Bengaluru / New Delhi, Sep 10 (FN Bureau) India’s obsession with building big industries, while ignoring the basics, has left the nation struggling to keep pace with the rest of the world in science and technology, Infosys founder Narayana Murthy said on Monday. In a sharp critique of India’s past choices, Murthy argued that the country’s fixation on grand projects like steel plants in the 1970s was a misstep, pointing to China’s smarter strategy of starting with “small screwdrivers” and minor gadgets. This, he believes, laid the foundation for China’s manufacturing prowess, while India was busy chasing the grandeur of large-scale industries.
Speaking at a Pearson event in Bengaluru for the launch of the 13th edition of ‘Conceptual Physics’ by Professor Paul G Hewitt, Murthy pulled no punches in addressing India’s stagnant research and development (R&D) sector. “Our per capita spending on R&D is among the lowest in the world,” he said, noting the minimal investment by Indian companies, which contributes to the lackluster performance of the manufacturing sector. “We should have started with making small things like screwdrivers and minor gadgets,” he emphasized, drawing parallels to China’s approach and hinting at where India went wrong. Murthy didn’t stop there. He took aim at the broader claims of India’s scientific prowess, calling them exaggerated. “We have not won many global awards in science and mathematics. We still have not found a vaccine for dengue or chikungunya. If it were America or the UK, they would have found a solution. Therefore, it is not proper for us to claim that we are a science-loving nation.”
Beyond manufacturing, Murthy expressed deep concerns about India’s education system, which he described as largely stuck in rote learning. “Aside from some exceptions, in India, we have focused by and large on rote learning which doesn’t help us relate what was learned in the class to think about real-world problems,” he remarked. Murthy dismissed the widespread reliance on coaching classes, stating they do little to foster genuine understanding and critical thinking among students. Murthy proposed a bold and transformative solution: bringing in retired teachers from India and abroad to mentor and train Indian educators in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). “If we can invite 8,000 retired teachers and each handles about 25 teachers, they can train around 200,000 teachers. In five years, we would have exceeded a million teachers,” he stated, underscoring his long-standing belief that quality teaching is key to nurturing future innovators.
The Pearson event underscored the urgent need for a shift in Indian education from rote memorisation to conceptual learning. The launch of ‘Conceptual Physics’ aligns with this shift, as the book is designed to promote a deeper understanding of physics, helping students connect theory with real-world applications. Pearson revealed plans to bring more internationally-acclaimed learning resources to India, aiming to bridge the gap between global educational standards and India’s growing demand for high-quality STEM education. Murthy’s comments were a stark reminder that India’s path to becoming a true science and technology powerhouse requires a fundamental shift in mindset—from the grandeur of big projects to the meticulous, unglamorous work of small-scale manufacturing and genuine learning. His vision calls for a new era of focus, discipline, and openness to global ideas, setting the stage for India to catch up in the race of innovation and progress.