He is no braggadocio. He displays no air of ostentation, no vainglory of prodigality. Clad in a simple dress, he appears more humble than humility itself. The crowning glories of successes came cascading down upon him as the lady luck smiled over him. Of late, he has added a feather unto the cap of Odisha as President of the Indian Science Congress, that too after a gap of 55 years when internationally-noted scientist Dr PK Parija had adorned the chair. Today, Dr Achyuta Samanta is an international personality having the credit of founding two world-class institutes, the KIIT (Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology) and the KISS (Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences) in Bhubaneswar.
The KIIT is a multidisciplinary university with a current student strength of 27,000 while the KISS is the world’s largest fully-free residential KG-to-PG institute for 25,000 poorest-of-the-poor indigenous aborigine (Scheduled Tribe) children. Dr Samanta believes in the philosophy of St Francis of Assisi, “It is in giving that we receive, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” Hence, as a social reformer, he aims at propagating the “Art of Giving”, a concept aimed at bringing peace to human mind around the globe.
His life has been a saga of suffering and chill penury, from which he could transform himself as a messiah for the millions. He has neither any self-interest nor any personal agenda and has made his work in leveraging education for poverty eradication, elimination of social alienation, rural development, socioeconomic transformation and world peace. He has neither been intoxicated by the wine of success nor has he been dampened by its odours. In an interview to The Pioneer, he spoke to Sugyan Choudhury from the KISS campus.
You have been elected as the Indian Science Congress President which has sent a series of happy notes across Odisha. Would you please tell us the secret behind your successIJ
The secret behind my such position is nothing but the divine blessing but for which I would have been undone. This post has returned to Odisha after a long lapse of 55 years when the noted scientist Dr Pranakrushna Parija was president of the Indian Science Congress. This is a pride for the State as Odisha will have a national presence felt everywhere in the country. Besides, there will be a spurt in scientific activities and many discussions and deliberations across the country when there will be a visible presence of our State. Furthermore, there will be an increase in the educational activities relating to science.
Well, as the Science Congress President what steps are you going to contemplate for eradicating the age-old Western notion that “Indian science is a fun”IJ
You see, most of our students are opting for technical education like engineering, medicine, biotechnology and the like. During my tenure, I would like to concentrate on thrust areas like research and development by encouraging students to opt for pure sciences like physics, chemistry, botany, zoology, etc., etc. Unless more and more students opt for the same, there cannot be any higher research possible so as to undo the Western prejudice. Of course, today many Indian scientists have already proved such notions as wrong. But then, if all our students choose technical education, there will be no outstanding research made possible on the realm of pure science. The Government of India is also concentrating in this regard through NISER, IISER, and I would also like to give emphasis on popularising pure science which will usher in many inventions and discoveries.
Few Indians after Dr CV Raman have bagged the Nobel Prize. What steps are you going to take in this regard to fulfil the dreams of the nationIJ
It involves a lot of things. There should be governmental efforts, private encouragements, industrial and business houses’ support to encourage higher research to reach this goal. During my tenure, I hope there will be a lot of developments and increase in the domain of higher research. let us be hopeful in this regard.
How are you going to prevent the brain drain from our country during your tenureIJ
This is not my individual concern. My answer will be the same. If we concentrate on higher research activities, provide them the best of facilities, an ideal environment and good ambience then there will be no brain drain from our country. Again, that will be not my single purview. All those concerned should come closer for containing this syndrome.
When the university building at Moscow is the highest and when academicians and scientists are paramount in the USA, here in our country politicians, bureaucrats are ruling the roost everywhere. How do you think you can turn the applecart down to popularise science and higher research hereIJ
This is not my platform to answer. This is for our policymakers and planners to decide on the matter or to take any decision at their level. During my one-year tenure, it will be impossible bargain as you know the Science Congress itself is filled with many hectic activities like organising the Science Congress inviting 20,000 scientists and academicians and contacting Government agencies. Besides, I will be interested as to how the Science Congress will have its visible presence across the country.
Would you please tell us in short what have you done for the Adivasi studentsIJ
A great deal of emphasis has been given on how to groom and train them to be a part of the mainstream of the society. All attempts have been made by us to take care of them. Once they join KG classes, they climb the ladder up to the PG level and they leave the campus with a job in hand. And again, they act like catalytic agents to transform their own society. There are 25,151 Adivasi students in the KISS campus.
What about your other child, KIITIJ
Today, it has entered into its youth. There are 27,000 students in 25 faculties including engineering, medicine, biotechnology, law and the like. There are no plans for its expansion, but we concentrate as to how in every passing year the quality of the education will be improved.
What’s your message to the younger onesIJ
The younger generation should be good human beings while concentrating on their academics.