दृष्टिकोण – Indra's Viewpoint

We returned yesterday after three nights in Andaman. It was a long time wish that got fulfilled. We had heard of Kalapani in childhood. One normally would shiver with the stories related to the word.

Andaman is unique in many respects. It has rich content for tourists of all types. Cellular Jail is the national memorial and a must pilgrimage for every Indian. The beautiful sea all around the huge number of inhabited or uninhabited green islands provides the ultimate joy. The protected Jarwa tribe takes one into the anthropological uniqueness of the journey of the human race. The nature has bestowed many more attractions such natural rain forests with very tall and straight trees. A question came in mind. Why some trees are so straight going straight in the sky and why some are so crooked? The lime stone rock formations
that we could see was the real great gift of nature to the island for attracting the tourists.

We roamed around in the Cellular Jail extensively. Surprisingly, it was only after 22 years of independence that the Jail could get its glorious place as National Memorial. Why did the early rulers not do that? It celebrated its centenary in 2006. Unfortunately, there is no slovenlier shop in the premise. I was badly searching for some authentic reading material. I had a chance meeting with the lady who claimed to be the in charge of the Jail and had visited even Hiroshima Memorial in Japan. She got me a folder giving the details of the Jail. I suggested her to get some better toilet faculty. Actually she had seen Yamuna from a distance searching for a lady’ wash room. She had come to open one that was locked.

After the first war of independence in 1857, the Britishers wanted to find a place to keep the native prisoners in a place far away from the mainland so that their torture stories do reach to the people in general. Most of the early political prisoners were zamindars, nawabs, writers and poets.

Out of the seven wings of the Jail only three remain. Only the cell of Veer Savarkar displays his photograph and a name plate. Why could not the researchers identify the cells of some other prominent freedom fighters? Does the responsibility of the government get over with listing of the names on the marble stone in the central tower? The list has names of prisoners from many states, but clearly the largest number is from West Bengal. But why have the present generation Bengalis and West Bengal government forgotten their brave sons who sacrificed everything to get the freedom from Bristishers? Sound and Light show was impressive with Om Puri as the surviving Pipal tree near the jail narrating the story. I wish some shadows could have been used to make it more vivid and live. Why should our professional people do jobs halfheartedly? Is it because of the budgetary constraints?

We spent a whole day visiting some of the islands: North, Ross, and Viper through seven points harbor area using motor boats. I wish some independent authority control the quality of the services provided by these small entrepreneurs and also come out with facilities that makes the visits to the island interesting and enjoyable. On Ross Island that is under the control of the Indian Navy, there is neither good wash room nor eating facilities though the navy charges Rs 20 per passenger as maintenance fee. At least those taking the maintenance charge could have provided some informative literature. Incidentally I bought one for Rs 3.

Yamuna wanted to see Jarwas, one of the earliest tribes who live in a protected forest in the primitive manner. We could make it only because Yamuna had made a friendship with one resourceful lady from New Delhi while waiting for the show at cellular jail. Almost all the tour operators that we contacted had refused the possibility of taking Baratang island tour on the last day because of a damaged bridge on the way through Jarwa reserves. But the lady got it arranged through an operator that had buses on the both sides of the bridge. We had just to walk a little near the bridge and Yamuna did that bravely.

To our good luck a Jarwa couple pushed themselves in the bus. Everyone got scared and attentive. But we could see the tribe in its primitive form. Both appeared to be malnourished small and thin. The woman was totally bare body above the waist. At waist she had some skirt like covering perhaps that would have been offered by some or she would have prepared herself out of waste colored clothes lying on the wayside.

Three tiring days and well earned sleep at nights made us feel great. I am back again to report my views.

As one of the alumni of IIT-Kharagpur of 1957 batch, I take pride in the institute and get delighted to read any development over there. It is but usual. I spent four best years of my life there at a time when the institute was the only of its kind in the country. I referred recently about the affordable artificial heart developed by the institute in my writing on innovating India.

