An interview with Prof. BK Mishra, Founding Director, IIT Goa and Former Director, IMMT, Bhubaneswar
Meet Prof. BK Mishra, the man who always loves to be in the midst of activity either in the lab or the classroom driving his passion in the area of scientific thoughts, research and innovation. As the founding Director of IIT-Goa he has now taken up the challenge in laying a road-map to establish it as a world class institution in the coming time. He intends to engage the young technocrats of the country to be an integral part of the Future-India. In the prior assignment he had given a facelift to IMMT-Bhubaneswar under the umbrella of CSIR. Under his leadership this Govt. run scientific research institution delivered many innovative projects and prototypes opening the window to offer simple solutions at the doorstep of the common man. In a deep conversation with Mr. Nilambar Rath, Editor and CEO OdishaLIVE, Prof. Mishra talks about his vision for action.
OL: What is your immediate response on taking over the charge as the Founding Director of IIT-Goa?
BKM: I was thrilled on hearing the news and in fact quite excited to return back to the IIT system. It’s an honour to take up the responsibility of heading an Institute of National Importance from its inception.
OL: What is your road map for the institution now?
BKM: As of now, since the Institute is in its infancy, my primary aim is to recruit faculty who can help me build this Institute and set a culture that would lead the institute along the path of excellence. Secondly, I would like to set-up a fully functioning campus as soon as possible for which Govt. of India has already earmarked funds.
OL: What about Say the next five years or so?
BKM: Since the intake of students has already started, I would like to make sure that they get proper facilities to nurture their talent and receive world-class education. In short, I would want to create an ideal place of learning where students as well as faculty can have the freedom to pursue and realize their dreams. And that place will be IIT-Goa.
OL: There was a time when the IITs were considered as very prestigious Indian institutions as far as education and training in the domain of science and technology is concerned. But do you think that by having more number of such institutions across the country, it has become a challenge to bring all these new institutions (new IITs) to the core level of IIT-Culture?
BKM: With the limited quality resources at our disposal, I would say it’s a challenge. Having said that I must state that IITs are not about themselves they also serve the larger purpose of meeting the aspiration of millions of school-going children. Now culture is something which I believe must be created and this is the biggest challenge for the founder Director. Success lies in setting the culture right from the beginning. I have experienced the IIT system and its enviable culture and I have also seen the CSIR lab which I was heading. In a very modest way I have adopted a bit of IIT culture in the CSIR lab which clicked. We performed better by all performance indicators and brought the much needed visibility to the institute. Therefore, I am confident setting the culture would not be an issue.
OL: Anything you would like to say in the content of ‘New vs Old’?
BKM: As regards “new vs. old” IITs in terms their outlook and impact, it is just a matter of time. Some of the IITs established ten years back are doing pretty well now. Perhaps after another 10 years they will be at the top. It takes about 50 years for an institute to fully establish and the elements of construction are quite complex. Nonetheless, I believe data driven comparison with the right spirit brings the best out of an organization and it should be encouraged. Therefore in that sense creation of more such educational institutes of national importance is inevitable.
OL: How do you see that role of IITs in the making on India in the next one decade vis-a-vis other global superpowers?
BKM: IITs are recognized here and elsewhere as the exclusive group of institutes which is not something that can be achieved by self-declaration. They carryout cutting-edge research, actively contribute to bridge the knowledge gap, and do technology transfer, among other things. However in changing times, as we are in today, IITs must put concerted efforts to upgrade their quality and effectiveness of research output. In short term, IITs must align with the vision of present leadership at the national level and participate in national programs to provide S&T backup. In the long term, IIT’s role must be embedded in the national vision so that people will pursue scientific inquiries in a socially and strategically responsible manner. In this way, I believe IIT’s will fulfil their mandate and contribute to nation building in a more meaningful way.
OL: As the Director of IMMT-Bhubaneswar you had been actively involved into the world of fundamental research and scientific innovations. How was the experience over there?
