Introduction
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resounding victory in the recently concluded national elections, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) securing an impressive 240 seats on its own, has undoubtedly ruffled feathers both within the country and beyond its borders. Despite a relentless campaign by the opposition INDI alliance, which resorted to peddling fake news and disinformation, Modi's unwavering commitment to placing national interests above all else resonated with the electorate, resulting in a notable achievement for a leader after being in office for a decade.
Source: Chemistryworld.com
However, PM Modi's reelection to the highest office has drawn criticism from certain quarters, particularly from dubious foreign groups who perhaps believed an amenable and docile INDI alliance leader would have been easier to manipulate and control. In a seemingly unsurprising move, the UK-based Royal Society of Chemistry's 'Chemistry World,' a monthly chemistry news magazine, published an article targeting PM Modi after his reelection, demonstrating a foreign-based Chemistry society's willingness to attack the Prime Minister of India by publishing a prejudiced piece based on a shoddy premise and ludicrous comparisons.
Unfounded Allegations of 'Creeping Authoritarianism'
In a controversial assertion, Sanjay Kumar, the author of the 'Chemistry World' article, claims, "The election result has many scientists worried that creeping authoritarianism under Modi will mean long-standing problems in research, such as meagre and delayed funding, political interference in appointments and corruption, will not be addressed." However, he conveniently fails to provide any evidence or quote 'scientists' claiming there is an environment that discourages scientific scholarship, raising questions about the credibility of his statements.
Royal Society of Chemistry publishes an article attacking PM Modi with propaganda cliches
Flawed Comparisons and Contextual Ignorance
The article draws dubious comparisons between India and countries like China, South Korea, and the United States, all of which have allocated a substantially higher chunk of their GDP for scientific research than India. While India's R&D investment as a percentage of GDP stands at a meagre 0.64 percent, comparing it with an autocratic regime like China is disingenuous. China's economy is much larger than India's, offering Beijing more leeway to allocate funds across various sectors, including scientific research. Similarly, the United States, with an economy roughly nine times bigger than India's and a significantly higher per capita GDP, has the financial capacity to invest 3.46 percent of its GDP in scientific research, a luxury India can ill afford given its pressing challenges of chronic poverty, lack of potable water, intermittent power supply, and inadequate sanitation facilities.
Prioritizing Basic Needs over Scientific Research
It is worth noting that it was only after Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014 that emphasis was placed on addressing basic needs such as building toilets and connecting the remotest parts of the country to electrical grids. For a nation grappling with such fundamental issues, allocating resources for scientific research often takes a backseat to addressing the immediate and urgent needs of its citizens. The article's failure to acknowledge this context and its flawed comparisons with nations operating under vastly different socio-economic realities raise questions about its objectivity and fairness.
India's Remarkable Scientific Achievements
Contrary to Sanjay Kumar's assertions in the controversial 'Chemistry World' article, India has achieved remarkable milestones in the field of science since 2019. In August 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) made history by becoming the first country to touch down near the lunar south pole, an unprecedented feat. Furthermore, during the height of the coronavirus crisis, Indian companies Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech played a pivotal role in manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines, helping combat a pandemic that caused unprecedented fatalities worldwide.
Consistent Investment in Scientific Research
While India undoubtedly needs to increase its investment in scientific research, it is worth noting that the Modi government has not cut back on funding in this field. The numbers suggest that India's investment in R&D has remained around 0.6 to 0.7 percent during both the Modi government's tenure and the preceding 10 years of the Manmohan Singh government. Considering the nation's pressing challenges, such as chronic poverty, lack of potable water, intermittent power supply, and inadequate sanitation facilities, maintaining consistent investment in scientific research is a commendable feat.
Rationality Sacrificed for Political Agenda
However, rationality and fairness seem to have taken a backseat for foreign publications determined to attack the Modi government. Shady indices and dubious comparisons are employed to accuse the administration of "creeping authoritarianism," which is portrayed as the cause for low investment in R&D. The article cites the Sweden-based V-Dem Institute, which dubbed India an "electoral autocracy since 2018," as evidence of Modi's "domineering style of governance" affecting "almost all aspects of life in India, including higher education and research."
Jarring Inconsistencies Expose Hidden Agenda
Ironically, the author then cites China, an authoritarian country by all accounts, as an example for India to emulate in terms of spending on R&D. If a country's democratic ratings truly had a bearing on its investment in scientific research, such a comparison would be nonsensical. These jarring inconsistencies further demonstrate that the pursuit of the piece is not to express genuine caution over India's reduced spending on R&D but rather an attempt to weaponize science to attack the Modi government.
