Modi to researchers: It’s time to lead

Mysuru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday came up with a new mantra for the Indian scientific community, and asked researchers to take the leadership position to usher in prosperity not only for the country but for the rest of the world as well.

 

“Our success spans from the core of a tiny atom to frontiers of space. We have enhanced food and health security and given hope for a better life to others in the world. The success of one-sixth of humanity will also mean a more prosperous and a sustainable future for the world. We can only do this with your leadership and support,” he told 12,000 odd scientists, while inaugurating the 103rd edition of Indian Science Congress here.

 

The Prime Minister said: “Impact of science will be most when scientists and technologists will keep principles of what I call Five Es at the centre of their enquiry and engineering. The five Es are Economy, Environment, Energy, Empathy and Equity. Economy is when we find cost effective and efficient solutions, environment – when our carbon footprint is lightest and its impact on ecology is least possible, energy – when our prosperity relies less on energy and energy we use to keep sky blue and earth green,” adding that empathy would be when efforts were in tune with one’s culture, circumstance and social challenges.

 

Mr Modi's mantra of five Es coincides with centenary of announcement of Dr Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity. “We must recall the humanism that defined Einstein’s thought – concern for man and his fate must always form the chief interest of all technical endeavours,” he said.

 

The Prime Minister said nothing could be a higher duty in public life or as private citizens to leave the planet in a better state for future generations, adding that all disciplines of science, technology and engineering should unite for the common cause.

 

Exhorting the scientific community to meet the people’s aspirations, he said the richness of the country’s tradition, consciousness of modern age and strength of the commitment to world should help it to choose the most sustainable path.

 

He assured scientists that his government would make it easier to carry out scientific research besides fostering greater scientific collaboration between central and state institutions and agencies as part of cooperative federalism.

 

Mr Modi also told scientists that rising challenges of rapid urbanisation must be addressed as it would be critical for a sustainable world. "Cities are the major engines of economic growth, employment opportunities and prosperity. But cities account for more than two-thirds of global energy demand and result in up to 80 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions," he said.

 

Mr Modi said better scientific tools must be developed to improve city planning with sensitivity to local ecology and heritage and affordable and practical solutions found for solid waste management.