GOA UNIVERSITY NEWS BULLETIN

Goa University News Bulletin

Indian Talent (IT) forms the basis of India's future Dr. R. A. Mashelkar

hirty years down the line, India is going to emerge an economically prosper ous and globally powerful nation and IT (Indian Talent) will play a major role Tin this transformation, said Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, former Director General of Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), at a public lecture on “Shaping India's Future Through Indian Talent” as part of the Silver Jubilee Lecture Series of Goa University.

v Stating that the quality of the Indian mind was absolutely undisputable, Dr. Mashelkar stressed upon the urgent need to nurture this large pool of talent to meet the aspira- Quarterly News Bulletin tions of the nation in the years ahead. Pointing at the dramatic transition that is taking of place in the Indian economy, he stated that India was already on a high growth trajec- Goa University tory with the economy growing at a sustained growth in excess of 7-8%. At this growth rate India is likely to account for 1/6th of the world economy by 2040. There v is, therefore, a heightened expectation about India in the world today. However, for India to achieve a dominant position in the world economy, it is essential that India Vol. II - No. 1 transforms itself into the manufacturing hub of the world rather than remain the January-March 2010 back office. In this context, the role of innovation needs to be clearly appreciated, he said. v (Contd. on page 2) 1 GOA UNIVERSITY NEWS BULLETIN

While Research & Development converts money into that the atmosphere of competition encourages the spirit knowledge, innovation converts knowledge into money. of innovation. India has to now progress from being a The challenge before India is to make innovation a way skill-deficit nation to the skills capital of the world. To of life. Innovation is all about doing achieve this objective, the quality of In- things differently and making difference dian education needs a quantum leap, to the quality of our life. What India g he said, and drew attention to the ex- needs is a national innovation ecosys- pansion plan that had been drawn by tem that will propel India as a global the government. Though this ambitious leader in research and innovation rather What India needs process has been initiated with the es- than a minor follower in R&D. India tablishment of new Central Universi- needs to be an aggressive innovator is a national ties, IITs, IIMs, IIITs, IISERs, etc., the rather than an incremental innovators; innovation ecosys- sheer magnitude of the expansion re- from protective intellectual property quired in the next 30 years is a real chal- practitioners India should be a com- tem that will lenge before the government, Dr. petitive and aggressive practitioner, he Mashelkar said, cautioning that the is- said. propel India as a sue at stake was not just expansion of state-of-the-art educational institutions, According to Mashelkar, the primary global leader in but also that of inclusion and uncom- objective of our educational institutions promising excellence. should be to harness the abundant tal- research and ent that exists in India and lift the qual- Speaking about the state of education ity of our youth. Indian talent will es- innovation rather in India, Dr. Mashelkar stated that from sentially drive the Indian economy, copiers of best practices in education hence there is the urgent need to over- than a minor and research, we need to progress to creation of next practices in this field. hauling Indian education system with a follower in R&D. view to promote the culture of inno- India will need to build at least 100 vation. Skills required in the new world class universities and strong pri- economy demand new levels of talent g vately managed non-profit educational and unless new talent is harnessed, In- institutions to meet the burgeoning edu- dia will not retain its competitive edge, cational needs of a emerging economic Dr. Mashelkar said. giant. The immediate challenge is not to create new ideas but to escape old ideas, he said, and emphasized that to- Pointing out at the kind of transformation that has oc- day we require innovation in education as much as we do curred in India since liberalization, Dr. Mashelkar stated education in innovation. v

Of Ideas & Opportunities

Drawing a parallel between India and US, Dr. R. A. Mashelkar stated that while India was the land of Ideas, USA was the land of opportunities. The culture of free enterprise and innova- tion that existed in the US promoted excellence. This is why thousands of Indians who mi- grated to the US with their ‘Ideas’ have reached exalted positions in USA in their domains. The challenge before India is, how do we make our country the land of opportunities? Ac- cording to Dr. Mashelkar, change is already taking place. After liberalization, Indian talent is actually getting an expression within India. v

