Monthly Archives: November 2019

The disruptive power of disruption

Times require a very dispassionate analysis of the value of what the word means as a process

Till about 20 years ago, the word “disruption” evoked mixed responses at best and a deep sense of disapproval at worst. Gradually the environment began to change and disruption became a word of preferred choice for many. An increasingly large number were trying to use it, in context and out of context, hoping to cover themselves in a “revolutionary” aura. There were occasions when people would come around mouthing and flaunting “disruption.” It was tom-tommed by many that unless there was “disruption” it would be very difficult to improve things.

The point which was totally lost in this melee was that nothing can be debunked lock-stock and barrel. There were thinkers who saw this point and started talking of “selective disruption.” What was not quite clear was how this selection would take place. On what distinguishing trait would something be preserved or debunked? This was particularly the case with technology or more fundamentally, about methods of work.

In this vantage point of perception, one element was missing. The element could be termed “concurrent multilinearity.” Simultaneously, different eras can exist. Their concurrency does not take away the merit […]

By |2023-10-22T14:03:01+00:00November 25th, 2019|Columns, Contemporary|Comments Off on The disruptive power of disruption

Relating research to the country

The roots of R&D have to be Indian assumptions, environment-friendly methodologies and techniques which can work in the infrastructure available here

The quality of research by Indians is well recognised. It is equally true that path-breaking research in Indian institutions, in practically most domains of study, is few and far between. This includes science, technology, medicine, maritime studies and more. This poverty of range and depth is not always a factor of resources or autonomy. There are many factors which have contributed to it, not the least being the intellectual conditioning and orientation of an overwhelmingly large number of so-called ‘intellectual’ leaders. Oriented and bred in Anglo-Saxon scholastic traditions or traditions of US/Canadian Universities, these front line leaders have inherited a world view and academic orientation which they perpetuate through their choice of research themes and methodologies.

Most of the Central Government institutions with specific specialisation, such as science, technology, medicine and management are not short of money or talent. Yet somehow, the chemistry between the objectives of the institutions and the efforts of the personnel have not resulted in the alchemy, which makes for referable fundamental contribution to the chosen domain of knowledge. Nor does it, often enough, significantly, contribute to the […]

By |2020-12-25T03:50:25+00:00November 11th, 2019|Columns, Heritage & Indianess|0 Comments
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