DR APJ Abdul Kalam: Interfaces
DR APJ Abdul Kalam: Interfaces
DR APJ Abdul Kalam: Interfaces
N
eharika Vohra — Dr Kalam, our interest is in looking at the role of tech-
nology in the overall developmental context. In the current economic sce-
nario, what are your thoughts on the role of technology? On the one hand,
even after fifty years of independence, while we still do not have enough water,
roads, food, and education for our people, on the other hand, we are spending large
amounts on technology. Is this the best way to apportion our public spending?
Abdul Kalam — Yes, indeed. Technology is important for the all-round develop-
ment of any country—in fact, technology needed for sustainable development has
to be given the highest priority. However, the current economic situation needs a
new thinking. When the world market is under difficulty, particularly in terms of
purchasing power, India faces the challenge of activating the development of 6,00,000
villages. PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) can facilitate three kinds
of connectivity—physical, electronic, and knowledge—which together will enhance
the economic connectivity for the cluster and generate large scale employment.
62 INTERVIEW
Abdul Kalam — Even if there are cles have been developed, space
roads, there may not be cars to ply Chandrayaan is a crafts have been developed, techno-
on them. One can say, why should combination of logy to launch communication satel-
we travel by car? The issue is not to lites and remote sensing satellites,
have either this or that. We need both.
technological excellence, have been developed.
If you look at the budget allocation, creative leadership, and a
It was the vision of the great Vikram
it is only Rs 4,000 crore for space pro- lot of experience. There Sarabhai, supported by Jawaharlal
grammes, whereas it is about Rs
has been a planned and Nehru and Homi Bhabha, which
60,000 crore for rural development.
systematic development of gave us the opportunity to work on
So, what is important is to bring
the space programme. The pro-
about a change in the approach. IIMs technology—launch
gramme was aimed at carrying de-
should offer a management solution vehicles have been velopmental messages to the homes
to the government so that the entire
developed, space crafts all over the country, especially in the
60,000 crore is appropriately spent.
6 lakh villages, by leap-frogging
have been developed,
Neharika Vohra — How can we help many traditional routes. The pro-
the science talent of India remain in technology to launch gramme also aimed at surveying the
India to contribute to the Indian communication satellites natural resources of the country so
economy? and remote sensing that they could be harnessed to ben-
efit our people. Many in India must
Abdul Kalam — In a globalized satellites, have been have considered these objectives an
economy, people have to move from developed. unattainable dream in the early ’60s
one corner to another. Instead of for-
when the space programme was
cibly retaining talent in the country,
born. We, however, along with many
India should actually facilitate scientists and technolo-
of our colleagues, saw these aims as a vision, real and
gists from the developed countries to come and work in
attainable. What followed was a shared mission. Every
our laboratories.
person in ISRO believes that they are born to realize all
Venkata Rao — You have already mentioned about the that space technology can offer to the country and its
strides that we have made in space research and other people.
areas. In the context of the recent excitement about
Venkata Rao — Can you elaborate on creative leader-
Chandrayaan, my question is an obvious one. With your
ship? Coming from the field of management, we would
close association and long experience in that area, in your
like to know a little more about it.
assessment, what are the reasons for the success of
Chandrayaan? We hear that everything has gone as per Abdul Kalam — A creative leader generally has certain
schedule. Even the riskiest of the manoeuvres were per- unique characteristics. He is a visionary; he is coura-
fect and all that has been achieved at a reasonably low geous, not afraid of failures; and he knows how to man-
cost. What is your assessment of the age success and failure. As an example,
project? If it has done very well, what when Dr. Vikram Sarabhai started
A creative leader generally
do you think are the reasons for its IIM, nobody knew why such an in-
success? has certain unique stitute was required. He was the per-
characteristics. He is a son to have started the Indian Space
Abdul Kalam — Chandrayaan is a
Research Organization. He was a
combination of technological excel- visionary; he is
creative leader with a vision.
lence, creative leadership, and a lot courageous, not afraid of
of experience. The ISRO (Indian Venkata Rao — Can you tell us spe-
failures; and he knows
Space Research Organization) pro- cifically what kind of leadership has
gramme started in 1963. There has how to manage success gone as an input into the
been a planned and systematic devel- and failure. Chandrayaan Project?
opment of technology—launch vehi-
64 INTERVIEW
tegic importance of Earth, Moon, and that? Or am I even right in saying
Mars? There is nothing wrong in this?