2 GOA UNIVERSITY NEWS BULLETIN Harness Solar and Nuclear Energy to meet energy needs Dr. Anil Kakodkar

peaking at the Silver Jubilee Lecture organized by GWe by 2050, which is roughly three times the present Goa University, former chairman of Atomic En energy production capacity. This deficit could be met only Sergy Commission, Dr. Anil Kakodkar called for a through massive import of coal, oil and gas which would concerted plan to harness solar and nuclear energy to meet not only choke India’s ports and railway transportation the burgeoning demand for energy in India by 2050. The networks but would have a more severe impact on prices energy issue goes beyond mere program implementation of world energy, Dr. Kakodkar said. and we need to keep a careful eye on long term future to ensure that we are not caught unawares in our quest to In such a scenario, only two energy sources could ease meet the energy requirements, he cautioned. India’s impending energy crisis – solar energy and tho- rium. Though India possessed a geographic location con- Taking stock of the energy scenario beyond 2050, Dr. ducive to harnessing of solar energy, mass harnessing of Kakodkar forecast a tremendous growth in the energy solar energy is a technological challenge and needs to be requirements as India embarks upon the path of sustained taken to a commercially viable level. Harnessing nuclear high growth and requires vast energy for domestic, in- energy from Thorium posed another technological chal- dustrial, transportation, electricity, etc. He emphasized the lenge, but would largely hold the key to future clean en- need to draw long term plans to minimize the gap be- ergy, Dr. Kakodkar said. tween energy requirement and energy availability. The notion that India is a land of abundant resources is mis- Talking about strategies for long term energy security and placed and India could face a potential crisis if she fails to India’s ambitious civil nuclear energy programme, Dr. secure its energy requirements in the decades ahead, Dr. Kakodkar pointed out that the three stage nuclear energy Kakodkar said. programme was already in place with the help of indig- enous technology developed by Indian scientists. Stage I A review of current Indian energy resources and the rate comprises development of Heavy Water Reactors of consumption revealed that coal would last for another (PHWRs), Stage II Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs), while 12 years, while domestically available hydrocarbons and Stage III comprised development of Thorium based re- uranium would last hardly for 4 years – insignificant in the actors. Drawing attention to the important attributes of context of future energy requirements. The energy gener- Thorium and why he considered that Thorium would pro- ated through programmes conducted by different sec- tors put together would still leave a gaping deficit of 412 (Contd. on page 5) 3 GOA UNIVERSITY NEWS BULLETIN India's Foreign Policy in a Phase of Dynamism says Lalit Mansingh, former Foreign Secretary

Shri Lalit Mansingh delivers a Distingushed Public Lecture on "India's Foreign Policy in the 21st century"

aving entered a phase of dynamism, Indian for policy – the Kautilyan model that espoused creation of a eign policy is quietly pursuing India’s national in militarily strong state to protect its interests in the region, Hterests, said Shri Lalit Mansingh, IFS (Retd.) and the Ashokan model that prescribed ‘the middle path’ former Foreign Secretary and former Ambassador to recommended by the Buddhist Dhamma. Nehru opted USA. Shri Mansingh delivered a distinguished public lec- for the Ashokan model and under his carefully crafted ture on “India’s Foreign Policy in the 21st Century”. The foreign policy, India emerged as a peacemaker and peace- Lecture was organized by Centre for Latin American Stud- keeper to the world. The middle path and the policy of ies and Nehru Study Centre at Goa University, in collabo- idealism found expression in the non-alignment policy that ration with Public Diplomacy Division of the Ministry of India espoused vigorously and established India’s global External Affairs, Govt. of India. position without economic or military strength. Nehru’s policy of idealism received a fatal blow in 1962 when Speaking eloquently on the broad changes that have char- Chinese aggression pointed to the reality that the policy acterized India’s foreign policy since Independence, Shri of playing the good international cop could not be sus- Mansingh presented an overview of the contours of India’s tained without economic and military strength. foreign policy in three phases – the first phase from Inde- pendence to 1967, the second phase from 1968 to 1997, Lalit Mansingh describes the next phase in India’s foreign and the third phase from 1998 till the present. policy as the phase of Realism. Indira Gandhi did not share the idealism of Nehru. She narrowed down the glo- Shri Mansingh describes the first phase, which was clearly bal activism of Nehru and focused on building military dominated by the persona of Jawaharlal Nehru, as the and economic strength. Her finest hour came in 1971 phase of Idealism. Nehru had a great sense of history and had two models to choose from to shape his foreign (Contd. on page 5)

