HYDERABAD: We live in an India that has come a long way — if we go to bed each night without a second thought about our safety, it is thanks to all the bravehearts defending us along the border.
Well, it is also important to shower adulation on the brilliant minds who have developed intricate defence technologies that helped India up its security game. One such man is Prahlada Ramarao, a defence scientist, technologist and Padma Shri awardee who is best known as the able mind that led the AKASH missile system development. After his highly insightful talk at TEDxHyderabad, he had a candid conversation with CE.
Excerpts
How was your experience speaking at TEDxHyderabad?
I enjoyed being on the TEDx stage. I had to address a large crowd in a storytelling style, so it was a new experience. A thoroughly memorable day I would say!
Was there a scientific temper at home which encouraged you to tread this path?
Well, my father was a clerk in a private company and my mother was a housewife; we were not a very well-to-do family. But I’ll tell you this — my mother had the most faith in me! When I completed my degree, I started applying for jobs. Bharat Electronics Limited offered a salary of `250, which was a huge amount back in the day.
Everyone at home was overjoyed but then IISc Bangalore, which I had applied to for a M.E, sent a letter which asked me to come for an interview. Now, the institute was offering a scholarship amount of around Rs 200. I told my mother that if I chose the second option, I wouldn’t earn a penny for two years. But she said, ‘Don’t worry, we will manage. You go and get your M.E.’ She was my biggest support. Every month, I would save `50 to send back to my family.
From starting out at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, being a scientist at the DRDO, director of DRDL, and then the Chief Controller Research and Development at DRDO to winning a Padma Shri in 2015 — my journey has been a long and eventful one. I am grateful to the defence ecosystem, which enabled me to deliver products, systems, and solutions to the nation.
How was your experience as director of DRDL in Hyderabad?
DRDL was and still is the biggest laboratory in DRDO — I had the highest number of scientists, maximum funding, and the most projects. But that also meant maximum responsibility and accountability. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam appointed me as the project director for the AKASH missile system development.
At that point of time, India was being watched by everybody. They said that India could not make its own missiles, and I was once told, ‘AKASH won’t succeed, why are you wasting your time?’ It was heartbreaking. But Dr Kalam said to me, ‘Don’t worry. You do what is correct. I am here.’ So, we worked tirelessly to make AKASH one of the biggest successes in missile development. In fact, a couple of countries requested India to export AKASH missiles.
How did you cope with the challenges that life threw your way?
Apart from challenges vis-a-vis AKASH, I will tell you something I would never like any father to go through — not spending enough time with my wife and little daughter. Because I was constantly moving across the country due to my job, I was not present for birthdays, parent-teacher meetings, and so many more occasions. But my wife was a pillar of support, understanding that duty towards my country came first.
What makes a great scientist?
What I have observed is that initiative is missing — a scientist needs to be creative and find solutions. There are two most important things you need in order to be a scientist. Firstly, the curiosity to find the why and how. Do not just accept everything but rather keep questioning until you find
solutions. Secondly, do not carry out experiments with a fear at the back of your mind asking, ‘What if this fails?’ Just go for it.
What would you be if not a scientist?
I can’t think how I would live without science. (laughs)