This presentation explore the impact of the Indian culture on research productivity and innovation. It also examines how does the culture work to impact research and innovation
Impact of Indian culture onresearch productivity and innovation
1. Impact of Indian Culture
on Research Productivity
and Innovation
ANUP K SINGH, PHD
2. Historical Roots
India produced some of the best mathematician minds in the world
She is credited with the invention of zero and decimal system
Arabs came and spread the mathematical knowledge produced in India worldwide
For several centuries, there was no focus on knowledge and scientific rationality
During the 200 years of the British raj, there were hardly any research institutions of repute
The British education was more driven to create employees than to produce scholars
and scientists
Rich Indians, who went to England for higher education, studied law, humanities and
social sciences and not science and technology
Philosophical approach rather than critical approach on reality dominated Indian
scholars
3. Contd…
Lack of scientific training and temper post-independence in spite of efforts put by late Prime
Minster Jawahar Lal Nehru
Several centres of excellence were created in the 50s and 60s
Focus on mission-based research; little emphasis on university research
IISc, TIFR and a few IITs stressed on mission-based research
IITs, IIMs and CISR institutes did not strongly focus on doctoral training
Most state universities were politicised and affiliating; they at best focussed on teaching
Low quality universities have created a massive racket of fake PhD degree
Obtaining of university doctoral degree is influenced by so many non-academic factors
Industry spend on Research and Development has been low
We have been far from the knowledge economy
We have had accentuated crony capitalism and feudal capitalism
4. Post-Independence Industry and R&D
Indian entrepreneurship was more driven by profit motif than by innovation
Big Indian industries made money, using crony capitalism
They did not compete on the basis of research and innovation
Most promoters were not technocrats. Those who had technical background
hardly used research and innovation for enhancing competitiveness
Dominance of the industry by business families prevented research orientation;
they engaged in tested businesses and avoided research and innovation
There is a yawning gap between the industry and universities
An eco-system to develop and protect intellectual capital is feeble
5. Indians in the US
In the 60s, a large number of Indians trained in IITs, IIMs and other centres
of excellence went for higher education in the US
Many of them opted for research careers in the Universities and R&D
departments
In general, they excelled as scientists. They benefitted from the
knowledge economy ecosystem of the United States
They could combine the best of India and the US
Later in the 90s, many IT professionals excelled as entrepreneurs and
innovators
However, the same impact is yet to be felt in India
6. Child Rearing Practices
Discouragement to asking questions by children
Greater emphasis on traditional belief system than on critical thinking
Lesser focus on the development of independence and independent
thinking
Rote learning still prevalent
Learning by doing is conspicuous by its absence
More cultural tilt on harmony with nature than on the control of nature
7. Schooling and Research
A large population of young people are deprived of primary education
Governmental focus on quantity than on quality of primary education
Poor literary and numerical achievement by students
Impoverished labs
Emphasis on rote learning
Use of ICT is abysmal
Teachers themselves lack scientific mind-set
8. Higher Education System
Poor GER ratio compared to China, Brazil and Russia
Research is less emphasised in undergraduate programmes
Communication skills for scientific writing not emphasised
English language skills are less developed among scientists.
Labs for post graduate programmes in most institutions are insufficiently equipped
Lack of trained researchers at PG level
PhD work is more for degree than for knowledge generation
Plagiarism and malpractices in research are rampant
Training at PhD level is insufficient
Research eco-system in institutions is abysmal
9. Dominant Values of Indian Culture
High power distance and dependency
High obedience to and dependence on authority and teachers
Preference of equality over excellence
Low on the values of experimentation, openness, authenticity and
confrontation
More emphasis on ‘argumentation’ than on ‘observation’
Greater stress on individualism, even at the cost of professional
collaboration
Soft approach to science and scientific inquiry
10. Consequences for Research Culture
Under playing of empirical knowledge and scientific approach to manage the
problems of life
Scant availability of research leaders
Weak collegiality in institutions
Low inter-disciplinary, and team-based research work
Low communication among students and scholars
Sometimes quality is compromised in the conduct of experimentation and
other studies
Lack of rigour in the conduct of research and publications
Low relevance due to poor connectivity with the industry
Less emphasis on publishing and patenting