Innovation and the application of modern science are powerful engines of change. That they have particular relevance to development and to the alleviation of poverty was already obvious to the founders of the Union, whether of the Nehruvian or the Gandhian persuasion. The need for research has been acknowledged by most leaders since independence: research at the frontiers of (western) knowledge by some; re-search to uncover forgotten (traditional, indigenous) knowledge by others. The truth, as always, lies somewhere in between. More knowledge, both new and old, is needed if we are to rescue our country from the economic, social and political catastrophe towards which it is now clearly and rather speedily headed. Yet our performance since independence in this sphere is strikingly dismal – a failure that belongs as much to the somnolent scientific community as it does to the power-hungry but short-sighted governments that have gradually usurped the people’s initiative and assumed responsibility even for their creativity. Whether “modern” or “traditional”, research supported by society must fundamentally have the attributes of excellence and relevance without which science can be at best a peripheral, or at worst a dangerous, enterprise. Whatever the cultural basis or direction and intent of the scientific enquiry, it does have to satisfy the primary requirements of truth and constructiveness. Concepts such as originally and verifiability are just as important, but their precise meaning and operational implications will have to be defined by each society in the light of its own needs. Despite massive support from public finances, science in India has not fulfilled promise. Neither the academic or public research institutions, nor the private sector has been able to begin addressing the pervasive problems of poverty, pollution and population growth that afflict our country. Our most immediate concern is how can innovation, of whatever type desired, be enriched and accelerated? Innovation is done by people, men and women who have their professional and individual motivations for pursuing knowledge and discovering new (or forgotten) concepts and things. These motivations are spurred by the hope of rewards of one kind or another: greater knowledge, social recognition, peer approval, financial gain. The reward system of a given scientific community are critical determinants of the quality and direction of scientific research that is undertaken. Today, the bulk of the reward systems in science are geared to promote, worldwide, research that is of interest to industrialized societies. That is why so little science has been conducted in the South. And much less that is for the South. In this area, as in so many others, India provides a typical example. Sustainable development needs breakthroughs that cut across the boundaries of conventional disciplines and sectors. Creativity and originality of the type that leads to an effective multi-disciplinary knowledge base has to be imaginatively bred and carefully nurtured. Organisational policies, programmes and facilities must be specifically designed to promote the personal and professional growth of staff members and to encourage intellectual excellence, the spirit of enquiry and a high level of performance. To achieve these aims, the work environment has to be highly participative and as non-bureaucratic and non-hierarchical as local conditions will allow. The organizational and material support and expedite the conduct of high quality research without unnecessary routine duties. The innovative person must be provided with well-equipped facilities for his or her work, and opportunities to maintain good two-way communication with peers elsewhere, through scholarly journals, meetings, sabbaticals and other information exchange mechanisms. Moreover, it should be apparent from the foregoing argument that the critical areas requiring innovation are not only technological hardware and software, but institutional design and S&T policy. New types of hybrid non-profit organisations are needed that can combine private sector approaches with effective means to achieve sustainable socio-economic development in the Third World. Development Alternatives and TARA are an attempt to show the way in this direction. q
|
||||
|
||||