Padma Awards, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri are given by the government of India for exceptional and distinguished service in various fields including science, medicine, arts, social service, literature, sports, etc. In 2009, one hundred and thirty three Padma Awards were given out.It is interesting to see the distribution of the disciplines. Fifty percent of the awardees get it for excelling in Arts and Literature. Science and Technology and Medicine together account for only 23%. This is a disheartening statistic. Disheartening because the brightest kids enter the science stream in school and then go on to do engineering and medicine. But as the distribution of awards shows, this group of bright youngsters make only a small impact later in their lives.
Where do the bright youngsters entering the IITs, AIIMS and other engineering and medical colleges disappear. Why do they have so little impact on the Indian society? Do they go on to work in areas of little relevance to the Indian society? Or is it a case that our society does not recognize their contributions?
Do visit this site to see even better statistics. Interestingly the 2009 trend holds through the history of the Padma Awards.
I am not qualified to comment on the relevance of the work of the scientific community.
ReplyDeleteBut is is probable that society does not recognize the contribution of scientists. We are a society that honours cricketers, film stars and politicians.
This is not a desirable state of affairs. Thomas Friedman in "The World is Flat" has shown that fewer American students are studying science and engineering- most becoming lawyers, doctors and bankers. He sees innovation decreasing because of this.
In India,if science is seen as a less desirable career, the same situation that Friedman describes may arise, leading to a deterioration in quality of research.
"Why do they have so little impact on the Indian society? Do they go on to work in areas of little relevance to the Indian society? Or is it a case that our society does not recognize their contributions?"
ReplyDeleteI believe that its still less exposure are given to the Asian countries and fields are bounds with discrimination. If only the world will see those wonderful inventions. Sometimes the government are the one to blame, because they don't bring enough support to their bright peoples.
Btw, wonderful blog!
I have included your site in my EC Blog Coomunity the haven for Entrecard droppers, and it will be a sure traffic for you. You may have much more reader to follow you.
Please let me take this chance to introduce you to my other blog Latest Technology News and I know you'll like it. Please include it to your blogroll or recommend it.
Thanks a lot, and Gbu.
Hum...we honor the wrong people here, those in sports who often, though talented have a body that allows them to be successful. We honor people often with no talent (I'm thinking of people like some of the young rocknrollers, tv personalities. Like Paris Hilton. Has she really done anything of substance? No to my way of thinking.
ReplyDeleteCould the stats be skewd because they're brightest leave the country?
Sandy
Forgot, I wanted to say how much I love your banner...the stained glass is awesome.
ReplyDeleteSandy
Hi,
ReplyDeletei am an automobile engineering student.
Sports and literature is getting lot of popularity. The effect of scince doesn'y come directly, maybe thats why achievements in scince aren't that honoured.
I believe your answer is much simpler than that.
ReplyDeleteWhy so few awards in science?
Because the people awarding the prize are not scientists.
and also remember it is not who works the hardest or for the least amount of money, but rather the person who puts it on the market first and advertises the most who succeed.
ReplyDeletei think Science is slowly, but surely losing its sheen in India. Moreover, scientists are not very "popular", u know what i mean? Padma Awards, like most other awards are mere status symbols these days.. and the science guys have better things to do than lobbying for them... :)
ReplyDeleteabout your comment on my poem, actually the whole compilation is about the broken illusion. they were never meant for each other, but the realization came late. sometimes the myth of a perfect pair is too tempting and leads us to do stupid things, like thinking that we really know someone.... does it make sense now? :)
It has been a trend that more Scientist come from Western countries compared to Eastern Country. If we do some research on eastern country education system, we will know that why there are few Scientist. Do our edu sys promote critical thinking? If they do, but how the way of the teacher deliver their lessons? Are the ways encourage critical and scientific thinking? Are the governments really emphasize on science? I don think so. Most scientist will go other developed countries (esp western countries) as there give them more chances to use their talent in science.
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks for visiting my blog :)
ReplyDeletehttp://izeegadgets.blogspot.com
just visit your blog..
ReplyDeletenice info, visiting you for first time
ReplyDeleteI agree with "Buddha"
ReplyDeleteThe judges were probably art/literature based civil servants.
It may not be relevant but the British civil service was similarly arts/lit based. The UK underrated science/engineering to its cost when taking on Engineering specialist counties like Germany in WW1 and WWII.
For India to keep up with China India needs to stress Science and Engineering (in my humble opinion).
Pete
I agree a lot with Pete, nowdays the UK govt. is having to offer thousands to get people to do sciences - why? Well because they are not as popular as sportsmen or women.
ReplyDeleteA phrase you may not hear all the often - "That? Oh, that's the physician's Lamborghini"
If you ever hear that phrase then maybe science has a hope of becoming sexy again for people!
nothing more and nothing less to say.. science is just too difficult.. maybe science teacher need more approachment to students and be more creative to make the science lessons more interesting =P
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting as I would have thought more technical professions would be getting more awards (although I admit that I am not very familiar with the subject, it's just the way I have always perceived these things). Personally, I think it is great to see the arts and literature being recognized. But the percentage that medicine and science received does seem very low and even a little sad!
ReplyDelete