NUCLEAR ENERGY: TORCH  BEARER OF THE FUTERE GENERATION

Through past century, the world has witnessed gigantic strides from top to bottom in every field of science and technology at a par with the exploding population, pouring manifolds of demands. Basic amenities like food infrastructure energy output has dipped with that rapid pace, while the latter has been playing a  key role in elevating the human habitation from time immemorial. As the economy is booming and per-capita is on rise, demand for energy consumption increases with exponential peak in years to come being the engine for further sustainable growth.

Ironically, with these advancements we are unable to  cater the need with purely shrinking resources(fossil fuels)and a few renewable sources(air ,water, solar etc.) at the early teen stages of development, when the global energy demands rise by 2.4% yearly ,if IAEA sources are  to be believed. Nuclear energy has dawned as a suitable option heralding the alternative explorative sources for past couple of decades, as safe, economically profitable, clean, reliable and efficient form of energy. It’s produced through sophisticated mechanism by the process of fusion and fission chain reactions in reactors, the energy being emitted from the radioactive disintegration of the nucleus. Energy is and will continue to be a primary engine for economic development. Energy is central to achieving the goals of sustainable development. Both quality and quantity are important. Reliance on human power, draft animals and traditional fuels cannot sustain the same level of economic activity as ready access to refined petroleum products. Over years it has expanded its proliferation to human civilization; serving various purposes such as treatment of the incurable diseases, bridging the gap to access of purified drinking water through desalination, sustainably developed food crops for draught, pest resistant thereby  positively leaping  food production, protection of land etc. Human races have held their belief so strongly, that more than 450 active reactors are serving the same purpose around the globe producing 370GW energy.

Our country being energy deficient, presently have some odd 44% of people without access to energy. Presently, only 3% of India’s energy needs are met from nuclear sources with active  reactors in Kaiga, Kakrapar etc. In coming years, to meet the aspirations of people today and those future generations we need to leapfrog technological gaps brought about by several years of colonial exploitation. Nearly half of the energy production depends on burning of the coal, primitive source of environmental pollutions, hazards. So, we need increased use of nuclear energy to tarnish the reliance on fossil fuel, which are limited reserves.

It demands high technological excellence, and a challenging zeal to work on the line of disaster at any moment in case of negligence. But, that is the need of the hour, inbred safety culture, professionalism, and discipline at nuclear plants with highest safety standards that is always adhered to strictly. It’s the best option in long term perspective, whereas other forms of renewable energy are stop gap solutions. 

INDIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM

“Knowledge  is the treasure in happiness, the  best refugee of old age”- was genuinely the clarion voice of the genius Socrates, imply justifiably the vitality and sustenance of  knowledge from ancient times to the age to come in the development of any generation, from the time of  Euclid through the developments of the civilization. Ancient Indians excelled with the developments in field of science, astronomy, literature etc.  and contributed  to the accent of civilization. Who can forget the  great talents of our country  during ancient  and  Medieval  periods ,who won credits in all fields e.g. concept of zero, astronomy(ARIYABHATTA),telescopic observations by eminent Samant Chandrasekhar, and the recognized world figure Ramanujan for the value of pie, many other inventions.

But in past couple of decades, the legacy has degenerated itself to degrees and certificates, resorting to unfair means without any quest for excellence. Also the apathetic situation of education in our country from grass root level to institutions of higher education in the hierarchy, has repelled the bright students to join the elitist lure of Brain-drain.so, we have suffered the great losses, at the expense of talent. With a barely marginal folk opting for higher studies in traditional streams lack of infrastructure, shortage of teaching, research faculties lags behind the train of development in those fields. Although there are a few institutes established themselves to be the leading  figures in public image as well as disbursed fund allocation in the budget compulsions,  fiscal deficit ,; the thought for tomorrow that is inevitable with stiff completion.

There can be no route to further development without pioneering research into newer avenues, thereby reducing employability. Engineering education is expanding but quality engineers are not being produced to that extent. The quality of education dished out can be judged from the scenario that the percentage of ready-to-deploy engineers for IT jobs is dismally low at 2.68 complacency and lack of fore-vision, poor administration have  caused them to run in the pre-defined origins, without any venture  beyond the social and intellectual fame from their counterparts. They never portend % of the 5 lakh engineers passing out every year in the country, according to the National Employability report of engineering graduates done by Aspiring minds.   The state of primary education is not a big glory to dispel.  In spite of   the adequate funding under SSA, mid day meal, school uniform, free  study book  from the government , the grim state of current education is reflected in an international survey, from the poor performances of  students, selected from highly educated  origins, that they scored the rank 73 of total 74 nations.  Although many reform schemes are put forward by the government like implementation of gradation system at  secondary level, restructuring  the  methods, in which the  premier  entrance examinations  for technical and medical courses are conducted ,it has failed to jettison the  loopholes existing with threats to the intellectual structure.

So, we need a firm conviction and will to impart best possible educations, start reform from the grass root level and quest for excellence. Like the great scientist and inventor Thomas A. Edison has said- ” I never did a day's work in my life. It was all fun.”