BKM: The usefulness of research output is of paramount importance and therefore contributing to common man’s need or for that matter solving societal problems through S&T interventions cannot be overemphasized. What is needed is that we must encourage our scientists to engage seamlessly from basic research to applied research to product and process development. The outcome would directly or indirectly impact the common man. For example, at CSIR-IMMT we have carried out research on DNA assisted separation of rare earth metals as a fundamental study. At the same time we have carried out applied research to develop advanced technologies for utilization of low grade minerals and ores including gemstones. All these activities lead to better utilization of minerals and materials resources for wealth creation which indirectly help the common man.
OL: Is there anything great that you recall on the role of IMMT-Bhubaneswar in the new generation applied technologies especially that contribute as readymade solutions for the common man?
BKM: A technology that directly impacted the life of common man particularly in the rural area is the Terafil™ water filter system—a simple clay membrane based technology, to provide clean and affordable drinking water. This was perhaps the only technology that found a place in Prime Minister’s Bharat Nirman program.
OL: Today, many bright minds are deeply engaged in different Indian labs which are producing path-breaking scientific output. But, unfortunately, great work is not generally acknowledged in the society due to lack of information, awareness and interest. What do you say?
BKM: First, science and technology is not talked in public forum because our discoveries do not always lead to transfer of technology. This is a lengthy topic. So I will simply flag it and leave it there. Above all, dissemination of scientific knowledge, process and products is a challenging task. How many newspapers carry a science/technology column? Answer is very few. In England, I enjoyed Royal Institution Christmas Lectures which BBC used to telecast during Christmas time. So it is again a question of culture. But of late, things are changing in India too. There are few organizations including Vigyan Bharati and some TV channels have come forward to fill this gap. This is a welcome trend.
OL: In the past 2 decades Bhubaneswar has developed as a hub of general and professional education, in the part of eastern India. But, generally we do not find major engagement of students and research scholars in the domain of technological innovations and coming out with any path-breaking output. Do you agree?
BKM: Well not quite. In fact, institutes in Bhubaneswar area do quite a lot of exciting work engaging students and research scholars. Here too there is lack of reporting. Our school students earn laurels in various places in national competition but we don’t celebrate. Perhaps we lack in marketing our city and for that reason many of our talented people from the state go elsewhere. With so many national institutes and tech firms coming to Bhubaneswar, I have no doubt that the city will be the most happening place as far as technological innovation is concerned. It is just a matter of time.
OL: What is your advice to the students and young professionals of the country those who are dying to do something great with any new ideas especially following the path of start ups?
BKM: Government is giving a big push to start-up infrastructure, skill development and employment generation. I myself, almost 12 years back, had mentored a start-up which operates from Kanpur and is on expansion mode. There are many students from different places contact me for advice. I am happy that a different type of consciousness is building around start-ups. However this consciousness must be sustained given that in the coming few years a climate of rising unemployment and worsening social inequality (Source: UN data).
OL: Any advice for the young generation?
BKM: For the younger people I would say that there is no short-cut to hard work, and therefore, like the NIKE ad goes “Just do it!”
Prof. BK Mishra – a brief Bio
Prof. Barada Kanta Mishra, popularly called as BK in his circle, did Bachelors degree in Metallurgical Engineering from NIT Rourkela, in 1981 & Ph.D. degree from University of Utah, USA. He continued post doctoral research there. In the year 1993, he moved to IIT Kanpur to start his teaching career. He has taught in University of Utah, USA and Aston University, UK. In the year 2005, he joined CSIR as the Director of Institute of Minerals & Materials Technology (IMMT). Prof. Mishra has published over 200 SCI journal papers and has 5 US patents to his credit in minerals and extractive metallurgy area. He was a Fulbright fellow at University of Utah, USA. He is a recipient of the National Mineral Award from Ministry of Mines, Govt. of India. In terms of R&D he received the prestigious VASVIK Award. He served as a member of the expert committee formed by Hon’ble Supreme Court for Macro EIA study relating to mining in Goa.
