"Indian
youth should come out of the parental pressure that forces them to
become engineers or docxcxcxcctors to face the real challenges in
the field of research." -
Prof. G S Ranganath, Dean of Research, Raman Research Institute
 Prof.
G S Ranganath, the Dean of Research at the Raman Research Institute
(RRI), Bangalore is well known for his research in Liquid Crystals,
Optics and related fields. He joined M.Sc in Physics after turning
down an offer by the Indian Institute of Science to do a BE course
in Telecommunications. He has published many (nearly eighty) papers
in international journals. Having been on the institute's faculty
for nearly thirty years, he was a proud witness to the celebration
of the institute's golden jubilee.
 Tell
us about the current research being done in RRI and the forays of
the Institute in future?
Till recently, Astronomy, Astrophysics and Liquid crystals were the
major areas of research. We have now entered into three new areas
of research:
a) Optics: Here we use high power lasers to bring gaseous atoms into
a new state called Bose Condensed State of atoms. We are also working
on the study of laser propagation through inhomogeneous materials.
b) Soft Matter Physics: We have taken up problems in biology inspired
physics in collaboration with National Center for Biological Sciences.
We have started building a small laboratory devoted to this activity.
c) Theoretical Physics: Here we are concerned about Dynamical Systems,
Quantum Gravity, Gravitational Waves and Theory of Disordered states
of matter.
How
is India positioned in the field of Physics?
We always had a tradition for doing Physics. We may recollect
here the names of Raman, Bose, Saha and Chandrasekhar. As of
now, India is very well placed in the areas of Astronomy, Astrophysics,
Particle Physics and Condensed Matter Physics. Our scientists have
made notable contributions to these fields. India is recognized the
world over for its contributions to these areas of research. I may
add here that RRI has acquired international reputation in the areas
of Optics, Liquid Crystals, Astrophysics and Radio Astronomy.
Does RRI coordinate with ISRO, the Indian Space Research
Organization?
There is a close association between the two establishments and this
is for our mutual benefit. Prof. Kasturirangan the present
Chairman of ISRO is also the Chairman of the Council of RRI.
What
trends have you seen in scientific research in India?
The trend is good in the sense that our research is relevant
in the domain of advanced science and technology. Our scientists have
competence, confidence and the capability to come out with research
that makes an international mark. Now-a-days, our scientists are working
at the cutting edge of science and their contributions are up to the
international standards. As a physicist, I feel that our country has
contributed a great deal in condensed matter physics. But as a whole,
I feel that need based research is not very visible.
There is a belief that Indian science is inactive? What is your opinion?
This view is the outcome of the fact that Indian science
is basically western science. I also feel that this statement
is partly true. I agree that Indian science has largely failed to
solve the local problems. But at the same time, we have succeeded
in solving the problems that are attracting the attention of the international
scientific community. Our academic research addresses itself to problems
of western origin rather than local ones.
Government bodies fund Indian research, whereas private bodies also
fund research in western countries? Which system works better? 
For a healthy development of research, there has to be a close coordination
between the industry and the scientific community. Science will obviously
be a looser if it fails to serve the needs of the industry. Such failures
are seen even in Japan and USA and very much more so in India. Coming
to the funding of research, industries go for the western know-how
as it answers their immediate requirement and because this is economically
viable. In our country private agencies do not take chances in investing
in ventures where the results are not obvious. Only government agencies
fund research, as they know that research is an integral part of science
for self reliance.
How
does the institute recognize its aspiring candidates at the entry
level?
We prefer only competent students to join the institute. Our process
of selecting a candidate is quite stringent. We use various filters
to get the few students we are looking for. For example, at one stage
we selected only about twelve candidates out of nearly two thousand
applications that we received. It is a Herculean task indeed to get
that perfect dozen. A screening committee first selects about
a hundred applicants. Then they are subjected to written tests that
are followed by a further filtering to about twenty to thirty.These
students go through two interviews . Final selection is based on a
relative grading of students.
Tell
us about the awards and honours that are conferred on RRI or on its
scientists?
I do not think awards and honours truly depict the abilities and the
scientific achievements of any person or any institute as a whole.
Our scientists have got awards and honours, but it has been a practice
at RRI not to highlight or make them public. We do not list them in
our annual reports or on our website, though our scientists get them
often.
Does the institute have tie-ups with foreign institutes?
There are collaborations with foreign institutions, through government
agencies. Scientists from here have gone to the US, France, Japan
and other countries on invitation and under exchange programmes. Similarly,
scientists from outside visit us for scientific collaboration. These
tie-ups benefit mutually and are more of a complementary nature.
What
according to you is necessary to impart a scientific spirit in the
younger generation?
Up to higher secondary school, students get exposed to science.
Later they will have to pick it up themselves. Unfortunately, the
present scene is rather disappointing. Parental pressure compels students
to take up CET, IITJE etc. leading them to courses to become engineers
or doctors. The ground realities are such that this is quite understandable.
But even then, there are instances where engineers, despite the money
they can make as engineers, return to Science and take up research,
as it is more challenging.
Prof. Ranganath is hopeful that the current trend will change in the
near future. He knows that the scientific spirit comes from within
and that is why many students may not find riding the ongoing wave
that leads them to becoming engineers/doctors challenging. If this
indeed proves true, India can look forward to more and more students
aspiring for science.
-Charan
CS
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