Opinion: Narayan Murthy is right! But, lack of innovation is not the real problem

9 years ago

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Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it, said George Santayana.

Maybe this is exactly how we need to find our own answers to the recent lamentations of Infosys founder Narayan Murthy, whose sudden expression of displeasure is anything but new and has in a way echoed the sentiments of many.

At a recent event, the IT czar said, “Let us pause and ask what the contributions of Indian institutions of higher learning, particularly IISc ans IITs, have been over the last sixty-plus years to make our society and the world a better place? “Is there one invention from India that has become a household name in the globe? Is there one technology that has transformed the productivity of global corporations? Is there one idea that has lead to an earth shaking invention to delight global citizens?”

This does seem to be the question on the lips of many, from the students at educational spaces to scientists and corporates alike, though it never gets beyond musing.

Why not India? Why has there been nothing groundbreaking going forth to the world from us? Even the numbered Nobel prizes that have come our way can be traced back to the British system of education, and under their governance. So what is that magic recipe that the West has that has eluded India for 60 years?

A peak back into the history of the country does throw some answers to the quandary. These cannot be ignored when we are trying to answer Mr. Murthy’s bewilderment. And many of these causes still continue to exist, sadly.

1. A new country

It cannot be forgotten that we are a relatively new country, in terms of having the right of governance in our own hands. After centuries of colonization, it has been just over 60 years since we have begun to traverse rough terrain ourselves.

A nation at the nascent stage is picking up on lost threads rather than looking for innovation, a good deal of which is also starting to happen.

2. Rote

Coming abruptly to a more direct point, our education system, right from the early classes, thrives on rote memorization, and application-based activities take a back seat.

Though parents wish their kids to get into professional courses later on, not everybody is able to catch up to the mark needed to get there, as there is either no reach or it’s too late by the time vocational learning begins.

In spite of this, considering the population, many manage to enter professional courses. But there it ends.

3. Pure sciences shunned

We need doctors, engineers or businessmen. Every other field is for the losers! Only professions that apparently take one to a financial paradise are revered. In this scenario, seeing a groundbreaking innovation in the social sciences and the pure sciences becomes a lost dream.

4. No expertise or versatility

Though some get to the place where only genius can, for a population of this size, there aren’t enough courses with combinations of subjects that would enlarge the students’ brain to include more than a single type of science.

Unlike in the West, where there are many inter-disciplinary courses, a science student here would only know about science and calculations and will not have an inkling about psychology or anthropology, thus limiting the possibilities of extending innovation to those areas through science.

Though this compartmentalization suggests intelligent divisions, it actually restricts students from variety.

And even in their own courses students have to stop beyond a point because they either can’t afford to go beyond or they are already working in jobs that have nothing to do with what they were learning.

5. Lose our best bets

The few who are passionate about what they are doing and want to see their efforts see the light of day move to other countries and in most cases settle there, considering the growth afforded on foreign soil.

6. Corrupt bureaucracy

The list cannot be complete without blaming the administration. Though there is enough awareness of the huge numbers they have to cater to, it can’t be denied that there isn’t enough money being allocated for serious research. Most of it goes into strengthening the defense, closely followed by space programmes. And in these two we have gained world renown.

The rest are taken up by scams that the bureaucracy is busy playing games with, lawsuits and the innumerable procedures and paperwork the common man has to adhere to. By the time we’re done dealing with these factors, we’re absolutely bogged down to think sanely, let alone creatively.

The thraldom of officialdom is no small hitch.

About globalization and a grand innovation, it can hardly be said that only science and technology can create these. But the humanities and social sciences are drowned by a hesitation to look towards them as channels of innovation. A good combination of the many sciences might be the place where the magic lies.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of Folomojo.com