Unfair Criticism Belies India's Scientific Progress
Despite the unfair criticism and biased narratives propagated by certain foreign publications, India's scientific progress under the Modi government remains undeniable. From the remarkable lunar south pole landing to the vital role played by Indian companies in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, the nation has demonstrated its commitment to advancing scientific research and development. While challenges remain, dismissing India's achievements and accusing the government of "creeping authoritarianism" without credible evidence is a disservice to the hard work and dedication of the country's scientific community.
Weaponizing Science to Undermine the Current Regime
Sanjay Kumar's penchant for using science as a guise to peddle alarmist tropes against the Modi government is not a new phenomenon. Ironically, in May 2019, after Modi's resounding victory with a thumping majority, Kumar penned a similarly sounding article titled 'Another five years of a Modi government leaves Indian scientists worried,' despite India witnessing remarkable scientific growth during the 2014 to 2019 period. This growth included the nation's first mission to Mars, the launch of an unprecedented 104 satellites in a single mission, and India becoming the fifth most prolific publisher of scientific research – achievements that seem to have conveniently escaped Kumar's scrutiny as he camouflaged his anti-Modi bias under the veil of 'anxiety' among scientists.
Weaponizing science to undermine the current regime has long been a pet project of the restive Indian leftwing ecosystem, forming part of a multi-pronged strategy to portray the Modi government as opposed to scientific growth, and thereby rallying progressives against it. In the midst of this year's Lok Sabha elections, a website called 'nature.com' published an article titled 'Why doing science is difficult in India,' adding fuel to the fire.
Notably, the article was authored by none other than Yamini Aiyar, the daughter of controversial Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar. In her piece, Aiyar relied heavily on rankings published by the Sweden-based institute, Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem), which placed India in the bottom 20% of the list in academic freedom among 179 countries. For those unaware, V-Dem is funded by the likes of George Soros' Open Society Foundations (OSF) and has been involved in anti-India propaganda for several years. OpIndia, an independent news platform, has previously reported on Soros' alleged ambitions for a color revolution in India, raising questions about the integrity and impartiality of the institute's findings.
In her article, Yamini Aiyar made sweeping claims, stating, "India's academic freedom has been in steady decline for a decade. This is well documented…Historically, academic freedoms were certainly not perfect in India. Yet even a cursory glance at the evidence reveals that the scale of restrictions and the misuse of laws to curb academic freedom has increased." However, the article failed to provide substantial evidence to support these assertions, relying instead on questionable sources with potential conflicts of interest.
Conclusion
As the dust settles on the hard-fought electoral battle, the controversy surrounding the 'Chemistry World' article and the allegations against the Modi government's commitment to scientific research serve as a reminder of the complex interplay between domestic politics, international perceptions, and the role of influential organizations in shaping narratives. While constructive criticism and open discourse are vital for a healthy democracy, unfounded allegations and biased narratives only serve to undermine the credibility of the discourse itself. India's scientific aspirations and achievements should be celebrated and encouraged, not diminished by politically motivated attacks or flawed comparisons that fail to account for the nation's unique socio-economic realities.
Moving forward, it is imperative that the discourse surrounding India's scientific progress be grounded in facts, fairness, and an understanding of the country's developmental priorities. Rather than resorting to alarmist rhetoric or peddling dubious indices, a more constructive approach would be to acknowledge the challenges faced by the nation and work collaboratively to address them. India's journey towards becoming a global scientific powerhouse is a long and arduous one, but the nation has consistently demonstrated its resilience, innovation, and commitment to progress. As the world grapples with unprecedented challenges, it is crucial to foster an environment of cooperation and knowledge-sharing, where scientific advancements are celebrated and supported across borders and ideological divides.
The controversy surrounding the 'Chemistry World' article should serve as a reminder of the need for responsible journalism and the importance of upholding ethical standards, particularly when addressing matters of national significance. Publications and authors must exercise caution and ensure that their narratives are grounded in verifiable facts, devoid of personal biases or hidden agendas. Ultimately, India's scientific progress will be defined not by the unfair criticisms of detractors but by the unwavering determination of its researchers, scientists, and policymakers to push the boundaries of knowledge and unlock the full potential of the nation's intellectual capital. By addressing the challenges head-on, prioritizing investments in research and development, and fostering an environment that nurtures innovation, India can continue to make strides in fields ranging from space exploration to healthcare, thereby contributing to the global scientific community and improving the lives of its citizens.
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