India's Foreign Policy is like Rajasthan Fort According to Shri Lalit Mansingh, India’s foreign policy is very much like the Rajasthan fort. The centuries old fort appears very much the same from outside, though it had undergone significant changes from within. India’s foreign policy appears to have remained the same since Independence; however, in its essence it has progressed from the phase of Idealism to Realism and now to Dynamism. Foreign policy is no longer about mere political relationships but covers a vast range of interests. Not surprisingly, India’s foreign policy is no longer formulated exclusively by MEA, but also by ministries of finance, commerce, industry, petroleum, defence, etc. whose critical inputs about India’s regional and global interests help formulate India’s cohesive foreign policy, said Mansingh. 4 GOA UNIVERSITY NEWS BULLETIN

Nuclear Energy: Continued from page 3 Foreign Policy: Continued from page 4 vide the key to when in one stroke she managed to break Pakistan into India’s future energy g two, restored India’s dominant position in the region and needs, Dr. wiped out the humiliation of 1962. Rajiv Gandhi and PV Kakodkar stated Narsimha Rao too followed the policy of realism and that Thorium repre- Only two energy worked to carve out for India a dominant position in the sents at least three sources can ease region. While Rajiv Gandhi is credited with restoration times larger energy of ties with China and his role in dismantling of apart- resource than ura- India's impend- heid in South Africa, PV Narsimha Rao deserves credit nium. However, its for three policy initiatives that have had far reaching con- exploitation requires ing energy crisis - sequences for India – the Look East policy, policy of proper sequencing economic liberalization, and normalization of relations of reactor-fuel cycle solar energy and with Israel. technologies. There is a need to go into thorium. In the third and the current phase in India’s foreign policy higher and higher that commenced in 1998 with the second nuclear tests, efficiency energy g India has come back to the role of global activism, says systems with appro- Mansingh. After the tests, the world took notice of India priate recycling and as a nuclear weapons state. While in 1974 India was an waste management strategies in place. Harnessing of hy- economically weak and therefore insignificant nation, in drogen through the Sun or from nuclear reactors could 1998, the emerging economic and military power of In- provide fuel to support other activities, he said. dia made a qualitative difference to the global perception about India, said Shri Mansingh. India is now too strong Emphasizing the need for consciousness about environ- an economic and military power to be bullied, says mental impact of human activity, Dr. Kakodkar stated Mansingh. that two principles were crucial to any large scale devel- opmental activity – maximization of output from unit According to Mansingh, India’s foreign policy has changed material extracted from mother earth, and maximization 360 degrees though the change may not be apparent. In- of recycling. Considering the progressive depletion of dia is now quietly entering into strategic regional and glo- fossil fuels and the need to address global warming con- bal partnerships and has gone the extra mile to be at peace cerns, nuclear energy is expected to substantially meet the with its neighbours. future global energy requirements. Many political commentators have described India as hesi- Dr. Kakodkar emphasized the urgent need to reduce use tant, reluctant, unwilling, unprepared or even unqualified of fossil carbon in a progressive manner and called for to be a global power. However, Mansingh points out that technology to harness energy without disturbing the car- having entered the phase of dynamism for only 13 years, bon balance. If conventional energy burden on the earth India’s foreign policy is in a period of transition. The is to be minimized, then we need to take a serious look at sub-text of India’s foreign policy is to quietly pursue its nuclear energy as energy of the future, Dr. Kakodkar said, national interests, and take tough decisions without any and called for timely and strategic deployment of appro- overt display of intimidation or bluster. Since India does priate reactor technologies including fast breeder reactors not have any extra-territorial ambitions, her aim is to be a and thorium based reactors. good superpower in the world, rather than a superpower in the mould of the stereotypes, said Shri Mansingh. He The recent Civil Nuclear Cooperation between India and also added that India had quietly returned to global politi- USA will promote capacity building in nuclear energy cal activism combining the two parallel streams of state- generation, Dr. Kakodkar stated, and added that the De- craft – Realism promoted by Kautilya and Idealism pro- partment of Atomic Energy (DAE) had already broad- moted by Ashoka. In a way, he said, India has turned full ened its R&D to include several technological aspects much circle to realise Nehru’s dream of making India a leading beyond currently known concepts in nuclear reactors, plac- power in Asia, and a global peacemaker. ing domestic technology development on a firm path. v v 5 GOA UNIVERSITY NEWS BULLETIN

