Universal Brotherhood Day: Techno-Economics to empower the Youth

Prof. Harish Hirani, 

Director CSIR-CMERI

“This is the gist of all Worship: To be pure and to do good to others.”

-Swami Vivekananda

The ultimate service to humanity is to channelize our efforts, knowledge, and skills towards the emancipation of the most vulnerable and economically marginalized sections of the society. Science & Technology focussed upon making the World a Sustainable and Bio-Diverse Ecosphere is the ultimate homage one can pay to the world we live in. ‘Unity is the highest point in Science’. The confluence of Science, Humanism, Economics, Social Sciences and Spiritualism can help elevate the mindscape of an individual to heights that would help achieve synergic existence with Nature. The Quest for Pure Knowledge in the most trying times for the World can lead us to unexplored avenues of unprecedented human collaboration. Mutual Collaboration instead of Individual Competitiveness is the ‘New Mantra of the New Normal’. This pandemic and all future pandemics can only be fought with the ideals of ‘human cooperation, resource sharing, reorientation of perspectives, and self-development’.

CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur is dedicated towards the ideal of ‘Maximum Science for Minimum Socio-Economic and Ecological Distress’. The initial COVID response had been to fortify Pandemic Resilience of Civic Infrastructure to ensure that even the frontline workers are adequately shielded from ‘impending danger’. The technologies developed by CSIR-CMERI during the pandemic were designed in a manner to multiply collaborative ventures and thereby inculcate the values of resource-sharing and collective achievement of goals. The Facemasks developed by the Institute were created to provide affordable and appropriate solutions for the people, through a manufacturing model which engaged over 200+ skilled locals and provided an economic benefit of over Rs 5,00,000/- to them, during a period of unforeseen economic inertness and vacuum. The COVID Protection System and HCARD Robots tried to harness Digital Leverage and Renewable Energy to the maximum extent especially for the protection of the Security Guards, Healthcare Workers, and Enforcement personnel. 

The Systems Architecture of the technologies was specimens of socio-economic Technology Innovations. These innovations were not only manufacturing-driven but rather focussed upon ease-of-manufacturing to boost the deployment of such manufacturing hubs to increase the productive potential of the people. The pre-independence hang-over of reliance on Jobs rather than developing Entrepreneurism has led to a significant backlash for our economy in recent years. The technology profile of the Institute has also been leaned towards promoting Agri-Entrepreneurialism, Affordable & Collaborative Manufacturing across the Nation. The massive Reverse Migration trends have showcased the ever-growing importance of Agriculture and thus the technology initiatives and the profile of the Institute is ready to help facilitate India becoming a Global Agro-Powerhouse. 

Following the footsteps of Swamiji, India is slated to lead the World through the ideals of Social Entrepreneurialism, Specially Crafted Techno-Economics, and a Democratically Curated Policy Framework. Steadily, India will be the Exemplar in leading the World towards a Climate Resilient, Ecologically Green, and Socially Robust ‘Unified World’. The World Parliament of Religions in September 1893 witnessed the iconic speech delivered by Swamiji. Commemorating this watershed moment for Global Spirituality, I was privileged to deliver the inaugural address as the Chief Guest on this occasion in a Webinar organized by the Vivekananda Kendra, Durgapur.