Letters: Encouraging innovation

In his interview with Akshat Kaushal, scientist-turned-bureaucrat Thirumalachari Ramasami makes thought-provoking observations about the state of innovation in India (“We need a system that rewards, not punishes, failure,” May 20). Though our Constitution advocates original and free thinking, we are still a risk-averse country in which failure in innovation is looked down on. That’s why smaller countries like Israel have produced more Nobel Prize winners than India. But should we not change this culture so that we stop exporting our creative minds to other countries only to import the products and services invented by them? It could be possible if we inculcate the spirit of creative thinking from childhood by making it a goal of our education system.

 

Ramasami observes that new technology benefits investors and not the common man. But I think there is a link here. Investment in new technology brings money only if it translates into goods or services to be paid for and used by the public. Pure research could be useful in the realm of government organisation.

Finally, Ramasami joined the bureaucracy as secretary, Department of Science and Technology, in 2006 after a distinguished career in science (he was awarded Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for chemical sciences in 1993). I hope he gets the support he deserves from his minister so that the nation can benefit from his intellectual capital.

Y G Chouksey, Pune

Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201 · E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
All letters must have a postal address and telephone number