High Growth in India Characterised by Growing Inequalities Prof. Prabhat Patnaik

parities. The increase in inequalities is growth in inequalities and growing evident from analysis of the con- inequalities have added to increase in sumption expenditure data across labour reserves. According to Prof. hile acceleration in the rate various segments of the population, Patnaik, this dualism is perpetuated and of growth of Indian Prof. Patnaik said. India’s growth process is intrinsically economy is now globally W incapable of drawing upon its vast acknowledged, economic growth in The fundamental explanation for this surplus labour reserves, and therefore, India has been accompanied by grow- dichotomy of impressive growth incapable of eliminating poverty. ing inequalities mainly on account of characterized by growing inequalities the intrinsic inability of the economy is that the growth process in India has Prof. Patnaik further added that fiscal to absorb surplus labour, said re- not succeeded in drawing upon the intervention, schemes such as the nowned economist, Professor large labour reserves. The sectors that NREGA and substantial stimulation Prabhat Patnaik. Prof. Patnaik deliv- of internal markets through genera- ered the keynote address at the national g tion of demand in the agricultural sec- seminar on “Growth, Inequality and tor, especially peasant agriculture-led Economic Reforms in India”, orga- India’s growth process is industrialization that is delinked from nized by Department of Economics, the world economy, is capable of giv- Goa University. Prof. Patnaik is vice- intrinsically incapable of ing rise to a growth process that is not inequality-increasing but poverty-re- chairman, Kerala State Planning drawing upon its vast Board, and Chair Professor at ducing. Jawaharlal Nehru University, New surplus labour reserves, Delhi. In his address as the Chief Guest, Dr. and therefore, incapable S. S. Sidhu, Hon’ble Governor of In his incisive and judicious analysis of of eliminating poverty. Goa and Chancellor of Goa Univer- the growth pattern in India, Prof. sity, pointed out that though India had Patnaik explained why, contrary to g achieved impressive growth during the popular perception that an 8% growth past decade and had weathered meant more prosperity and well-be- recessionary trends remarkably well, ing, the impact of growth has been have registered emphatic growth are rapid growth had not resulted in the limited to certain sectors and food typically characterized by low labour decline of absolute poverty in India. deprivation has actually increased in force, high labour productivity and He added that slowdown in the pri- large segments of Indian population. therefore, low absorption of surplus mary sector had been a matter of Rise is per capita food intake is nor- labour. Further, structural changes in concern and called for technological mally related to rise in per capita in- the economy have also resulted in dis- advancements and reforms in the ag- come. This is a global phenomenon placement of labour. The enlarging ricultural sector to improve agricultural and India is no exception. However, labour reserves exert a pressure on real productivity. Dr. Sidhu emphasized the though per capita food consumption wages, leading to further expansion in need for the State to focus on pro- in India has increased substantially, inequalities in the economy. Thus In- motion of technology, infrastructure some segments have actually fared dian economic growth has been and education as the priority areas if worse in absolute terms. This is be- trapped in a vicious circle where eco- the nation were to embark on the path cause the period of high growth is nomic growth characterized by low to sustained progress. characterized by increase in income dis- labour absorption has resulted in 6 v GOA UNIVERSITY NEWS BULLETIN