But last week, IIT-KGP came in news for a wrong reason. It was on fire. It appeared as if the students in IIT have got indoctrinated in Bengal School of Protest Techniques. The whole population of the students, boys and girls went for a violent protest, damaged properties, and made the director resign. It was unprecedented. I remember once in 80s a strike by mess workers tried to upset the life in the institute, but the students cooperated with the authority to face the strike successfully even when the examinations were on. I took pride in that.

I feel sorry for Rohit, but I can’t agree to the way the students reacted to the sad demise of Rohit, a student. However, it is unfortunate that in last sixty years of its existence IIT-Kharagpur couldn’t build a hospital of world class that could have been the best in eastern region of the country and served its people are the poorest in the country. It could have also helped in the research and development in medical science and engineering for IIT. It only makes one fix the blame on the unimaginative and narrow vision of the directors who ran it till date or on the lack of its autonomy and the interference from the HRD ministry. When Stanford can have a great hospital with it, why can’t IITs emulate it? Why should it be known only for its quality of engineering education and for the reputation of its alumni?

I remember during my years in IIT between 1957 and 1961, once jaundice broke out almost as an epidemic among the students. There was panic. In the name of hospital, there was hardly anything. I left the campus and went to Birlapur to live with my grandfather. I wrote a letter to late Dr. Ram Subhag Singh, the firebrand MP from Bihar about it. And interestingly, I got the reply ensuring some action. He and some of his friends raised the issue in the parliament.

During the tenure of Rakesh, my eldest son in IIT-Karagpur in end of 80s, I had a chance to visit the BC Roy Technology Hospital. Rakesh was admitted, but all his friends wanted me to take him away and I did the same. I couldn’t find a doctor who would have solaced or advised me about Rakesh’s illness. Unfortunately, our system encourages indifference and inaction among those who matter and who could make the life better in the community they belong. Why didn’t the teachers and other staff members press for getting a super specialty hospital project implemented if it was sanctioned once, as per one report?

But the various other issues raised by the media regarding the poor living conditions of the students at IIT-Kharagpur are more agonizing. I just can’t imagine that the students are using a single bed in the rooms in shift for sleeping. I lived in a single room all the four years of my stay there. The food was not to my taste, as I came from a family and place that never had any chance to relish the south Indian food. But I managed. Why can’t the wardens and the students manage its canteen better? How can they expect to become better technocrats and managers if they can’t even run the messy canteens right? I remember in our days, how we did the duty religiously.

I still remember the biggest problem at IIT during our time was the scarcity of water. Toilet used to be dirty. Many times while taking bath, the water used to stop in the middle suddenly. Institute created water storages in each public bath rooms later. Even the jaundice problem had origin in water quality. I don’t know if the problem is sorted out. The institutes must sort out these problems on its own through various agencies without looking to the government for everything. The director must not be only academician; they must be good CEO too. What is so great in increasing the entry numbers in the institutes to accommodate the reservation promises, if the institutes such as IITs can’t provide the basic living amenities to its students?

I wish the government look into the real problems and the mess created over the years is cleared. A judiciary investigation can’t be a solution. It requires a will of the government to provide the best of the faculties to the students of the best institutes of the country. I wonder how the chairman of the governing body who is one of the best executives of the country from the most reputed business house and an alumnus of the institute have not been able to make the facilities up to a world class standard.

The technocrats and scientists at IIT- Kharagpur have developed Total Artificial Heart, TAH. It is very much affordable at Rs 1 lakh. The TAH will be of great help to patients whose heart muscles have become so weak that they need immediate transplantation.

The famous Rs 1 lakh car Nano, the innovation from Tata Motors is going to reach customers soon. On March 23, the booking starts. Nano has become a landmark of the innovations from India. Latest ‘Business Week’ has an article, ‘What Can Tata’s Nano Teach Detroit?’

Can on basis of these achievements and some more, India claim to be a leader in innovative nations? Ashok Parthsarathi in a recent column in Business Standard asks, “Who says we have not innovated?” Ashok Parthasarathi would put India ahead of both China and Brazil and for an India-China comparison, Ashok refers to a recent study by the US consulting firm, Zinnov, and Vishnu Saraf’s 2008 book India & China: Comparing the Incomparable.

