Indian Innovation: from Ghandi to Gandhian Engineering - Leading scientific innovator presents at MSA

25 September 2008

From the left: Prof Simon Adams, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor: International, Dr Ramesh Mashelkar, President of the Global Research Alliance and Prof Peter Schelluch, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor: Academic, Monash South Africa.

During his 20th visit to South Africa, Dr Ramesh Mashelkar, President of the Global Research Alliance and one of the world's leading scientific innovators, recently delivered a lecture at Monash South Africa entitled:  "Indian Innovation - from Ghandi to Gandhian Engineering". Dr Mashelkar was in South Africa to deliver a keynote address at a conference on science and technology parks.

He described innovation as: “Doing things differently, making a big difference and making the impossible possible. The challenge for scientific innovators is to produce innovations that include the excluded,” he said and quoted Ghandi who said: “I would praise every invention of science made for the benefit of all.”

“Technology for the poor should be available, affordable and accessible,” said Dr Mashelkar. “The engineering challenge is to find ways to get more from less.”

He highlighted some examples of recent Indian innovations such as: the EKA – the world’s fourth fastest computer; the Tata Nano car which is already in production and is expected to retail at only $2 000; a prosthetic foot which sells for $28; a $100 mini computer and the use of wind-up technology (the concept of which was developed in South Africa) which is being used in areas without electricity.

Mashelkar also discussed research collaboration that is taking place between modern medical science and traditional medicine in which traditional medicine is being scientifically validated with the aim of producing low-cost medication.

In response to the need to increase literacy levels in a country with 200 000 million illiterates, a computer-based functional literacy programme has been developed in which an illiterate person can start reading in as little as six to eight weeks.

Dr Mashelkar described the challenge for Indian innovators as being: “To look toward the stars while keeping feet on the ground as well as to combine innovation with compassion and passion.”

“We are really privileged to have someone of Dr Mashelkar’s stature to come and present at our campus,” said Professor Simon Adams Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor, International at Monash South Africa.  “It is an example of how our staff and students benefit from the links established as a result of the international nature of Monash University.”

In 1997, Business India named Dr Mashelkar as being among the 50 path-breakers in the post-Independence India.  In 1998, he was the first scientist to win the JRD Tata Corporate Leadership Award.

In 2005, he received the Business Week (USA) award of 'Stars of Asia' from George Bush (Sr.), the former US President.

Dr Mashelkar was formerly the Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the largest chain of publicly funded industrial research and development institutions in the world, with thirty-eight laboratories and about 20,000 employees.

He is presently the President of Indian National Science Academy (INSA). He is the third Indian engineer to have been elected as Fellow of Royal Society (FRS), London in the twentieth century.

Twenty-five universities have honoured him with honorary doctorates. These include Universities of London, Salford, Pretoria, Wisconsin and Delhi.

The President of India honoured Dr Mashelkar with Padmashri (1991) and with Padmabhushan (2000), which are two of the highest civilian honours, in recognition of his contribution to nation building.