Building the Pushpa Gujral
Science City - Issues and Challenges
Vinay Kumar
Chandigarh
The enlightened
political leadership post independence was conscious of the important role
science and technology can play in development of the country. It was also
realized that infusing scientific temper among the general masses would be
essential to pull the society out of superstitions, that is necessary for a
developed nation. Setting up a series of science centres in the country was
considered as an essential component to meet the intended objectives. Creation
of Pushpa Gujral Science City (PGSC) at Kapurthala stands towering as a part of this
initiative. The building of the PGSC was a task that was full of constraints
and challenges as the project was to be set up in rural hinterland of Punjab
with no trained manpower in the field readily available in the country and very
little support in terms of manufactured scientific exhibits. The other
challenges included building an all-inclusiveplace for people of all ages with
different educational and social background. The talk will dwell upon as to how
these and many other such challenges were met with meticulous planning and well
thought out strategy in developing the most modern Science City in the country.
About the Speaker: Dr. R.S. Khandpur is a former Director General,
Pushpa Gujral Science City, Kapurthala. He has steered the
development of the Science City almost from scratch to a centre of
international level. The Science City today is an emblem of pride not only for
Punjab, but also for the nation. Dr. Khandpur has been awarded the National
award for his contribution in Science Popularization and
Communication by DST's NCSTC for 2017. A former Director General of Centre
for Electronics Design & Technology of India of Ministry of Information
& Communication Technology, Govt. of India, Dr. Khandpur is the Founder
Director of CDAC, Mohali. He served as Scientist for 24 years in CSIO,
Chandigarh, as Head of Medical Instruments Division (1975-1989) and Head,
Electronics Division (1985-89). He has been AICTE/ NAE Distinguished Visiting
Professor to prominent engineering institutes. Dr. Khandpur did his B.Sc. in
1962 from DAV College, Amritsar obtaining FIRST position in the Panjab
University; B.E from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore with DISTINCTION,
did post-graduate research at Royal College of Surgeons of England,
London. Punjab Technical University conferred on him the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa). Dr. Khandpur has been Member, Board of
Governors, Punjab Technical University; Director, Board of Directors, Punjab
Information and Communication Technology Corporation, Chairman, Beant College
of Engineering and Technology, Gurdaspur; Member Planning Board, Central
University of Punjab, Bathinda. Presently, he is Chairman of Project Approval
& Monitoring Committee of DST, GoI and is on the Committees of
several other Central/ State Govts. He is member of IEEE, USA, Honorary Fellow,
Punjab Academy of Sciences and Fellow, IETE.
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