Hype over India's Mars mission
The contrast between India's two recent science and technology (S&T) projects couldn't have been starker. One, by delivering accurate early warnings about Cyclone Hudhud, saved thousands of lives. The other put the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) Mangalyaan into orbit -- a technological achievement, without much scientific or social consequence.
The media exulted over MOM, and ultra-nationalisti-cally declared India a great global science power. But it ignored the first project -- based on low-key, unglamorous, painstaking cooperation between the India Metereological Department, National Institute of Ocean Technology, National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting, two Indian Institutes of Technology, and the Orissa and Andhra governments.
The effort involved creation of more cyclone shelters, coastal roads, weather stations, advanced computers, faster communication-lines, and rescue-and-relief preparations.
This hugely improved cyclone warning-time -- to five days from 24 hours in 1999, when the Orissa “super-cyclone” caused 3,958 deaths (unofficial estimate, 10,000). This improvement enabled the evacuation last fortnight of 2 lakh-plus people, stockpiling of essentials, and better-coordinated relief.
This is a case of greater social relevance, and more innovative technology, than MOM, which lacks civilian spin-offs. True, ISRO has developed many technologies, including rocketry, engine design, electronic fabrication, remote tracking/control, and data processing. ISRO's first-attempt success in putting MOM in a Martian orbit must not be underrated.
But MOM's scientific agenda was modest: observing Mars from the closest-ever distance of about 400 km. This cannot deliver even a fraction of the information generated by the recent US-European “Mars Express” mission.
The 1,350-kg Mangalyaan carries a tiny 13-kg scientific payload, compared to the “Express's” 116 kg. This cannot add significantly to what's known about Martian topography or atmosphere.
According to former ISRO chairman G. Madhavan Nair, MOM was to carry 12 instruments. But only five were tested in time. Leaving the rest behind made MOM a “useless showpiece event.”
MOM's limitations arise from ISRO's failure to develop even after 15 years a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, which can place heavy (2,000 kg-plus) satellites into high orbits. Instead, it hurriedly used the much-less-powerful Polar SLV, greatly limiting MOM's abilities.
MOM may have given ISRO a steroid shot. But it will do nothing to advance S&T. For decades, India was the Third World's unquestioned “science superpower.” In 1980, it globally held the 8th position in the number of peer-reviewed papers, while China was a distant No 15. By 2010, China had moved to No 2, and India to No 9.
Other emerging economies are also catching up with India in R&D (research and development) personnel, scientific output and impact (measured by citations of papers). China, and even Russia and South Korea, have more people engaged in R&D than India. Brazil isn't far behind.
Although India accounts for 3.5% of scientific papers worldwide, its share in the top one-percent impact-making journals is only 0.54%. Forty five percent of its publications are uncited.
India's S&T is in crisis. Its priorities are warped: two-thirds of its R&D expenditure goes to three “security”-related organisations: Department of Atomic Energy, Defence R&D Organisation and Department of Space. The first two perform appallingly.
The rest of the establishment including the big laboratory-chains under the Councils of Agricultural Research, Scientific and Industrial Research, and Medical Research, and the Department of Biotechnology, make do with the remaining one-third.
Their budgets were recently cut by 25-30%. Worse, the allotted funds aren't disbursed on time. The Department of Science and Technology and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research remain headless.
India, in the 1950s, committed a great blunder in severing research from teaching, which are best linked in the university system. India set up specialised laboratories with no infusion of student talent. Most laboratories are extremely bureaucratised, with no peer review or public accountability. Promotions are decided on the length of service or nepotism, not performance.
I interviewed researchers from biology, theoretical physics, chemistry and astronomy, who corroborate this. They complain that bureaucratisation has created a “pervasive culture of mediocrity,” in which people with outstanding talent cannot function optimally.
There's very little collaborative research across institutions, and a proliferation of me-too projects, many sub-critically funded and unproductive. The result is growing lack of enterprise, and loss of the experience of scientific adventure.
Independent India's S&T enterprise has proved flawed in other ways too. It was to promote the “scientific temper” (a Constitutional mandate) and spirit of critical enquiry. It has failed to do that -- witness the growth of blind faith, politicised religion and superstition. India has more temples than schools! ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan worshipped a metal replica of MOM at Tirupati temple before the launch.
India's youth is no longer attracted to science, as distinct from professions which don't remotely inculcate rational values. India's science education is in a mess.
India's S&T has betrayed its promise of delivering useful inventions, with a few partial exceptions like agricultural research (which plateaued and wasn't extended to dry land farming) and information technology. It has failed to provide reliable power and clean drinking water.
Unless Indian S&T redeems its promise, it will go further downhill, MOM notwithstanding.
The writer is an eminent Indian columnist.
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