SPEECH
BY SHRI K.R. NARAYANAN, PRESIDENT OF INDIA, WHILE INAUGURATING THE NATIONAL
LASER SYMPOSIUM - 2000
NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2000
It is
a great pleasure for me to be here amongst the top scientists especially
the laser scientists, of the country. The last half-century has been witness
to a mind boggling growth of science and technology and mankind has benefited
enormously from this technological explosion in every walk of life. While
every one to-day is familiar with the dramatic growth of Information Technology,
there are some other very important technologies that will have a major
impact on our lives in the 21st century. ‘LASERS’ is one such
area that is emerging as one of the most potent technologies for the future.
I am therefore delighted to be present at the National Laser Symposium,
at this prestigious Laser laboratory ‘LASTEC’ at the Metcalfe House complex.
My greetings to you all.
The use
of lasers, it has been said, is restricted only by imagination. It was
the imagination and vision of our first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru
and the pioneering scientific leaders like Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai
that ushered the country into the modern age of science. Indeed, science
has been the central factor in the development of India after independence
-- science applied to the task of improving the economic and social conditions
of the people.
Laser,
when it was invented forty years ago, was described as an ‘Invention in
Search of Applications’ and it is fascinating to find that after all these
years, it is continuing to still search for newer and newer applications.
For the common man, introduction of Laser technology for medical diagnostics
and treatment has been most rewarding. Whether it is eye treatment or
painless surgery or treatment of skin disorders, the simplicity and effectiveness
of Laser treatment has almost magical qualities. New areas of bio-stimulation
with Laser are opening up new possibilities of pain relief with no side
effects at a very affordable cost. I am delighted to note that our own
Laser expertise has been already converted for medical applications at
each of the two premier Laser institutions in the country. I was very
happy to know that Laser surgical equipment developed by CAT (Centre for
Advance Technology), Indore is being successfully used in many hospitals,
and the Eye Laser ‘Drishti’ developed by LASTEC is being produced and
marketed by Bharat Electronics, Pune. I am confident that the Laser scientists
and technologists gathered here to-day will offer many more applications
of Laser for the benefit of the common man in India.
I am
very impressed to note that this symposium is sponsored by the Department
of Atomic Energy and is organized by LASTEC of Defence Research &
Development Department. The Indian Laser Association is the third partner.
Such close coordination among the S&T departments and agencies is
very reassuring, and I must congratulate the organizers for this tremendous
demonstration of cooperation among the Laser scientists of the country.
Reading
about Laser technology, it is very fascinating to realize that this technology
that seems to combine the best in Optics with the best in Electronics,
has such a vast array of application potentials. For the Atomic Energy
department, Laser may provide the ultimate solution to the energy needs
of mankind through controlled Thermo Nuclear reactions without the need
for nuclear fission explosion. One reads about the ambitious National
Ignition Facility in America and hopes that India will not lag very far
behind at least in technology terms. The Techno-Economics impact of such
break-through possibilities need mature appreciation and constant focus.
For purposes
of defence, lasers have played a part in military history. In the Ramayana
war we read of weapons of light having been used. We also read of concentrated
beam light having been used for military purposes in history. When the
Romans were threatening to attack Greek City State Syracuse, its King
Hieron requested Archimedes to develop some new weapons. Seeing the Roman
Naval fleet on the Greek coasts, Archimedes is said to have assured the
King that he would be able to destroy them. "By what means?"
asked the King. "By means of burning mirrors", replied Archimedes.
The King thought probably either Archimedes was bluffing or lost his mental
balance. But at the appropriate time Archimedes is said to have turned
concave mirrors, which reflected the rays of the Sun, at the ships. The
intense sun rays burnt the fleet, incapacitating the invading armada.
On seeing the devastation inflicted by Archimedes, the Commander of the
Roman fleet said, "Let us stop fighting this geometrical monster,
who uses our ships like cups to ladle water from the sea and has whipped
our most efficient engines and driven them off in disgrace and with the
uncanny jugglery of his mind, has outrivalled the exploits of the hundred-handed
giants of mythology". LASERS have been celebrated in science fiction.
H.G. Wells in his book The War of the Worlds talked about the use of intense
beam of heat by Martians with the help of polished parabolic mirrors.
In modern defence lasers, provide for precise weapon delivery in situation
of war.
In spite
of repeated references to concentrated rays of light as weapons in scientific
fiction, LASERS are not death rays. It seems that LASERS are not effective
weapons in their own right, although they have been used to target or
guide weapons.
Lasers
also appear to offer attractive new options of Electro Optical Counter
Measures (EOCM) for low intensity conflicts such as counter-insurgency
operations. Also the emerging Directed Energy applications of High Power
Lasers for missile defence may provide new deterrence capabilities of
this new technology that could well influence the world power balance
equations of the future. It is very important that in India, we pursue
this critical technology with high degree of commitment to ‘Self Reliance’
as far as possible. This should be a national level programme involving
co-ordination of all available expertise and resources.
In the
more advanced countries, one notices wide applications of Lasers in every
walk of life, like the bar-code reader in the super market or the Laser
machines in the automotive or aerospace industry. Somehow, in India, one
is yet to witness any significant use of Lasers except in medical field
and the common Laser pointer for presentations. But I find even here,
most of these common Lasers are still imported. To some extent this is
understandable because being a developing nation for the past 50 years,
we may have started a little late and that too with sub-optimal resources.
But now, as we enter the new century, we must be able to prioritise our
technology options and focus on critical technologies like the Laser technology.
Here too we must recognize the areas that are most relevant to our country
and combine all indigenous expertise available to quickly bridge the technology
gaps and become internationally competitive. Successful economies like
China seem to have effectively harnessed the Opto-Electronics technologies
for Nation building in just the past decade. We in India should not be
lagging behind very much. Effective infusion of modern technology in every
walk of life should be a national mission for the next 10 years.
I understand
that Laser technology in a Radar-like mode has interesting applications
to environmental monitoring, pollution control and even remote sensing.
These are very important application areas for international level cooperation.
Some other novel applications of high power Lasers for possible nuclear
waste clean-up or oil-spill clean-up can prove very significant for the
future. Similarly, potential future applications like remote powering
of satellites can revolutionise the space environment. These are areas
where Indian scientists must soon reach world-class level of proficiency,
so that India can be an international player in such technologies of global
impact.
But first
of all it is important to build a technology base in the country for the
basic materials and components needed for Laser technology. For this,
close cooperation between the University researchers, R&D scientists
and the industry is very important. A well thought-out long term plan
is a must for sustained efforts to achieve such difficult objectives.
I am sure that the forums such as this national symposium will provide
the ideal platform for such integrated national planning. I am also very
happy to note that this symposium includes the participation of the industry
partners in the form of an exhibition of Laser products. Laser is known
for its Coherence qualities and I am very delighted to note this particular
Coherence among the Laser community in the country.
I understand
that during this three-day symposium, about 200 technical papers will
be discussed and several eminent scientists will review the status of
Laser technology through invited talks. I must confess that it is an emotional
moment for me to see this large august gathering of gray hairs and bright
eyes in this frontier area of technology and I feel optimistic about the
future of Indian science. I have very high confidence in our scientific
talent and the enterprising abilities of our people. Symposiums such as
this are very vital for uniting the individual level qualities in to national
level capabilities. I congratulate the organizers for their commendable
effort particularly LASTEC for the pioneering work it is doing. I am delighted
to inaugurate the National Laser Symposium-2000 to-day. I wish every one
here the success that you richly deserve and offer my best wishes for
Laser Science & Technology in this new century.
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