Thank you, Mr PM
We are finally on moon. So what it has taken some 40 years more than Mr Armstrong, its still an achievement par excellence.
When I had sent out mail congratulating all my Indian acquaintances in US, many of them retorted back, questioning economic viability of the exorbitantly expansive adventure. Then there was a chain mail where there were jibes pointing at tonnes of moon rock in US museums and labs, other the other hand Indians are going gung-ho on planting tricolor on loose sand of moon. Some humanitarians reminded me of suffering of farmers from Bihar, who have lost there land to floods. Should we not spend our resources for alleviating the plight of men living on earth than for generations that would reside in lunar colonies. Several messages reminding me sorry state of infrastructure back home, when we are weaving dreams to build road to moon.
For a moment all these criticisms and mockery would coerce even the most brilliant of visionaries to doubt significance of this feat.
But then at such crossroads, Indians can always draw inspiration from one man. Whenever, India arives at a milestone in sphere of science and technology, we should always pause to thank him. Many hold him responsible for everything that is wrong with us today, I believe that we will continue to do so even a millennium after he last breathed. But then it is so Indian to point fingers and to shrug any responsibility and perhaps it was his fate as he bore a young nation on his shoulder at stroke of midnight when it made tryst with destiny.
I am not a congress man and certainly not a fan of Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, but I am a huge admirer of Nehruvian vision of science and technology. Even when we were in midst of all kinds of problems - partition, war with Pakistan over Kashmir, communal riots, poverty and cold war, Nehru not only sow the seeds of science and technology but also nourished it. This is not what I have read in books or watched on a documentary, its a first hand anecdote from an MIT graduate who was touched by this vision.
In 1948, government of India had handpicked best students from then existing premier institutes of science and technology and sponsored their masters in best schools of western world, with a clause that they had to come back to serve motherland. One of my relative, who was electrical engineering gold medalists from BHU, was amongst the chosen ones. This otherwise extremely humble gentleman is very proud that his(along with others chosen students) experiences were exploited by Pt Nehru to shape up IITs, ISRO and other premier institutes. Pt Nehru took out time from his packed schedule to discuss blue prints of these world class institutes.
When I had sent out mail congratulating all my Indian acquaintances in US, many of them retorted back, questioning economic viability of the exorbitantly expansive adventure. Then there was a chain mail where there were jibes pointing at tonnes of moon rock in US museums and labs, other the other hand Indians are going gung-ho on planting tricolor on loose sand of moon. Some humanitarians reminded me of suffering of farmers from Bihar, who have lost there land to floods. Should we not spend our resources for alleviating the plight of men living on earth than for generations that would reside in lunar colonies. Several messages reminding me sorry state of infrastructure back home, when we are weaving dreams to build road to moon.
For a moment all these criticisms and mockery would coerce even the most brilliant of visionaries to doubt significance of this feat.
But then at such crossroads, Indians can always draw inspiration from one man. Whenever, India arives at a milestone in sphere of science and technology, we should always pause to thank him. Many hold him responsible for everything that is wrong with us today, I believe that we will continue to do so even a millennium after he last breathed. But then it is so Indian to point fingers and to shrug any responsibility and perhaps it was his fate as he bore a young nation on his shoulder at stroke of midnight when it made tryst with destiny.
I am not a congress man and certainly not a fan of Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, but I am a huge admirer of Nehruvian vision of science and technology. Even when we were in midst of all kinds of problems - partition, war with Pakistan over Kashmir, communal riots, poverty and cold war, Nehru not only sow the seeds of science and technology but also nourished it. This is not what I have read in books or watched on a documentary, its a first hand anecdote from an MIT graduate who was touched by this vision.
In 1948, government of India had handpicked best students from then existing premier institutes of science and technology and sponsored their masters in best schools of western world, with a clause that they had to come back to serve motherland. One of my relative, who was electrical engineering gold medalists from BHU, was amongst the chosen ones. This otherwise extremely humble gentleman is very proud that his(along with others chosen students) experiences were exploited by Pt Nehru to shape up IITs, ISRO and other premier institutes. Pt Nehru took out time from his packed schedule to discuss blue prints of these world class institutes.
Who knew then, in mid of 20th century when world was being torn into two, Nehru was sketching India of 21st century.
It is no secret Nehru had a bent towards communism, so he never had outsourcing or silicon valley on his mind when he was laying foundation of IITs. But by giving us these prestigious institutes he surely made education an integral part of Indian social fabric. A country with a booming population with such diversity and differences could coexist only if it was employed constructively. Today this education system is churning out army of professionals that rest of the world envy.
I am sure Nehru knew that the tree he was planting would scarcely bear fruits in his life time and when it would actually bear fruit, people would have forgotten him. Today when Chandrayaan landed on moon, I don't know how many of us actually stopped to thank this man who could dream these glorious dreams when country was going through worst of night mares.
But then isn't it poetic justice that we stepped on moon on birth anniversary of man himself.
Mr Nehru, I don't know if we will be able to forgive you for partition and Kashmir but we would always be indebted toyou for giving us a vision that is shaping up India of 21st century.
It is no secret Nehru had a bent towards communism, so he never had outsourcing or silicon valley on his mind when he was laying foundation of IITs. But by giving us these prestigious institutes he surely made education an integral part of Indian social fabric. A country with a booming population with such diversity and differences could coexist only if it was employed constructively. Today this education system is churning out army of professionals that rest of the world envy.
I am sure Nehru knew that the tree he was planting would scarcely bear fruits in his life time and when it would actually bear fruit, people would have forgotten him. Today when Chandrayaan landed on moon, I don't know how many of us actually stopped to thank this man who could dream these glorious dreams when country was going through worst of night mares.
But then isn't it poetic justice that we stepped on moon on birth anniversary of man himself.
Mr Nehru, I don't know if we will be able to forgive you for partition and Kashmir but we would always be indebted toyou for giving us a vision that is shaping up India of 21st century.
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