Workshop for Teachers on ‘Teaching ‘Gender Seminar on ‘Emerging Fields in Chemical Sci- The Centre for Women’s Studies, Goa The sessions of the second day be- ences' University, conducted a state level gan with an audio visual presentation Workshop for Teachers titled ‘Teach- by Prof. Anjali Monteiro (Centre for A Seminar on “Emerging fields in ing ‘Gender’: Contemporary De- Media & Communication, TISS, Chemical Sciences: Pharmaceutical/ bates’ in March 2010 to commemo- Mumbai) on the Use of Media/AV in diagnostic/drug delivery” was rate International Women’s Day, in col- Teaching Gender, followed by a session organised by Dept. of Chemistry as laboration with the ICSSR (Western on sharing experiences teaching gen- part of Silver Jubilee Year celebra- Regional Centre, Mumbai) and der related courses. The session was tions of Goa University. Dempo College of Commerce and chaired by Ms Shaila Desouza and Economics, Panaji. included presentations by Ms Anita The seminar was inaugurated by Prof. Haladi, Dr Annie Fernandes and Ms Dileep Deobagkar, VC, Goa Univer- At the inaugural session, Ms Lalitha Reyna Sequeira. This was followed by sity. Prof. K. S. Rane, Dean, FNS and Joshi, Director of BBA Studies at a panel discussion on Sexual Harass- coordinator of the seminar welcomed MES College, presented the Keynote ment at the Workplace and the the gathering. Prof. A.V. Salkar, Head, Address, which was followed by ad- Vishaka Judgment. The speakers were Dept. of Chemistry, presented a brief dress by the Chief Guest Ms Pallavi Dr Pramod Salgaonkar (former overview of the seminar. The semi- Dempo, Trustee of Dempo Chari- Chairperson, Goa State Commission nar was spread over six technical ses- ties Trust and the Chairpersons’ Ad- for Women), Adv Sandhya Ram (V. sions. Eminent experts in the field of dress by the Vice Chancellor, Goa M. Salgaocar College of Law) and pharmaceuticals were invited from in- University, Prof Dileep Deobagkar. Adv Albertina Almeida (Saad Angan). dustries in Goa and UICT, Mumbai, The inaugural session was followed while scientists in the field of nano- At the Valedictory function Ms. Smitha by a moving production of the play materials and hybrid materials were Kamat Bhandare presented a report ‘Katha Asturi’ by Ms Jyothi invited from Germany to deliver lec- on the proceedings of the workshop. Kunkolienkar and Ms Prashanti tures. The invited speakers included The Guest of Honour, Ms. Beena Talpankar of ‘Apurbai Chitra’. Prof. K. G. Akamanchi (UICT, Shantaram Naik, (Member, Goa State At the panel discussion on women’s Mumbai), Prof. Wolfgang Bensch, Commission for Women) spoke on issues in Goa chaired by Ms. Lalita University of Kiel, Germany, Prof. the Role of Teachers in bringing about Gen- Joshi, Ms Nirmala Sawant, former Norbert Stock, University of Kiel, der Equality and the Chief Guest, Ms. President, Goa Pradesh Congress Germany, Dr. Praveen Khullar, Senior Ezilda Sapeco (Chairperson, Goa Committee, spoke on Women in Poli- Director, Sanofi-Aventis, Goa, Dr. V. State Commission for Women) reit- tics and Ms Jyothi Dhond, Managing K. Naik, Managing Director, Tulip erated the importance of Director, Goa Doot, spoke on Women Diagnostics, Goa. mainstreaming gender sensitivity.. and Media. At this workshop, the inclusion of Prof. Akamanchi gave a keynote lec- The panel discussion on Crimes contemporary concerns into the cur- ture on “Development of synthetic Against Women was chaired by Ms rent gender related courses was de- methodologies and their applications Shaila Desouza and included presen- liberated upon. The aim of the work- in drug/intermediates”. Dr. V. K. tations by Sabina Martins (Member, shop was not only to contribute to Naik delivered a lecture on the ‘Role ‘Bailancho Saad’ and Convenor, the updating of the present curricu- of Chemistry in Human Diagnostics', GBA) on Crimes of Development, Ms lum but also to bring together teach- Prof.W. Bensch gave a talk on “Newer Anuja Prabhudessai (Former Law Sec- ers of gender related courses from Approaches towards Synthesis of retary, Govt. of Goa) on the Implica- all over Goa to discuss common is- Nano-particles”. Prof. Stock gave a tions of the Protection of Women from Do- sues and problems faced in teaching lecture on 'High-throughput Methods mestic Violence Act, 2005 and Adv these courses. This workshop was the for Systematic and Efficient Investi- Caroline Colasso (Member ‘Bailancho beginning of a partnership in teach- gation of Inorganic–Organic Hybrid Manch’) on the implementation of the ing and has initiated the development Compounds'. Dr. Khullar spoke on Act. This was followed by a lively dis- of a network of teachers ‘Teaching the topic “ Tapping opportunities in cussion on Psychology and Gender facili- Gender.’. pharmaceutical industries’. tated by Ms Shweta Naik Bankar. v v 7 GOA UNIVERSITY NEWS BULLETIN

