Part 4 (2/2)

A 1997 doc.u.ment by keidarnan (j.a.pan Federation of Economic Organizations) describes 'an attractive j.a.pan', 'a perceived by people around the world as a good place to live, do business and study'. The report also states that 'we must understand that j.a.pan's future depends on the progress of science and technology'. We have a lot to learn from j.a.pan's dedicated and sustained efforts in achieving technological excellence and leaders.h.i.+p.

South Korea About three decades ago, South Korea was not even considered a force to contend with. Korea received some attention during the Korean war in the 1950s and was generally forgotten soon after. The country has suffered extensive damage while it was occupied by j.a.pan during the Second World War. It was considered by many nations, including India, to be a country so poor that there was no hope for it. It also suffered a part.i.tion. Despite this, South. Korea created a vision by which it became a major global player in a few years in some major economic sectors that used modern technologies.

These were steel production, s.h.i.+pbuilding, automobiles and electronics. There were many western economics who thought that this was a wrong strategy, because the country did not have a natural core competence in any of these areas. But South Korea was a nation

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with a will. It did achieve success in all these areas. South Koreans have gone on to become formidable multinationals in these areas as well as in several others. In electronics, South Koreans still use the 'reverse entry' technique in various areas. That is, they use themselves as manufacturing base initially, and then use a few selected technologies of their own to create the subsequent models. And they have invested in R&D, enabling them to make major contributions in some areas. Such as electronics.

Their quality of life has improved tremendously over two decades, and per capita income has risen to about US$ 10000 .

Koreans from an earlier generation recall that about two or three decades ago discussions around the dining table were confined to the food they ate in the morning or at lunch or what was planned to be cooked later. Food was scarce, and a meal or some good food served as a strong incentive for most people. Just to be able to have three solid meals a day was a great achievement in that area. South Koreans have now gone well past that stage. Food is no longer a major point of discussion with them: now it is the globehow many more successes they can achievement. Considerable funds are devoted to research and development expenditure in industries. They have design capabilities in many areas. The authors are aware of some of the recent problems in South Korea. But the core strengths of South Korean technologies are so high that the country should be able to overcome these problems soon.

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Israel Another interesting country is Israel. It was born as a nation in 1948, under very difficult circ.u.mstances. Israelis were not just satisfied with having a home of their own. They had

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a further satisfied with having a home of their own. They had a further vision: to be able to meet not only their immediate food and water requirements, but also those of the future. They wanted food and water security, in a place which was a desert. Water was scarce. They were surrounded by hostile nations, and had very little by way of natural resources. They were a small country too. Yet they not only had a vision for food security, but also aimed to become a leader in agrofood products and set standards in terms of productivity, yield or even in absolute production in many items of food, be it milk or fruit or other commodities. They did deploy a larger amount of technology in this venture, leading to Israel being today a leader in agriculture and agrofood related technologies. Figure 2.3 compares the milk yield of different countries. For annual milk yield per head of cattle, Israel's figure for 1994 is about 9200 kg. The runnerup is the US with about 7000 kg per head of cattle ore year. In India the figure is only about 500.

Israel did not stop merely at food security in food and agriculture. It needed defence. They have remarkable capability in defence and military equipment, including missiles. They sought nuclear, s.p.a.ce and electronics capability, and no have several excellent products and technologies. Israel is globally acknowledged as a technological, military and economic power. That is due to its longterm vision and sustained action.

We are not alone inn thinking of a vision for 2020. Many others are thinking of their future, and are striving hard to make a better future, and are striving hard to the grater emphasis on technological strengths in multiple areas such as manufacturing, advanced materials, electronics and information technologies. In addition, these countries technologies. In China, USA and Europe there is a continued thrust for advancement of defence technologies. China's approach to agriculture has common features with that of India. USA, Europe and j.a.pan place much greater emphasis on biotechnology with global markets in view. The vision that emerges for India is based on the perceptions of its security environment, its social and economic needs as well as ab eas.e.m.e.nt of its core strengths. It is a vision for our people. Let us not leave millions of our sisters and brothers in poverty any longer. We should wipe out poverty by 2010 and become a developed nation by 2020.

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Chapter 3.

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Evolution of Technology Vision 2020 India's Core Competencies Your country, brother, shall be your love!

Good unto better you shall improve!

Great deeds indeed are needed now!

Work hard, work long in farm and honey!

Let the land be abundant in milk and honey!

Flood the land with goods, all made at home!

Spread your handiwork all over the world!

Are you a patriot ? Do not shout it aloud!

Bragging never did anybody any good!

Quietly, d oak fine deed instead!

Let the people see it, it is they that decide!

_Desha bhakti by Gurajada Translated from Telugu by Sri Sri Mahakavi In the preIndependence days, India had many dreamers many capable women and men thinking of a strong and modern India. Many of them took the initiative in various fields, political, social, economic, industrial, educational, literary, scientific, engineering and the religious. They enriched India by their actions, and reflected different facets of our independence struggle. Independent India was enriched by this inheritance.

Added to this was the fact that India had richer natural resources as compared to many other countries. These perceptions led to the pa.s.sionate call for building a great nation.

After independence, India made simultaneous progress in many fields: agriculture, health, education, infrastructure, science and technology, among others. Her vibrant

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