current federal structure. Is it stable and strong?
- Key electoral reforms you consider necessary
- How to catch up with the missed opportunities through science and technology?
Prof Ashok Jhunjhunwala
IIT – Madras
India@100
India as a flourishing democracy largely free of strife; with diversity where people of different regions, with different religions and castes, speaking different languages and eating different kind of foods respect each other and live together. Its lowest income segment population can live well. Its children can get good education and health-care. A Green country with little GHG emissions. It needs to excel in many fields, viz public infrastructure, S&T… Its infrastructure decent and clean. Imports no more than it exports. Proud of its civilisation and culture.
Focus through the next 25 years
People of different regions, castes and religions respecting each other; leader in several areas of technology; independent and free media, judiciary, election commission, regulators and commissions; clean environment and high economic growth.
Federal Structure
More powers to states needed. Centre must not bulldoze states.
key electoral reforms
Independent Election Commissioners
India’s future in leveraging S&T
Technology development to commercialisation for results should be the focus. There is raw talent that needs to be harnessed. R&D and its policy cannot be driven by government labs, but by those in academia and industry taking R&D to commercialisation. The role and power of the government bodies need to be reduced. Government as well as industry need to start believing that India can develop technologies and not always look at other countries for technologies.
