Dr. VS Ramamurthy is a well known Indian nuclear scientist who has major contributions in basic research and science administration. Dr. Ramamurthy started his career in Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai in the year 1963 and has also served as Secretary of Department of Science and Technology. He was the Chairman of the IAEA Standing Advisory Group on Nuclear Applications. Padma Bhushan recipient Dr. Ramamurthy is presently working as the Director of National Institute of Advanced Studies. In an exclusive interview with India Education Review Dr. Ramamurthy explains his experiences in the field of science and research in India. Q. How does NIAS integrate the findings of scholarship in the natural and social sciences as well as technology?
Dr. VS Ramamurthy: Any technological change has its impact on the society and NIAS Mission has been formed to look at socio-economic implications of technology developments. Generally we evaluate that and hence we have both social scientists as well as technologists in our faculty and they look at it in a composite fashion.
Q. How far has NIAS been successful in conducting multi-disciplinary research in India?
Dr. VS Ramamurthy: Research is not done on a very large scale in NIAS because we do not have huge faculty strength. We have large number of training programs which involve faculties from the institution as well as from outside.
Q. What do you look for while selecting researchers at NIAS?
Dr. VS Ramamurthy: We have a standard procedure for recruitment. We consider the track record and the academic qualifications of the candidate. Holding a PhD and having some experience in research work is mandatory. So, qualification and experience are the two major parameters that count.
Q. NIAS programs are society-oriented. Do you think these programs also influence the policies made by the government?
Dr. VS Ramamurthy: It is difficult to single out individual instance but definitely we have made a significant contribution and it is up to the society that how much it absorbs.
I will quote an example of a study that we did on whether our Indian Standard Time (IST) should be redefined with respect to the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). In NorthEast India, the sun rises at 4:30 in morning and sets at 4:30 in evening, but our working hours are from 9 or 9:30 A.M. to 5:30 or 6 P.M. Hence people in the north-east end up using more electricity.
There has been a lot of discussions whether we should have two time zones - one for Eastern India and one for Western India. The idea is bound to create a confusion as our population is not completely educated and it also separates the country, though not physically but psychologically.
So, after conducting a study (funded by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency) on the electricity consumption across the country, it was concluded that instead of having two time zones it is sensible to have one time zone but it should be shifted half an hour towards the East. The move will save Rs 1000 crore per year. We have submitted our suggestions to the government and now it is up to the policy makers to take a decision on the findings.
Q. You have been associated with the Indian scientific space for a long time. What have been your experiences of working with various agencies and departments?
Dr. VS Ramamurthy: I am a scientist and I believe that post independence India has been a major player in scientific space. We have resource constraints but the quality of our human resource is no less than what you see elsewhere in the world. The research utility also depends on supporting environment in the country. For example in Silicon Valley, a large number of entrepreneurs are Indians who studied here but did not become entrepreneurs in India because our environment doesn’t encourage entrepreneurship much. These are constraints which are slowly opening up as now you see more and more entrepreneurs coming up in India. I personally feel that this is the best time for the scientific community in this country.
Q. What do you regard as one of yours most important achievement as a scientist?
Dr. VS Ramamurthy: I am an individual, a small nut in the whole system and if a nut believes that because of me everything runs; that is incorrect. I have spent almost 30 years in atomic energy commission and gave my everything to this organization.
Q. You have been at the helm of affairs in many important institutions in this country and were associated with IAEA, CSIR and you are also rated among the top scientists that India has produced. How does it feel?
Dr. VS Ramamurthy: I consider myself fortunate enough to closely interact with the scientific community in the country and to have got the opportunity to work in the system as well. With my experience of several years, I can confidently say that this country has immense potential. When I was heading the Atomic Energy Commission, I tried my best to help the system scale new heights. Now my successors will take things forward in the best manner possible.
Q. What would you suggest to the young researchers in India?
Dr. VS Ramamurthy: Research is a commitment, it is not a job. This is what I was told when I was young and this is the message I would like to give to the young researchers. I will strongly recommend young researchers to approach research like an intellectual challenge and they should take it.
To tell an interesting story when Edmund Hillary came back from Mount Everest, one guy asked him that why did he do that when there was no money in it? Hillary said that he loves climbing that’s why he did that, and I look at things in the same way.
I would like to understand things that are unexplored and research has to be like that. You may not make big money and it should not matter to you if you absolutely love your job. I love doing research and I would continue to do that.
