6th Pandit Deendayal Memorial Lecture (2015)

"Reinventing India as an Innovation Nation"

SoM was the coordinator of 6th Pandit Deendayal Memoral Lecture on 25th September, 2015 organized by PDPU. Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, FRS and Padma Vibhushan who is an Eminent Scientist, National Research Professor-NCL and President – Global Research Alliance delivered the 2015 memorial lecture -6th in the series.

Over 500 eminent personalities from different walks of life participated to listen to the memorial lecture delivered by Dr. Mashelkar.

While talking on the subject Reinventing India as an Innovation Nation, he spoke about the doctrine “integral humanism” developed by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay who had demonstrated innovative ideas in public life. He emphasised that Innovation is the key to accelerated inclusive growth and competitiveness. He spoke about the philosophy of "More from Less for More" (MLM) which India has achieved. He said that India is right at the top in Grassroots Innovation, Democratization of Innovation and where Innovation is by the People, for the People. India for him means 1.25 million minds. He highlighted innovative initiatives by several organizations and individuals.

He also spoke about India’s 3 freedoms, First the political freedom in 1947, Second the Trade and Economic freedom in 1991 and the third Technological freedom in 2008 (Indo-US Nuclear 123 Agreement). Dr. Mashelkar particularly emphasized about the changing landscape in the context of India’s 3 Freedoms: Indian Corporate Innovation Movement, Emergence as a Global R&D Platform, Indian MLM Innovation and India as a Start-up Nation.

Later he talked about the pleasure and pain of Indian innovations. Indian innovators do develop technology or bring out break-through researches, but the patent goes to the foreign countries which he felt is painful. He was concerned that Indian scientists and innovators are making money in other countries, but not in India.

He also mentioned that innovation is moving from periphery to centre stage in the corporate world as several companies have started setting up their innovation council or foundation.

In the beginning, Dr. Pramod Paliwal, Dean-School of Management, formerly known as School of Petroleum Management, introduced the event and contextualized the doctrine of Integral Humanism with the theme of innovation. Dr. Tanushri Banerjee, Associate Professor-SoM anchored a well-organized event.