We should not criticize India or Indian scientists related to these failures. There is always some chances of failure in any project (You can take the example the last three launches of NASA – Everyone had some or major problem). Sometimes failure is also considered as success as at least it shows that the path we selected for the particular project was not correct. - Nawin Kumar, New York City - July 11, 2006

The INSAT-4C and AGNI-III failed because of brain drain, inefficiency, and corruption that prevails on DRDO and other centers.

One of my sirs who joined DRDO in the hope to help country's scientific research was too upset with politics and lethargy inside that he left the organization and joined TCS.

Another friend who trained in Ahmedabad's Plasma Research had a group of 16 scientists. After training for two years, 6 joined Infosys, 4 Wipro, 4 TCS, and the remaining 2 stayed at Plasma Research.

Truth is bitter but it cannot be confined and the fact is, we are facing crisis in all scientific research fields: Defense, Aerodynamics, Aerospace, Energy, and Agriculture. - Tarakeswar Dubey - July 13, 2006

The cause for the failure of these missions is best known to the scientists who worked on them. Mr Nawin, I do not intend to criticize India or the Indian scientists. But, someone has to take the responsibility for this failure. It’s of everyone’s knowledge how important the success of these missions was. To ignore it by giving an example of NASA would be like ignoring Mumbai bomb blasts by giving an example of WTC crash. Mumbai is as (un)safe as New York, or is it? We have a right to know what went wrong and why? And what steps are being taken to avoid such failures in future?

Mr Tarakeshwar has raised a very important point. The ever-growing software services industry in India is a big threat to many other sectors, particularly the manufacturing and R&D. These companies are recruiting students in huge numbers from all branches of engineering. A large number of engineers and scientists from government organizations (including ISRO/DRDO) have joined software companies. The s/w companies make so big an offer/position that it is hard to resist. The bureaucracy, corruption and regionalism in the public sector (and of course peer pressure) make it easier to accept these offers. So, while some of the Indian brains go abroad (NASA etc), others have started moving to software sector. And the next generation of engineers is almost booked. So, the next time you are amazed by the quality of service at a bank in USA, remember that the quality department of the software company that developed the software for the bank might have been headed by an ex-scientist of DRDO, who could have worked on the Agni-III mission. The next time NASA launches a satellite successfully, it should remind you that the project might have been led by some Mohan Bhargav who could have led the INSAT- 4C project. Who do you expect to change the condition of R&D in India? Government? Well, then who do you expect to change the government?

Let me make it clear that I am not willing to relate this directly to the INSAT 4C and AGNI III failure. I would like to believe that the best brains of India have worked on these missions and they would not take rest till a successful launch. And that it was due to a minor software bug! - Kumod Jha - July 13, 2006

There are some questions that need to be asked. The public sector in India offers good salaries permanent jobs, a combination that is hard to beat. You would expect the employees to be hard-working, efficient, loyal and cheerful.

The Ordnance Factories in India have over half a million employees, yet we seem to import every bit of hardware required by the armed forces. Some reports say that even the ammunition for guns has to be imported.

HAL is another example. Whenever the Indian Air Force buys a new aircraft, the technology is "transferred" to HAL. HAL should be full of technology by now. But we are still waiting for an Indian fighter jet or any other worthwhile aircraft. - Jauhar - July 13, 2006

I think an important aspect has been missed here: if this is the result of only 23% reservation SC/ST, let's implement 50% and I am sure the next launch will not even lift from the launch pad. Why do we expect any serious scientist or engineer to stay in this country and have their life spoiled as dictated by politicians? We all want the best we can have for ourselves and our children. Once a chance comes, naturally they will migrate where their life, mind and individuality can be safe and praised.

Kumodji wrote: "India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) carrying INSAT 4C satellite into orbit failed during separation of the first stage. The launch of the nuclear-capable surface-to-surface missile Agni-III, designed to hit targets at a distance of 3,500 km, developed a snag in its second stage and fell into the sea without hitting the target."

Make reservations 100% in jobs as well as education. Employees from the reserved categories just have to send some money to any country and import everything. Why all the fuss over homegrown research and development? Why should we bother with improvement and innovation when old technology has worked till now? Simply because we do not work does not mean that others are not working.

This is clearly a failure of Government politics, and an indictment of the much misused reservation system! Now this fiasco is being imposed on private, elite schools and colleges. Do we perpetuate this because we can afford many such failures? It seems we have so much money in India to spend on stupid stuff.

Is there an obligation from the Government's side to secure someone's life at the cost of others who really wanted to do something for the country? What price is the country willing to pay for dubious social schemes? Maybe our new mantra is India does not need any engineers, doctors or scientists with intelligence and skill. All we need are reserved category minds, regardless of ability or aptitude! - Anwar SMK, New York, USA - July 13, 2006

Discussion on this topic is now closed.