Venkata Rao — Now, deviating from the Moon Mis- The only point I want to make is that the way we go
sion, can you throw some light on the strategic implica- abroad, the foreign scholars, scientists, and students
tions of India signing the Non-Proliferation Treaty should also come and study here. That would be true
(NPT)? globalization. For globalization, one of the management
principles is to be competitive. How does competitive-
Abdul Kalam — In NPT, India is not a signatory. With ness come? The developed nations remain competitive
respect to India-US nuclear pact, India has a certain by producing quality products in a cost-effective man-
number of uranium-based nuclear reactors. Secondly, ner and making it available in the market at the right
India does not have an adequate uranium reserve while time. The developing countries are also doing it. In fact,
it has the second largest reserve in thorium. But tho- Indians have started industries abroad. The second larg-
rium is not a fissile material; it has to be transformed est industry in the UK is started by Indians.
into one. Nuclear scientists have developed many tech-
nologies including fast breeder reactors. However, it may Neharika Vohra — The point that I want to make is:
take a decade for India to have a thorium-based nuclear Why is it that while a project is underway in India, e.g.,
power plant. Till then, we will have to power the ura- when a bridge or a metro is being constructed such as
nium-based nuclear reactor. The pact the one in Bangalore right now, the
will facilitate India to buy uranium whole area is in an absolute mess
from other countries. We don’t have an while in countries like Singapore, one
appropriate research does not even realize that such a large
Neharika Vohra — Another impor-
tant issue is that while we have a lot
environment either in the project is underway?
of science talent, they don’t seem to R & D labs, science labs, Abdul Kalam — Singapore does not
be working for us. They work for labs have anything of its own. As far as
or in the management
all across the world, which may be India is concerned, you may be see-
institutes. Overall, the ing the negative side of the story. In
accepted considering that science is
not the property of a single country. research content is very Bangalore, metro system manage-
But since we train them, we feel that low in our country. One ment is working. There is nothing
we don’t seem to be getting any ad- wrong in buying technology from
solution is: Start valuing elsewhere. You should not reinvent
vantage of the talent that actually be-
longs to us. So, what do we do about science and research. the wheel. Technology which is not
available has to be developed. If we
vited to come to Rashtrapati Bhawan move each time—whether evolved a management system for
meeting the needs of failure and suc-
on January 23, to receive the coveted it was SLV3 or Agni or cess of programmes. Management
Award. Sir C V Raman wrote back to
nuclear weaponization. schools of India should evolve na-
the President thanking him for the
wonderful offer, however regreting For Presidency, a tradition tional techno-logy management sys-
tem.
his inability to attend the ceremony. was already set—I was the
The reason for not accepting the in- XIth President. I accepted Venkata Rao — What has helped you
vitation was that he was guiding a as a researcher at a personal level and
Ph.D. scholar, whose thesis was to be
the Presidential offer
also at the organizational level?
seen thoroughly and approved be- because I thought I would
fore his submission deadline on Janu- Abdul Kalam — Personally, I ben-
be able to market the
ary 31. That was the level of dedica- efited from working with three great
tion to the cause of research!
2020 Vision—to transform human beings—A visionary, Prof
India into an Vikram Sarabhai; a technological
In fact, both for the scientist and the leader, Prof Satish Dhawan; and the
management leader, an appropriate
economically developed
founder of the nuclear fuels centre
culture is very important. And that nation by the year 2020. (NFC), Prof Brahma Prakash, who
would be possible only when senior taught me management in nobility. I
66 INTERVIEW
was fortunate to have the guidance released by the Prime Minister on
of this rare combination. A developed India by August 2, 1996, we had numerous op-
2020 or even earlier is not portunities to interact with many oth-
Venkata Rao — Finally, we would
ers about a vision for India. We had
want to know the key similarities and a dream. It need not even the benefit of various inputs ranging
differences between being a Project be a mere aspiration in the from encouraging suggestions for
Manager in a scientific organization
minds of many Indians. It specifications to pessimistic com-
and being the President of India.
ments about the inability of systems
is a mission we can all
Abdul Kalam — As Project Manager to act on anything focused and long
or Project Director, my task was to
take up and accomplish. term. We travelled widely to interact
handle a new mission, a new project, with different sections of people in
and take a pioneering move each time—whether it was variegated parts of the country and
SLV3 or Agni or nuclear weaponization. For Presidency, also reflected on the imperatives for India in a changing
a tradition was already set—I was the XIth President. I world.
accepted the Presidential offer because I thought I would
Venkata Rao — Are you really satisfied that you ac-
be able to market the 2020 Vision—to transform India
complished the objective of marketing the 2020 Vision?
into an economically developed nation by the year 2020.
