The Scientific Indian: A Twenty-first Century Guide to the World around Us

Nuclear capability, self-sufficiency in food production, an array of indigenous satellites and missiles, an unmanned Moon mission—India’s achievements in the scientific domain in recent years have been spectacular. But, according to the country’s best-known scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and his close associate Y.S. Rajan, we’ve only just begun. In a century that many experts predict may belong to India, the realization of the vision of a better future for everyone will require a keen understanding of our needs and this can only be achieved by tailoring our research and innovations to the goal of national development.






India to the forefront of the world in the decades to come.



The Scientific Indian will speak to every curious and adventurous mind, and especially to tomorrow’s scientists and technologists, encouraging us to dream big, and urging us to work hard to make our dreams come true.




In The Scientific Indian, the authors of the path-breaking India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium return after ten years to the core areas of scientific advancement that are crucial today: space exploration, satellite technology, missile development, earth and ocean resources, the biosphere, food production, energy and water harvesting, health care and communications, to name a few. For each aspect, the authors provide the context of recent progress on the global platform as well as Indian breakthroughs, before outlining a pragmatic vision of technological development that will propel


About the author
Former scientific advisor to the Prime Minister and father of the Indian missile program, A.
P. J. Abdul Kalam surprised few when he rolled up to Raisina Hill from small town
Rameshwaram to become the President of India. His career has been sketched by many
before. The strength of his writing, indeed, of his character, is his ability to mix scientific
vision with the destiny of the nation. The style and diversity of his writing is like his career
itself: Rich, diverse and simple. And unlike the ravings of scientists driven by their visions of
excellence, Abdul Kalam draws on the collected experience from his diverse career,
starting with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering to working in 3 of the nations premier
research establishment namesly Indian Space Research Organisation, Defence Research
and Development Organistion and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre