President Desk: Speech on Science Exposition PANCHAM 2009 @Zenith School, Baroda

For School Teachers of Baroda

Professor Kasturirangan, Dr. Ramakrishnan, Members of Zenith School Parivar, esteemed colleagues and Friends,

I am happy to be here on the occasion of the Science Exposition PANCHAM 2009 being organized by the Zenith School. I must admit that initially I was hesitant to come as I am not used to speaking on such occasion and inaugurals. However my biggest incentive to come here, was you all; the audience comprising teachers. I thought it was a rare opportunity for me to share and articulate my thoughts with you, as a teacher colleague, as a parent and as some one with a dream of seeing India a true world leader in the material and moral, ethical sense. What I will say today is what I feel strongly about. And, being here today, it is also my honor to share time and stage with Prof Kasturirangan, who I know as an alumnus of PRL, where I work and whom I respect as a person who led the space programme to new heights.

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Friends, today India and the world are at critical cross roads. Our actions during the next decade will determine the fate of our future generation and of future India. We today witness two India’s – one that is working hard, is innovative, is enterprising and has a vision of growth and, the other that is unethical, corrupt, subversive, manipulative, intolerant, parochial and violent.  We today have an India where we have a well fed middle and upper class on the one hand and over 51% under nourished, under fed, without shelter and with no avenues or hopes for future. This India gets up hungry lives hungry and sleeps hungry. This India was born with out hope, lives with out hope and will go without hope. A part of the world wishes us to see us, (the youngest economy of international consequence), as the one, that is competitive, fierce and that can counter China for their gains. Another part will like us to live in medieval times with all our archaic values and practices. Some see us as future markets and others as future dumping places.  We also face the consequences of climatic change and its attendant import on food security, water security and energy security. Increasing population density also increases the risks. While some of the climate change debate has its roots in global economics and hence been extensively hyped to suit the developed world, there is a certainly a need to have an India centric approach to such issues. We need to think of our problems, of our people, in our frame work and our contexts.  In saying so, I do concede that some of the climate threats are real, irrespective of man made climate change.

You may wonder, as to why I do say all this to you and how could a teacher in a school, not so valued, not so respected and valued by the society, help. I say so, because of my firm conviction that teachers alone are the most influential drivers of change for a society. A young mind that comes to you is malleable putty and you mould this to human being. What you teach him is key to his persona for the rest of his life. We already have the biggest youth population in the world. And given that we will in 2034 become the most populous country, our huge youth population will stay. This putty will need very careful handling for, it is the character, approach and the future of this youth that will define the character and life of the future India. It is this future, that I am concerned with, and want to talk to you about today.

Friends, our future will depend on how We think and how We shape our generations in terms of their, professional caliber, social conduct, ethics, logical and scientific thinking, respect for resources, respect for every thing around us and a deep concern for the under privileged. I really think that education with ethics and societal values will be the key to India’s future. We a need a youth that is possessed with a sense of purpose, and that thinks beyond himself or his town or caste. We need a youth that can paint on a larger canvass. 

We will become a developed country only when ALL our children are educated, are socially conscious and morally ethical.

We will be developed when we have a rational youth and not an emotional youth that is easily swayed. We need a youth that thinks rationally and scientifically about issues like, Ganesha drinking milk or, sea water turning sweet, to the magic of god helping in exams. We need a youth that can educate their elders and a youth with dreams for a country.

We will be developed when we have youth with societal concerns, a youth willing to participate in the welfare of others, a youth that is self sufficient in creating their own opportunities.

Friends, I therefore see an important responsibility on your shoulders, on our shoulders, of creating a humane, logical, rational, professional and caring future generation. This generation will start with a huge handicap of jobs left undone by us.  This youth has to carry out the task of taking 350million to school, providing 350 million with safe drinking water, and 600 million with clean toilets and over 1000 million with affordable health care. This generation will have to create nourishment and hope, for 51% of the children, many of whom we see every day on the road crossings and as house labor.  

Dear colleagues, you will need to create this new generation and inculcate in them the values of ethical social conduct, social concerns, the values of environment, values of resource conservation and of course values of professional excellence.

Education and not literacy is the future of India. Most confuse one with the other. More so politicians and planners, for whom a child is a number. But, what you teach a child today will live with him. Friends as teachers, we may be under paid, undervalued in the society but, We still can not disown a huge task before us. This is as only we have the license and the skills to change, train and mould minds. If we fail, India will FAIL. We therefore need to take ourselves seriously and participate in the creation of an India that prosperous, with hope and opportunity for all and a decent moral and ethical fabric. Extending Former American President’s, Franking Rooesewelt,’s famous statement on Freedom, We need to actively participate in creating a free India, with freedom of speech and expression, freedom of religion, freedom from want, freedom from fear, freedom from hunger, freedom for education and, concern and respect for all things - living and non living.  

I wish you all luck and I do hope you all (or rather we all) can rise to the occasion and deliver. India needs you and your contributions, more than ever before.

Thank you. Thank you once again for asking me to come here and for sharing the ideas with such people of eminence. I shall cherish this honour.