Great innovations should benefit masses: Prof Mashelkar

Staff Reporter

“Gandhian engineering could be India’s greatest gift to the world in the 21st century. Mahatma Gandhi had said, great innovations with limited resources should benefit all, not just a few in the country,” said Padma Vibhushan Prof Raghunath Mashelkar, FRS, former Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and President of Indian National Science Academy (INSA) here on Wednesday. Prof Mashelkar made this statement during the prestigious Prof V G Bhide Memorial annual lecture conducted by Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) and members of Bhide family at Multi Activity Centre, VNIT. Dr Pramod Padole, Director, VNIT, presided over the event. Prof Mashelkar was the chief guest and keynote speaker of the lecture on the topic, ‘Gandhian Engineering: More from Less for More.’ Explaining the concept, the Padma Bhushan recipient said, “Engineers and researchers in India should work out and make products for those who can’t afford the costly technologies.

They should make products not just at ‘low cost but ultra-low cost’ without any compromise with quality or its utility and it should have the same level of performance as of western competitors.” Today, the industrial enterprises strive for getting ‘more from less for more’. What did it mean? That meant getting more (performance) from less (resource) for more (profit). But Gandhian Engineering has a different message. It means getting more (performance) from less (resource) for more (people), not just for more (profit), explained the renowned Chemical Engineer before the august gathering, explained Mashelkar. Getting More from Less for More (MLM) should became the mantra that I repeat every time, he added. Also explaining the MLM concept, Prof Mashelkar said, “For instance, Can we make a Hepatitis-B vaccine costing $20 per dose available at 40 cents per dose? Can we make a prosthetic limb costing $10,000 available at $30? Can we make a comfortable, safe and fuel efficient car available, not at $20,000, but at $2,000? All these sound impossible. But all these have been made possible. And that too, in India.” “MLM can also be achieved by more and more participants in the innovation process. We have to think that how do we move from national laboratories’ to nation as a laboratory? Institutions should encourage and imbibe the culture of Gandhian Engineering among students to benefit masses. Gandhian Engineering is all about creating a more equitable society with affordability and sustainability,” added Prof Mashelkar.

At the onset, Prof Mashelkar appreciated the work of Prof V G Bhide. He said, “Prof Bhide was a great visionary and a leader. Individuals go but institutions remain. Prof Bhide contributed to build many scientific institutions in the country which will remain for centuries.” Before the start of the programme, Dr Vidula Kapre, daughter of Prof V G Bhide, presented a memento to Prof Mashelkar. Dr Pramod Padole, in his presidential address, gave a brief introduction of Prof Mashelkar and his efforts in development of science and technology. Dr V K Deshpande, ex-Professor, VNIT gave the introductory remarks and welcomed the guests. Dr Rashmi Uddanwadekar, Associate Professor, VNIT, also shared the dais. Members of Bhide family were specially present at the event. A large number of professors, researchers and students also were part of the august gathering. Dr Gauri Kapre-Vaidya conducted the proceedings while Dr Vidula Kapre proposed a vote of thanks.