Nagpur: Research is a frame work for action. The theme for the International Conference “Research For Convergence” is aptly kept as “Research is the root of all quest.” There has to be a new revolution in the Science and Research said Minister of Human Resource Development Smriti Zubin Irani while inaugurating the International Conference of Research and Resurgence.
Smruti Irani vehemently said that Research should do done for excellence and not for job or career. Research should be done for adopting industrial excellence and for optimum use of common man. She claimed Research at what age? No! Research has no age. School Students, Youth, and educational Institutions etc. However, we should develop the Research Capacity and Capabilities.
Research should not be limited to Educational Institutions alone. Innovation can be done in rural areas by rural folk too. To elaborate this she related about a 70 year man who was introduced to her by the personnel of Prime Minister’s office. The old man was introduced as an innovator. After the felicitations, when Smruti Irani asked him what innovation did he do and from which educational institution did he do the research from, the 70-year-old man replied that he was a auto-rickshaw driver. He said that during the noon time when there are no customers or commuters, he designed a motor with an implement where if one puts in goose-berries (Anvla) and start the gadget, one will get Goose-Berries Juice, Perfume and Murrabba. He said that he earns Rs 70 from these products.
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Smruti Irani said desire to innovate is not limited. However the scenario is changing. The citizens are inborn with the capability or capacity to innovate.
She asked the audience with the Vice-Chancellors of as many as 132 Universities if we can build the attitude that does not encourage career oriented researchers.
She then came to the school students. She said that if we ask the school students of IXth, Xth or XII, if they know about the crop rotation, crops which have faded out or the new types of crops which have come out they will not know. The students also do not know about the water resources needed to irrigate the fields etc.
While addressing the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (who was speaking about the poor irrigation causing many places in Maharashtra to be famine hit and the farmers committing suicide), Smruti Irani said that this is the right place to air his (Fadnavis’) difficulties, since this Institution (VNIT) is named after Visvesvaraya. He was an expert and known for excellent flood management. He can utilize the skills and talents of the engineering students to innovate some plans to manage the water for irrigation of farm lands for our farmers.
Then coming to the Indian knowledge base, she took a dig at some people who always demonize the Indian research. People immediately start calling it Safronization of Education.
She returned back to school students who do not know or are not aware about the significant contribution of Indian Scientists and Mathematicians. She said that when she asked some young girls if they are aware about the Neena Gupta. Most replied that she was an actress. However, Smruti had to correct them and inform that Neena Gupta was a famous Indian mathematician.
She wanted the audience to celebrate the Indian contribution to the world in the fields of Science and Mathematics.
- She then spoke about the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan. She said that she has asked all educational institutions to adopt five villages and undertake technology transfer. This will help the village populace also to develop and progress.
- Similarly she also announced that the HRD Ministry is soon launching an on-line platform in which one can access nearly 10000 Under-graduate and Post Graduate books, magazines, journals etc which will aid in students of less equipped schools and colleges to also fare well.
She then spoke about the industrial linkage with the syllabi of various educational institutions. She said that most of the industries who do undertake research and development activities do so actually to increase their own productivity so that their company or industry gets a competitive edge over others. However, the industries should now come forward to ensure that the syllabi is in sync with the needs of the industry.
Similarly she spoke about the diverse culture and languages that exists in our country. However, if one does not undertake or do his research in English, the research is not acceptable.
- She Smruti Irani has spoken to a firm in Mysore who are designing a software which will translate all research and curriculam books in 22 Indian Languages. She added that in another 3 years the software will translate research works and curriculum books and journals in 100 Indian languages.
Smruti Irani then spoke about the International Ranking of Indian Educational Institutions. She spoke about the varied culture and how others look and rank our Indian Institutions.
- Smruti Irani then announced about the National Indian Institutional Ranking Network. She said that Teachers, Students, Parents, Industries, Social Workers and everybody can contribute towards improving our ranking.
Smruti then again came to school students and how colleges and other professional educational institutions should come forward to help the school students to undertake research activities. How school students should be motivated to undertake research activities.
- Smruti Irani then announced with pride that with the hard work of the HRD Ministry, the world has recognized the contribution of Indian Scientist and Mathematicians and a Statue of Aryabhata at UNESCO and an International conference of Mathematics and Science will be held in India and Paris.
Earlier Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who was the Guest of Honour at the International Conference “Research for Resurgence” said that the outcome of this Conference will prove to be beneficial for the future citizens of the country. He said that when the learned Vice-Chancellors and other dignitaries of the educational field debate and deliberate over the present education a good outcome will certainly emerge. He said that when we forget the Ancient development oriented culture then the progress and development of the knowledge base ceases. The society then has to bear the damages and ill-effects. Even that damage was borne was borne by the Indian society.
There is an urgent need for a continuous process of research undertaken by educational institutions. He added that if research is undertaken in a positive direction then it will be beneficial to the societal development. Fadnavis said that every research whenever it is undertaken has to be for the benefit of the people or common man.
He then said that those who have polluted the atmosphere the most are now advising others about the ill-effects of pollution. He added that the practices and concepts proposed by these countries were practiced years and ages ago by our ancestors.
Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis then expressed a problem that he has been facing for a long time, poor irrigation and famine in the state. He said that Maratwada is facing famine and the state is facing a challenge of famine and dry spell in many parts of Vidarbha. He claimed that continuous attempts are on resolve this issue. He said that only 18% land in the state gets good irrigational facilities in the state. Nearly 82% farm lands depend solely on monsoon rains for irrigation. If this situation has to change then traditional irrigation methods could come to use. He added that it is the government’s prerogative to ensure that irrigational facilities are made available to all farmers. This able water management, necessities research activities in this regard.
He added that today with the Water Resource Campaign undertaken by the State Government has ensured that 6 lakh hectare lands gets irrigated.
If we understand what nature has given us, then we can go towards stable and permanent development. We can also stop destruction. If we harm the environment, we have to bear the consequences of the same.
He added that all research has to be undertaken for the optimum use of the common man.
This Conference is organized by Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal at Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology on February 11, 2016.
