26 Jan 2010
Where is our wave of imagination?
I am a proud Indian. Yet, sometimes when I look at the kind of innovation and creativity that’s happening in the US and the Europe (and lately, in China), I can’t help but wonder why India is lacking imagination – atleast in the technology field. Apart from getting frustrated, it makes me question our motivation, and whether we are just all too happy to be contended with what we have. Yes, we are one of the largest exporters of students to the USA, and our IT professionals are working for clients all over the world. But – the question I always ask is how innovative are we with regards to bringing breakthrough, cutting edge technology out to the masses? Now, I really have no idea how innovative our pioneering IT firms are within the corporate/enterprise world, but as far as the web or technology that directly affects the masses are concerned, we lag way behind the west – especially the USA.
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic” – Arthur C Clarke once said. I’m not asking for magic, we need more mavericks – those who confront our apathy, and inspire imagination. We need more start ups – not yet another software consultancy firm – but start-ups which build actual products that change the way people work. They need not be altruistic in nature (of course that would be splendid) – just show me a different perspective. Show me what could be done better.
Many people would say that research is what will drive innovation. But, I can tell you that that’s not true. Research and lack of funding for it has become an all too easy excuse for those who are happy to live in the world they have been given. I am not trashing the importance of research – but many great ideas that have been driving the technology outside India are technology we already possess. It’s not a failure in research – it’s just a failure in applying what we already know imaginatively.
Indians are characterized by the need for security and insurance. Most of us do not have the urge to take the step forward or will to choose differently. Research definitely contributes to innovation. But the fear of failure makes both research and innovation tough. You know very well, I guess, that this is not a one-field problem. For the simplest of things, mavericks are considered more as outlaws. To do something differently on a larger scale, to TRY to make things better, will always meet with disapproval in this country at the outset, and it takes lot more than money and ideas to pursue that attempt. Sadly, the ones who possess that EXTRA factor tend to leave India.
Yes, but somehow I feel that we should encourage this spontaneity in the little things, right from the grass roots level. It’s not something you can force people to get into in their mid life. For a large part of my school life, I was fortunate enough to be challenged by various teachers (and seniors) to think differently (more about that in another post I guess). School is the best place for that, next will be college, but once you are out of that, life gets a little too serious for everyone to go back to develop such risk taking attitude.
I believe u have seen 3 idiots. A schooling system of the sort the movie portrays wud do wonders for the world, let alone India