Workshop on “Proxies Health Care and Educa- MOU signed between for Climate Change” tion: basic human rights DITC, GU, GSIA

The Department of Marine Sciences, Like most developing nations, Ven- Goa University has entered into a conducted a Workshop on “Proxies ezuela too faced a major problem in Memorandum of Understanding for Climate Change Studies” with a delivery of health care services to its (MoU) with Directorate of Industries, view to provide orientation to re- poor. However, an innovative Trade & Commerce (DITC), Goa searchers in concepts, skills and tech- healthcare programme called “Barrio University and Goa State Industries niques in the use of various proxies in Adentro” or “Inside the Association (GSIA) to set up bio in- climate change studies. Neighbourhood” has changed the face cubator at the University. The purpose of public health care delivery in that of the bio incubator is to provide an Study of climate models and recon- country, said Dr. Abhay Shukla, an opportunity to prospective entrepre- struction of significant climatic events eminent public health physician and neurs to develop, test and process their that occurred millions of years ago, health activist. ideas/projects at a laboratory level at temperature changes etc. is critical for Dr. Shukla delivered a lecture on reasonable cost. The bio incubator construction of future climatic sce- will provide laboratory space and narios. Researchers are involved in “Tackling Social Exclusion in Health, Education, Food Security: Learning equipped labs for entrepreneurs/ generating massive data which can be graduates to translate their reaserch utilized to reconstruct climate scenarios from Venezuelan Experience”, organised by Centre for the Study of ideas into commercialisable technolo- dating back to thousands of years. For gies as well as for upgradation of ex- this purpose, researchers need the ex- Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy (CSSEIP), Goa University. isting technologies technologies with- pertise to read correctly the paleo- cli- out risking huge investments on build- matic signature preserved in their data. In his illustrative presentation, Dr. ing and equipments. The week-long workshop was de- Shukla highlighted the innovative ap- signed to create this expertise among proach of “Barrio Adentro” under The facility is expected to benefit the researchers through valuable inputs which over 170000 Venezuelan youth small and medium scale enterprises in the study of flora and fauna, sedi- have been trained in a virtually (SMEs) and technocrats. The ready- ments, fossils, isotopes, pollens, insects, decentralised medical university to to-use facility is expected to expedite etc. as proxies of climate change. provide free medical aid to all needy the technology development process as it would reduce the time and capi- The workshop was attended by 21 citizens. The experience of Venezuela tal required for setting up of testing researchers from various parts of the in creating a large band of “people- facilities. country. Experts from NIO, Physical oriented doctors” provides important Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, policy lessons in a participative ap- The MoU, signed in February 2010 in NCAOR, Institute of Ocean Manage- proach to the delivery of health care the presence of the Chief Minister of ment, Anna University, Dept. of En- to the marginalized communities in Goa, shall be valid initially for a pe- vironmental Sciences, JNU, and Dept. other countries, Dr. Shukla said. riod of 5 years The bio incubator fa- of Marine Geology, Cochin Univer- Presenting an overview of the mea- cility will be set up on Goa University sity guided the participants with in- sures taken by Venezuela to promote campus and GU will provide neces- sightful sessions on paleoclimatic social inclusion in the areas of health, sary space, material, technical and hu- methods, quantitative paleoclimatic education and food security, Dr. Shukla man resources. DITC will provide reconstruction, geochemical and iso- stated that other developing countries the required financial assistance and topic proxies, river delta and climate could learn substantially from such GSIA will liaise with potential entre- change, processing techniques of ma- innovative programmes. He empha- preneurs graduates, educational insti- rine environmental samples, sized the need to establish a more tutions engaged in the field of bio- paleoclimate in mangroves in estua- egalitarian physician-patient relation- technology, corporation and industries rine environment, etc. The workshop ship and to end exclusion of engaged in biotechnology to was coordinated by Prof. G. N. marginalized sections of the popula- maximise the use of the bio-incuba- Nayak, and was supported by Minis- tion in the areas of health, education tor facilities in Goa. try of Earth Science, Govt. of India. and food. 8 Published by Publications Cell, Goa University, mail: [email protected]