As Chandrayaan launched into the sky, so did the hopes and dreams of 1.3 billion Indians~ dreams of emerging as a country that is advanced not only scientifically, but also otherwise, closing in on the heels of the nations that are conventionally considered to be world leaders in this regard. They hoped of being taken seriously as a probable global superpower in a world that looks up to the western world for guidance. The nation has experienced growth never seen before, for a country that is so comparatively nascent. Yet, India still suffers from many problems that define a third world nation.
The administration at almost every level has been known to sometimes hinder development for financial or social reasons, yet the unprecedented growth has put India in the spotlight. The point we are trying to make is that despite multiple impediments, India has managed to turn heads with the recent spurt of accolade-worthy scientific progress it has made, after quite a long-drawn period of noticeable activity on that front.
It’s not that the country has forever been “backwards” in this respect, so to speak. Before and during its colonization and the subsequent independence, the country has churned out multiple powerhouses of scientific thought and acumen, including Nobel Laureates. But sadly, India left most of that sheen and glory in the past, and forward into the present, perceptibly stripped of its scientific prowess. The country has some of the most important scientific discoveries under its belt. Jagadish Chandra Bose is credited for the discovery of plant life. Aryabhatta is said to have invented the zero. The Vedas tell stories of great scientific advancement. But what happened? Why is a country known for its discoveries about life now viewed as a third world country?
The country had always been a strategic stronghold, especially for trade. Spices and textiles were main exports, and of course, it drew colonial attention. India was slowly colonised by foreign powers. A growing caste discrimination system, oppressive colonial rulers and violence based on caste and creed have long held back the country from reaching heights. Western supremacy might be one of the main causes as well. But free India is growing at unprecedented rates and making giant strides in scientific development. India might as well catch up with the scientifically leading countries of the world, and it can potentially soon climb up the pedestal of progress, alongside leading countries like the US, Russia and China. But how?
Economically India is one of the fastest-growing nations in the world. We have made astounding progress in space as well with ISRO now considered a major space exploration organisation. Mangalyaan and Chandrayaan have all been big successes. Indian universities have also made amazing technological advancements. Corporate IT industries have also grown exponentially. But India still has problems with poverty and lack of infrastructure. But investment in housing projects and schools doesn’t seem to be much. However, the national budget has allotted 13,479 crore rupees for ISRO and space research this next financial year. The military budget of the country is 359000 crore rupees and the education budget is 99300 crore rupees. The budget also allows a substantial amount of money for income support for farmers.
But should India change up their budget allotment to instigate more development? Maybe. The coronavirus pandemic has left many out of work and the government hasn’t provided as much aid as needed. Still spending on defence keeps getting higher and higher. America uses a similar strategy. They invest millions of dollars into defence and military but invest only a fraction of that amount into healthcare or education. Although they make progress on scientific and humanitarian grounds, this model is unethical and impossible to implement in India as 70% of the 1.3 billion strong population depends on an agricultural lifestyle and, due to the unpredictability of the seasons, many are under the poverty line. A government cannot continue to ignore a gigantic chunk of the population in favour of the defence department. To overcome this problem, the country needs to create more jobs and more stable revenue for the millions in poverty, more schools so that the nation can grow as equals.
For a developing country with limited resources, India has done some arguably incredible things in space. ISRO, India’s flag-bearer for space research, has a record for launching the most satellites in the shortest interval of time. Yes, experts are indeed beginning to question the all-round viability of having too many artificial surveyor vessels and stations hovering up in space, and although too much junk out might turn out to be counterproductive, we can’t deny the effort that has to go into any research that can result in achieving such a feat. Satellites increase connectivity through the internet or give the underprivileged the resources to cope up with a digitally developing world. This is especially important since the world might have to adopt almost complete digitisation in the way things are run, right from online education to all forms of online services, thanks to the raging COVID 19 pandemic the world is currently and indefinitely suffering from.
But does India need so much money poured into their Defence? Not necessarily. Yes, there will always be outside threats but these differences might be put aside for the greater good, to solve problems diplomatically for the sake of progress. If just a fraction of the Defence budget was given to the cause of education and making it accessible to everyone in the country, we would have more potential than a lot of the countries in the world. This is the hour of need for us to aim for the stars. If we bet on the science wing of the nation, we could be propelled to new heights, the likes we’ve never dreamt of before. But for that to be feasible, there are several problems overwhelmingly present in our country that need to be addressed first. Because if we can’t support our citizens properly, we will face some (metaphorical) roadblocks on our way to the stars.