I was in a position to do certain innovations, e.g., PURA Abdul Kalam — Yes, we have been doing our part of
for rural development. In all my actions, there was an marketing. While we are proud and happy that the
integrated approach—connectivity of multiple govern- dreams of many Indians in the agricultural, scientific,
ment departments, states, industry, agriculture, and cultural, and social fields have come true, the vision of a
service sector. That revealed the advantages and the prosperous India without poverty, an India strong in
problems. trade and commerce, and in many fields of science and
technology, an India with innovative industries and with
Venkata Rao — Was this 2020 Vision your own?
health and education for all, has remained just partially
Abdul Kalam — India 2020 Vision cannot be the vision realized. Moreover, I feel, the GDP growth should be at
of one individual. It so happened that I was the Chair- least 10 per cent, which at present is 7.5 per cent. If we
man of the Technology Information maintain a 10 per cent GDP growth
Forecasting and Assessment Council for 10 years, India will definitely
(TIFAC), which was involved in the IIMs are not creating transform into a developed nation by
preparation of the Technology Mis- 2020. People below the poverty line
managers. They are
sion 2020, planning a roadmap for have to be lifted up. And, we firmly
transforming India from the present
creating leaders in various believe that India can reach the sta-
status of a developing nation into a fields — for various tus of a developed country by 2020.
developed one. India 2020 Vision organizations and The Indian people can rise well above
emerged as an outcome of this forum. the present poverty levels and con-
industries, and for the tribute more productively to the
About 500 experts with their unique
experiences in industry, academia, nation. Some of them country. Moreover, India can have
laboratories, and government admi- become creative leaders. considerable technological strengths,
nistration were deeply involved in so crucial for its strategic, economic,
What is most important is and trade-related advantages. A de-
the exercise. Experts and socially
aware persons also participated. that they should work with veloped India by 2020 or even earlier
About 5,000 people contributed indi- integrity and succeed with is not a dream. It need not even be a
rectly through responses to question- mere aspiration in the minds of many
integrity. That is the
naires and other inputs. Subse- Indians. It is a mission we can all take
quently, while the teams deliberated
strength of a real creative up and accomplish.
on various issues and the draft re- leader.
Neharika Vohra — What will be
ports, and later when the report was
Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, was the Eleventh President of India, Neharika Vohra is a Professor in the Organizational Behaviour
serving from 2002 to 2007. Specialized in Aeronautical Engi- Area at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. A
neering from the Madras Institute of Technology, Dr. Kalam Ph. D. from the University of Manitoba, she has been a Visit-
is one of the most distinguished scientists of India with the ing Professor in the same University and has also taught at
unique honour of receiving honorary doctorates from 30 uni- the Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar. She spe-
versities and institutions. He has been awarded the coveted cializes in social psychology and cross-cultural psychology.
civilian awards - Padma Bhushan (1981) and Padma Her academic and research interests include leadership and
Vibhushan (1990) and the highest civilian award Bharat Ratna gender issues in organizations; management across cultures;
(1997). He worked as an Engineer with DRDO and ISRO and challenges in the growth of small business; and leadership in
is popularly known as the Missile Man of India for his work on educational institutions. She has published several papers in
development of ballistic missile and space rocket technology. international and national journals and presented several pa-
Dr. Kalam made significant contribution as Project Director to pers in conferences and seminars. She has been a recipient of
the evolution of ISRO’s launch vehicle programme, particu- the Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Young Psycholo-
larly the PSLV configuration for two decades and thereafter gist Award. She is currently the Editor of Vikalpa: A Journal for
took up the responsibility of developing Indigenous Guided Decision Makers.
Missiles at Defence Research and Development Organization
e-mail: [email protected]
(DRDO). He was responsible for the development and
operationalization of AGNI and PRITHVI Missiles and for
V Venkata Rao specializes in Operations Research, Operations
building indigenous capability in critical technologies through
Management, and Computer-based Information Systems. He
networking of multiple institutions. He was the Scientific Ad-
is currently a Professor in the Computer and Information Sys-
viser to Defence Minister and Secretary, Department of De-
tems Group at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmeda-
fence Research & Development from July 1992 to December
bad and the Chairperson of the Fellow Programme in
1999. During this period, he led the weaponization of strate-
Management. He has obtained a Bachelors in Mechanical En-
gic missile systems and the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in collabo-
gineering from Andhra University, an M.Tech. in Industrial
ration with the Department of Atomic Energy, which made
Engineering from I.I.T. Kanpur, an M.S. in Operations Re-
India a Nuclear Weapon State. In his literary pursuit, four of
search, and a Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering,
his books, Wings of Fire, India 2020 - A Vision for the New Mil-
both from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He has pub-
lennium, My Journey, and Ignited Minds - Unleashing the Power
lished papers, developed software, and written cases in his
within India, have become household names in India and
areas of specialization.
among the Indian nationals abroad.
e-mail: [email protected]
e-mail: [email protected]
68 INTERVIEW