GUWAHATI, May 27 � Union Minister of Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh today raised questions about the evidence of scientific temper vis-�-vis work done in the country�s foremost intellectual institutions such as the IITs.
Speaking as the chief guest in the annual convocation of IIT Guwahati, Ramesh referred extensively to words and ideas of Jawaharlal Nehru, and pointed out the breach between Nehru�s vision and the institutions which he helped create.
�To Nehru, of course, scientific temper was something to be inculcated in society at large. But why take society? Just have a look at our institutions of higher learning � our IITs, our universities, our numerous research laboratories � and ask yourself the question � where are they in relation to the inculcation of the scientific temper?�
Addressing the graduating students, Ramesh said, �Try and imbibe the spirit of Nehru�s scientific temper in whatever you do,� and added that the essence of Nehru�s grasp on scientific temper was - a questioning mind, pushing the limits, not getting encumbered or structured by narrow limited concerns, not afraid to be inconsistent with changing facts and circumstances�
Significantly, Ramesh reminded students about the background to the establishment of IIT Guwahati, and urged the passouts to do something for the region and act as harbingers of a transformed Northeast.
Congratulating the students, Chairman of the Board of Governors, RP Singh drew their attention to the fact that in technological readiness India was still lagging behind even though the country possessed a large pool of scientists and engineers. In his view, the role for the young scientists and technocrats is cut out to fuel the Indian growth story in a sustainable manner.
�A good way to begin the journey of sustaining growth of the nation is to make rapid progress in R & D activities. We must realize the needs of our future and tune our research work towards achieving them,� he said.
Presenting the Director�s Report, Gautam Barua revealed the present status of the institution and also the growth opportunities for the future. He stated that in the 13 th convocation BTech, BDes, M Tech, M Des, MSc, MA and PhD degrees would be awarded to 737 students. He extended his congratulations to all the successful candidates.
On the placement front, he informed that in the year 2010-11 a total of 104 companies from various sectors participated in the recruitment process. The highest package offered to a BTech student was 20 lakh per annum and the average package was in the region of Rs 7.40 lakh.
