Most of us try to categorise people on the basis of intellect
and undoubtedly we accord highest honour and respect to them. Scientists indeed
fall into one such group, obviously their high level of understanding,
technical know-how. Irrespective of the professional affiliations, everyone
have to work incessantly to flourish, progress and to make rapid strides.
Untiring efforts needless to say bring lot of recognition, reputation and other
extra benefits which motivates people to work. Personal success might sometimes
draw flaks in spite of earning the honour and the glory with sheer commitment
and dedication. But needless to say personal accomplishments bring along with
them the needed recognition and added advantage to the individual per se. But
when it comes to performing something for the country or society at large
people may not be rewarded immediately for their dedicated endeavour and the
fruits of their hard work may not be imminent. But the contentment, joy and the
feeling of achievement is beyond compare.
After watching the picture perfect
launch of the GSLV D5 rocket harbouring the indigenous cryogenic engine,
ineffable flux of emotions flushed my mind. Just as the rocket blasted off the
launch station, my mind was filled with exhilarating joy and fantasy. The
rocket was carrying not only the satellite aboard but also the spirits of
hundreds of scientists who have toiled relentlessly for the past two decades.
As it bolstered into the skies a sense of nervousness grappled the mind. Since
its trajectory in the space would largely determine the success of the entire
mission. Just as the entire scientist community was watching the trail of the
launch vehicle with clenched fists closely monitoring its flight parameters of
relative velocity, acceleration, altitude and azimuth every single second was a
moment of trepidation. The intense excitement and accelerated heart beats found
respite when the vehicle unleashed the satellite into its designated orbit and
even the solar panels of the satellite were deployed as expected. The initial
seventeen minutes following the blastoff were the moments of inexplicable
anticipation and gave goose bumps to everyone who closely monitored the launch.
The official congratulatory hand shake from the chairman of
the ISRO finally brought down the curtain on those frozen moments and filled
the control room with celebrations. The sense of achievement and fulfilment of
a long pending project was clearly reflected in faces of the scientists who
were elated.
In 1992 when developed countries of
the world have declared technology apartheid against India, Indian scientists
have silently vowed to develop the cryogenic technology. In this incredible
journey of developing the cryogenic engines, India has used all six of the
seven Russian cryogenic engines and one indigenously developed engine. ISRO
began its tryst with GSLV (Geo Synchronous Launch Vehicle) containing the
cryogenic engines in 2001. But unfortunately ISRO could register just three
successful launches. Now after undergoing the gruelling exercise of developing
the technology India could proudly flaunt its mastery in the cutting edge
technology. Cryogenic technology has been denied to India as the western world
thought India to be a potential threat to their business interests in the
emerging market of the global satellite launching.
The heightened fears of the West had
costed Indian Space programme dearly due to the numerous obstacles and delays
caused by the vested interests. The sabotage in the form of the dubious spying
case framed against the two expectionally brilliant scientists- in-charge Nambi
Narayanan and D. Sasi Kumar of the cryogenic programme in ISRO has delayed our
programme by 19 years. Apart from successfully ripping them off the
distinguished scientific career, the case has led to their unceremonious exit
from the organisation. Besides being labelled as spies the severe torment and
humiliation suffered by them is inexplicable. Thus the west tactfully averted
the success of project on the cryotechnology for the lack of the talented
personnel who could spear head the project. The fall out of this entire strategy still
continues and India was forced to shell out thousands of dollars to use the
European Space Agency (ESA)’s Ariane 5 rocket for deploying its communication
satellite weighing more than 2000 kg. In a recently concluded seminar in
Chennai former director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Institute Veeraraghavan
announced that for every one kg of pay load to be deployed into the
geostationary orbit 36,000 km above the equator ESA charges $20,000. Thus it
costs around 250 crore rupees just for launching a satellite apart from the
cost of building the satellite and transporting it. The cost of the current
GSLV project stands at Rs 370 crores.
The sabotage theory holds ground as
the book Russia in Space- A failed frontier written by the British space writer
Brian Harvey mentions about the plans of the imperilled nations and role of CIA
in blocking India from perfecting the cryo technology. Nations feared that
India’s progress might be detrimental to their prospects in the business of the
space technology and nuclear energy. Hence these scandals were witch crafted to
derail and delay the Indian technological missions which could otherwise lead
the nation into a sphere of self-reliance.
Further, the untimely deaths of the
two Indian giant space scientists –Homi Jehangir Bhabha, father of Indian
nuclear programme and Vikram Sarabhai in mysterious circumstances at very crucial
stages of technological advancements speaks of the larger international conspiracy.
Even the latest incidents of mysterious deaths of Indian nuclear scientists
which are largely downplayed, unreported and dismissed calls for a serious
intervention of Indian government in checkmating the malicious interests of the
vested interests. India has to shake off its callous attitude and has to
strongly condemn the unnatural deaths, kidnappings and alleged torture meted
out to its brilliant intellectual personnel.
As an ordinary citizen, the concerted efforts of the
scientists or the achievements of the nation in the world platform are the
moments of pride and honour. None of our personal glories can ever make us so
cherished or can fill the heart with pride as the resounding glory of national
advancement. Nation as a unit is the greatest binding factor which connects all
of us together as we can share the periods of glory with fervour. Blessed are
the individuals who could pledge for nation and commit themselves for the
progress of the nations which finally paves way for nation building as well.
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