Is ISRO's Mangalyaan, a misplaced priority!!!

When ISRO's PSLV C-25 rocket lifted the Mars Orbiter Spacecraft, Mangalyan from Sriharikota this week, it sparked a debate about its relevance and about timing of the launch. Media, particularly electronic media  jumped into this discussion and major arguments were about misplaced priorities in a poverty stricken country.  When India instituted Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) more than three decades back, probably situation was worse in terms of hunger and poverty than is now. INCOSPAR was set up under the visionary leadership of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai to develop India's Space Programmes in 1962 and this culminated in establishment of ISRO on the independence day in 1969. Space technologies are dual-use technologies as they are also used for development of Missiles and other modern equipment of warfare. Precisely due to this reason international cooperation and collaboration in terms of technology transfer is hard to come by. There are international treaties such as MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime), which prohibit participants to collaborate in dual use technologies. Russian cooperation was limited to launch of satellites and sometimes training of individuals. Further three decades after establishment are a story of triumph of human spirit in the face of insurmountable challenges. Scientists and technicians of ISRO toiled and Dr. Kalam's memoir "Wings of Fire" is a nice reminder of what it takes to move ahead in an era of scepticism and cynicism. Where ISRO is today, is a result of millions of man hours and vision and commitment of people like Dr. Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan, Dr. Kalam and several others.

Coming to the relevance of "Mangalyan" when NASA has clearly denied presence of any methane in the atmosphere of Mars, what purpose it would serve? PSLV is ISRO's workhorse and there have been several successful launches in the past but this is first inter-planetary mission which requires more sophistication in terms of technology, self-sufficiency of the launch-vehicle and other parameters. Presently International Space industry is worth more than USD 100 billions, though the percentage of satellite launches is relatively small but with a great potential to grow. Today, the leading countries in this arena are those who have invested heavily in the past in Space technologies and have developed substantial capabilities and credentials. India has moved ahead in this industry and the commercial arm of ISRO, Antrix is bringing business for ISRO for technology consultancy, launching satellites etc. ISRO has launched more than two dozen foreign satellites in the past and project like Mangalyan, help increase the credibility.

As to the question of dichotomy between Poverty alleviation and spending in advanced technologies, it isn't a question of either-or. We are faring badly in terms of HDI and other human development parameters though we are having a huge outlay in annual budget exercise for removing these disabilities. For example 33000 crores have been allocated for MNREGA alone in this year's budget and last year allocation was around 40,000 crores. Its a known fact that large chunk of fund remain unutilized and corruption is eating the roots of the nation. Social commentators and journalists have questioned the large amount of tax rebates given annually to the companies. A better tax-administration, curtailing the money laundering and generating resources in long-term by spending in education, healthcare and skill-development of millions can be a probable answer to our developmental challenges. Magnitude spent on R&D is significantly less when compared to tax-rebates or expenditure on social-sector schemes. On the contrary, we are slipping backwards in terms of R&D expenditure. We need to spend more to increase our capabilities.

So, Either spend on social sector or on space mission is not a right question. Rather what has been highlighted by former ISRO chief, G. Madhavan Nair that the mission fails to satisfy our ambitions in terms of technological progress. Space exploration in times of global economic uncertainties has brought nations closer towards cooperation that's why arch rival Russia and USA are helping each other in the development of International Space Station (ISS). But, rapid surge of China in the recent past is the other side of this space race. We were on equal footing or probably ahead 6-7 years back but as Nair says due to lack of vision from our side and a rapid progress from theirs has put us

                                                                      Photo credit: AP
on the back foot. We are still dependent on others to launch our heavier satellites (more than 2000 kg ), we have failed to develop GSLV, our manned space mission is nowhere in sight. If ISRO's mission is an attempt to cover these failures then spending 450-500 crores is absolutely unjustifiable. But, this seems less likely as testing of GSLV is in the pipeline for the year end. As far as comparison with China is concerned, we face a Catch-22 situation. Can we pump the money as freely and as effortlessly as China can, probably not. Because, again its not a either-or situation. We have to balance our social goals and scientific ambitions. But, the prime-time debate in the media  is oblivious to these issues, they are happy in discussing rather superficial aspects. One question i would also like to pose, why so much noise now? The mission was announced several years back, if they were really concerned about our country's perilous situation and our spending priorities, why don't question them when there is time to save. This postmortem activity makes me wonder whether its only another TRP gaining exercise by corporate owned media houses!!

News channels: desperate journalism, a malady!

From the genesis till this very instant, this form of media has always been clamant. Not for they are the fastest or they divulge nothing but the obvious; but because they titillate the sensory faculty. True journalism has almost lost its identification. It's all about boosting your TRP's and making monetary gains out of them. "John ki jaaneman", "Mahi re", “India ki Sharmnak har”, "Ranbir ki khushi ka raaz", etc are some of the most sought after headlines that these channels are using to make money by victimizing the obsession of common masses to know about these cynosures. When Amitabh Bachan got well after his illness, it was reported as his "re-birth" communicating it like second Easter after Jesus's.

It seems these channels are going through excruciation of news shortage. Ethical journalism has succumbed to Yellow Journalism. Paparazzi has suddenly become so important that they are even deciding the life and death of people, enacting "godlike"- Lady Diana rocketed her sedan just to avoid these so called "journalists" peeping into the glasses of her car and eventually met her fate. Another example of how yellow journalism affects the fate of a person is Arushi’s murder case where her father was wrongly accused by the media which ruined his professional career. There are several other cases which media blows up just for the sake of earning moolah.

I understand the need of sensationalizing the news from business perspective, as it attracts more eyeballs, but at the same time anti-social elements, too, can be beneficiary for the activities of these channels. The channels conflagrate the sentiments of people by broadcasting every trivial altercation innumerable times. Even a brawl of two kids from two different establishments will be broadcasted until unless that wrangling decimate the accord and resurface itself in the form of communal riots; journalism at its best.  

With full credit to some of the ethical journalists, the entire community acknowledges mind-boggling coverage of Middle-east crisis, Iraq war, Afghanistan, Kargil, etc. During natural calamities these channels have always put in a commendable effort. Even in current situation in Uttarakhand, journalists have done exceedingly well in propagating the extent of calamity. But such a journalism is limited to few journalists and they can merely be counted on our finger tips.

Journalism is regarded as one of the pillars of democracy. Both media and the audience have a joint responsibility of keeping journalism up to the mark. I 'm not belittling the achievements of these news channels but I am just trying to give them the word of caution and making them realize their responsibility towards society and human existence on the whole.