If India has 10 Abdul Kalams, we can nail R&D: Former DRDO scientist Ramarao
Bengaluru, May 11 (PTI): If India has 10 Abdul Kalams, we can really bring about a change in the way we approach research and development, said former DRDO scientist Prahlada Ramarao on Sunday.
Bengaluru-based Ramarao was part of the missile-building team put together by India's "Missile Man" and former President A P J Abdul Kalam.
The indigenous surface-to-air missile system, famously called Akash, that he and his team worked on for nearly 15 years, since 1983, is having its moment of glory, as it withstood the onslaught of Pakistani missiles and drones, especially on May 8 and 9.
"The biggest difficulty for India is that we are individually good, but cannot work together as a team. Kalam was very good at addressing this. He taught me how to bring the energy of individuals synergistically to achieve a purpose. That is why I feel, if we have 10 Kalams, India will truly lead," Ramarao told PTI.
Ramarao said he was only 34 years old when he was made the project director for the surface-to-air missile project, originally called SAM X and later renamed as Akash system.
"To make it happen, we had to make hardware, software prototypes, and then test it out. When it didn't work, go back, review the design, change the design and so it went on for two, three iterations. Only after 15 years, we could show that to the reluctant Army, who never really believed we could pull this off," he said.
The scientist said India is now in a better place, and the young scientists today are better equipped to arm India with indigenous innovations.
"I am sure if you want to make another missile system, it will take maybe five years because the foundation has been laid," Ramarao said.
He also pointed out that the capability of Indian manufacturers too has grown tremendously.
"Earlier, say around 1984-85, Indian industries were doing what is called build to print. Then we moved on to build to design and then build to concept. Now, Indian industries are so smart that they can build, if you just give a concept," he said.
Although he admitted that India has matured in the last 25 years when it comes to guided missiles and rockets, it still has a long way to go to claim absolute dominion in that.
Just as we improved, the technology capability of all our adversaries too have improved, he pointed out.
"I interact with a number of young students. They are highly competent and very, very ambitious. They want to do something different, something fantastic. All they need now is direction and support," Ramarao said.
The scientist said it is now up to the policymakers to harness this huge resource for the good of the country.
"We certainly need someone like Kalam, who managed to inspire a motley team like ours, young and inexperienced, to pull off the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, one of the India's ambitious projects that is serving India well even today," Ramarao said.
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Prime organiser of Messi event in Kolkata arrested over ‘mismanagement’ after stadium chaos
Kolkata (PTI): The police on Saturday arrested Satadru Datta, the prime organiser of the Lionel Messi football event at Salt Lake Stadium here, following widespread chaos at the venue, which prompted the Argentine World Cup-winning captain to leave the field early.
Taking suo motu cognisance of the stadium unrest, Datta was held by the Bidhannagar Police for “mismanagement” of the event from the Kolkata airport, where he had gone to see off Messi and his entourage on their way to Hyderabad.
"We are looking into whether there was any mismanagement from the organiser's side, which led to the chaos at the stadium. He has been detained, and the police have now brought the situation under control," West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar said at a press conference.
A senior police officer later confirmed that Dutta has been arrested. Till reports last received, the police were interrogating him and his manager inside one of the departure lounges of the airport.
The organiser has given in writing that he will refund the prices of tickets he sold to the disappointed spectators, Kumar said.
What was supposed to be a marquee football spectacle turned into widespread violence and disorder at the stadium after Messi’s brief and tightly ring-fenced appearance, his first at the venue since 2011, left large sections of the crowd frustrated, as they failed to catch a glimpse of their superstar despite having travelled from far and wide, paying hefty sums for tickets.
Police said they were also investigating how organisers allowed sale of bottled waters and beverages inside the stadium premises, which are banned items during such events.
Thousands of water bottles were used as missiles and lobbed inside the pitch by angry spectators, who also uprooted bucket seats from the gallery and used them as ammunition inside the field against the defending police and security personnel.
Spectators alleged that water bottles were being sold at a massive premium inside the stadium despite police disallowing such items from outside at the entry gates.
Police agreed there was an underlying tension in the galleries on account of Messi not showing his footballing skills on the field, which only got aggravated after a bunch of VIPs, including State Sports Minister Aroop Biswas and unidentified people, blocked the football icon’s view during the limited time he spent on the ground.
“We are on the job, and will ensure that whoever is responsible for what happened today at Salt Lake Stadium will be punished, and action will be taken against the authorities concerned,” said Jawed Shamim, ADG, Law and Order.
