Why
is India not permanently angry?
Sandesh Prabhudesai
15 April 2003
"Why is India not permanently angry?"
The question is raised by Dr Raghunath Mashelkar, director
general of Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
and a senior scientist, presently on Team India mission.
The Goa-born scientist was felicitated here recently for
completing 60 years, in the capital city of Panaji by the
state as well as in his Marcela (Mashel) village by the villagers.
Recalling the Washington Post headline 'And angry India does
it' when India made its own super computer after the USA refused
it, Mashelkar wondered why our country is not permanently
angry. "When challenged, we have delivered", he
said.
Citing the example of Surat city, Dr Mashelkar said Indians
had also proved that they could convert India's most dirty
city into the cleanest city within 18 months, if it is taken
up as a mission.
"The biggest challenge we face today is the battle between
the mind and the mindset", he feels. Though quality of
Indian mind is unquestionable, our mindset takes us back to
the 17th century.
According to him, the Indian mindset is not used to digest
even cricket victories as losing has become a habit and negativism
has become the lifestyle. Cursing the half-empty glass has
become our culture, he adds.
However, rather than losing hope like a normal Indian person,
the man who fought patents for turmeric and basmati feels
confident that India would overcome this complex and rule
the 21st century with its rich mind and knowledge.
"The IT revolution for India will be the Indian Talent
for India Tomorrow", he said, provided the 5000-year
old land if Ideas is skilfully made the land of opportunities,
like the USA.
"I feel positive because a boy from a dustbin like me
is being felicitated today. Millions like this are deprived
of opportunities. Give them opportunity and India will be
the super power of knowledge", said the 60-year old energetic
scientist.
Refuting the argument of several speakers at the felicitation
function that he is a self-made man, Dr Mashelkar said he
is the product of the society and the special efforts taken
by his mother Anjanibai and his school teachers, besides his
encouraging wife Vaishali.
Recalling his struggle days fighting poverty, the ground-to-the-earth
scientist said he could not have reached today's position
if it was not a scholarship of Gomantak Maratha Samaj of Rs
seven a month in standard VII and VIII and Sir Dolab Tata
Scholarship of Rs 60. "It is invaluable", he quipped.
Speaking highly about his homeland Goa, the son-of-the-soil
proudly said Goa could achieve President Abdul Kalam's dream
of becoming a developed state by 2011, within 50 years of
liberation, and need not wait until 2020.
"My state has already achieved 12 per cent GDP and it
is leading in all the socio-economic indexes", he said,
quoting the UNDP report extensively.
"The only dream remains now is to make this state of
temples of Gods the state of Temples of Knowledge", said
a Goan at heart, while dreaming of India winning the Olympics
of Mind.
Read more Mashelkar
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