Twenty satellites in one launch: how does India make breakthroughs in space

I am just returning from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota from where India injected twenty satellites in a single launch at an extremely low cost. While interacting with scientists, visitors from IITs and other top institutions,   and young engineers, I tried to understand their motivation for persistent excellence. I also wanted understand the roots of … Continue reading →

When ego evaporates, we come closer to ourselves..

How do we differentiate between self –respect and ego? This is a question I come across quite often among my students and colleagues? The dividing line is thin, but not very blurred. When the cause for which we work gets hurt because of our supposed hurt or annoyance, we are perhaps inflating ego. When we … Continue reading →

Are we ready to welcome good monsoon?

Reminders serve little purpose if the victims also resign to a kind of learned-helplessness. With the exception of a few private attempts to dig small tanks, there has been no campaign in the country to store rain water where it falls, that is, in situ conservation. Why has budgetary allocation for such a strategic goal … Continue reading →

Grassroots Innovation: Minds On the Margin Are Not Marginal Minds

A moral dilemma gripped Professor Gupta when he was invited by the Bangladeshi government to help restructure their agricultural sector in 1985. He noticed how the marginalized farmers were being paid poorly for their otherwise unmatched knowledge. The gross injustice of this constant imbalance led Professor Gupta to found what would turn into a resounding … Continue reading →

The politics of mismanaging drought

Last week, I looked at the problems that country is currently facing due to drought and the challenges, which are ahead of us once it rains.  I was reflecting on the reasons responsible for so much collective neglect.  It doesn’t matter which political party in power, the apathy for long-term drought mitigation persists.  The website … Continue reading →

Learning from a Healthy, happy and helpful culture: Goa Shodhyata – II

The drought has taken its toll in Goa as well.  There were many regions where people received water once in two days through the tankers.  One could see several dry wells and ponds.  The ones that had water were perhaps not adequately utilized.  While moving from south to north Goa, we also came across regions … Continue reading →