Besides Nano, Ashok names the Xylo of Mahindras as examples of superb multi-dimensional innovation. According to him, Indica, Indigo, 407 LCV, ACE and HCVs of Tata Motors, including turbo-charged ones for the army, and the Scorpio of Mahindras and the tractors of Punjab Tractors were significantly worthy. Unfortunately, these innovations are just insignificant to become globally competitive innovation. India certainly needs many times more product innovations
.
Recently BCG, NAM and The Manufacturing Institute have come out with International Innovation Index 2009, a comparison of the innovation-friendliness of 110 nations.

India stands at 46 in overall ranking with China at 27, and even countries such as Thailand, South Africa, Italy, Malaysia and Australia better placed than India. Among the list of the large countries, India ranks at 15 while China is at 13 and South Korea at number 1.

India will have to consistently work harder to get nearer to the top few. However, there are many interesting and positive trends to be hopeful for India to grow and become a big innovative nation.
As per the BSG report, India is increasing investment in R&D by an average rate of 40 percent per year.

Heartening news is also the increasing mentoring by the institutes of national importance. At last count, there were around 125 start-up and spin-off companies from the IITs, government labs and companies in healthy operation in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune.

The performance of NRDC, the nodal commercialiser of some 2,000 technologies from over 200 S&T agencies, labs, IITs and universities, is also encouraging. It has led to not just product exports but technology exports as well. NRDC has been making sustained profits for the last 20 years.

The total annual R&D funding of academic institutions, government labs and industry through various programmes is around Rs 1,500 crore, and the output has been excellent at around Rs 15,000 crore, with an annual growth rate of around 30 per cent and many international patents. The research bodies such as CSIR and DRDO and institutes such as IITs and many more are trying to get more and more patents and get them commercialized. For example, IIT-B has about 130 patents under its belt. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, with a large network of the country’s public research institutes, is sitting on some 3,000 patents.

And there is more than these reasons to be hopeful. India has more than six lakh technology students. Each does a final-year project. Can’t these projects, at least a percentage of them, be turned into some innovations worth commercialization?

India with democracy and demography is best placed for getting into the league of the most innovative nations, as both accelerate the process.

While I keep on writing about the advantage of privatization in the country on my blog, my experiences over the years about the deteriorating private companies are just unbearable. Private banks both domestic and foreign ones have gone totally irresponsible. I lost almost Rs 10,000 and more because of the poor advices and intra-bank communication failures from the so-called personal banker that I have got because of my all superannuated money in its fixed deposits.

My experience with Airtel that has provided my land line telephone and broadband at my Noida residence is equally horrible. Even after my payment in advance of the amount suggested by them in last October-November 2008 before going to US, when I returned my services were not restored for almost 4days that I took to convince its many call centre’s personals.

The latest story is just appalling. I came to Kolkata on January 30 from Noida after paying all my dues that was due to be paid in February. In March, I went to an Airtel franchise in Salt Lake near swimming pool in CF Block to find out if it can let me know my bill and take the payment. They expressed their inability. I got a shock that Airtel doesn’t provide this service. When I expressed my desire to pay Rs 1200 as some adhoc advance against my Airtel a/c 11252325 for my phone number 0120-4358743, they directed me to put the cheque in their box outside. I did. When I checked my ICICI Bank a/c on line, I found Rs 1200 was debited from my account for Airtel on March 10. I was happy. But then the real harassment started. In last five days I have received calls from at least 20 different persons of Airtel on my mobile phone telling that a bill of Rs 800 plus awaits payment. I have kept on explaining to them. Today I had to call one of my friends in Noida who is also an Airtel subscriber to talk with the customer care of Airtel 01204444121 and sort out. I have also requested my personal banker at ICICI Noida sector 50 to help me out. Both of them talked to the Airtel. But the telephone calls for the payment have kept coming. I got one while I am typing this letter in Salt Lake. I have been told in the morning by my helping hand at Noida that he received a phone warning that the phone services will be disconnected if the bill is not paid.

Can there be a better story of Sunil Mittal’s Airtel who claims to run one of the best private companies of the country? Is it the efficiency of the telecom sector that we boast? Can the management of these services not find a way to find how the customers are getting cheated and harassed?