Bengaluru is obsessed with technology, ignores science: Bharat Ratna CNR Rao

#Bengaluru :  India’s top scientist, Bharat Ratna CNR Rao has criticised a value system in Bengaluru, India’s technology hub that youngsters are more obsessed of making money through technology but ignore basic science that leads to technology developments.

“There is a value system problem in India; I know many of you are coming from Bengaluru. The value system changes can be seen in Bengaluru; as you know it is IT capital where young people are earning very good money, but they are not interested in science,” Rao, a former head of the scientific advisory council to the Prime Minister and Honorary President, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research.

“I’m looking for young boys and girls who have passion and who want to do science. Unfortunately there are too many normal people in Bengaluru, I want these crazy guys who want to do science. There are not enough crazy people….they are all the well dressed kind,”CNR  Rao said. “Unfortunately whenever we mention science, people will say science and technology, but there is something called science without adding technology.”

Bengaluru, home to the Indian Institute of Science is also called the science capital for the number of people who are involved in scientific pursuit. The city has over a dozen defence research labs, Indian space research organisation (Isro) and has a very active research community in aerospace, biotechnology and astronomy.

“They are not interested in intellectual exploration. What has happened is they have created a generation of young people whose ambition is to make money….”, said CNR  Rao. “….something kind of a social transformation has to happen.”

Bureau Report