Kochi witnesses unique defence show

T Satisan, Kochi

Last week Kochiites were fortunate enough to witness an outstanding and informative  defence exhibition named National Defence Exhibition (NDE) on Science and Technology Intervention. The event was organised by Swadeshi Science Movement, Kerala State unit of the Vijnan Bharathi, in association with Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), Indian Navy, Kochi and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, Government of India. The three day programme was inaugurated by Dr VK Saraswath, Director General of DRDO. A Jayakumar, Secretary General of the Vijnan Bharathi was also present on the occasion.

The NDE was the first of its kind in Kochi. Here DRDO were hands in hand with its industrial partners. The theme of the show was “Self Reliance In Defence Technologies – Challenges & Opportunities”. The objectives were to highlight the significance of DRDO with respect to the three defence services – Army, Air Force and Navy, enable the leading suppliers to showcase their military products and achievements, leverage strengths of academia-research-industry to ensure that critical technologies are developed in-house quickly, offer great opportunity for learning and networking, create awareness on military technology among general public and create awareness among students on the career opportunities in defence organisations. Exhibition, both static as well as live demonstrations, panel discussion, technical presentations, students’ interactions with scientists, film show, cultural programmes, painting competition and quiz were some of the major progammes organised on the occasion.

NDE gave the Kochiites a rare opportunity to get familiarised with the latest innovations in the field of surface to surface, surface to sea, sea to surface, and intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarines, fire fighting on top of high rise buildings, most sophisticated fighter planes, fights on top of mountains, contributions of the industrial partners of DRDO, etc. Citizens made beelines in front of the exhibition pandal for getting a chance to have a look of the NDE. School children took brief off from their summer holidays and took part in this serious enjoyment

Panel discussion was really an education for the distinguished audience selected from intellectual walks of life of Kochi.  Nine info-packed papers were presented by giants of the defencedom.  Quality assurance, significance in converting all the defence needs to production, need of rapport between R&D and production, faith and commitment in indigenisation, need to involve production people in development, stress on manusmriti, atmanirvrutha-swavalambanam, sukraneethi and arthasasthram in defence, etc. were highlighted in the papers as the needs of the hour. Presence of elite youth was pictured as India’s advantage. While 27 per cent youth are in China, India’s tally is 54 per cent. If they are guided properly they can make  wonders. It was noted that scientists work very hard but people are in dark about the results.  Defence oriented people should be paid fairly well.

An important point mentioned in one of the papers was that defence acquisition incur huge expenses. But, unfortunately no university in the country teaches it despite 600 varsities and 40,000 colleges we do have. Lack of knowledge leads to scandals.  Similarly even though defence departments conduct training, our universities do not conduct courses on defence. Mantras for self reliance in defence is indigenisation and industrialisation. An important comment heard from a paper was that if a new car is launched it makes news. But nobody talks about INS Delhi, even though kids love models of fighter planes. It was stated In a paper that DFRL makes superior food. Siachin chappathis last for 6 months and pulavu 5 months. These sorts of awareness should be circulated through media. Capt. RS Sunder of Kochi Shipyard said, it is one of the 5 centres capable of building aircraft carriers and is the only yard in India with 3D modeling capacity. Association between Indian Navy and Larsen & Tubro was highlighted in L&T paper. Stress management and yoga for the soldiers who operate weapons were highlighted.

Dr Rajasekharan Nair KV and  Dr S Ananthanarayanan, both NPOL, Dr CG Krishnadasan Nair, former CMD of HAL, Prof. Gopalji Malvya, Hindustan Varsity, Lt Gen Dr VS Sundaram, DRDO, Dr S Ranganathan, L&T Mumbai, Capt RS Sunder, Kochi Shipyard,  S. Prasannan, The Week, Dr.S. Radhakrishnan, DRDO, Dr Sasibala Singh, DRDO and Dr EV Radhakrishnan, Secretary General of Surakasha 2013 were the experts who participated in the panel discussion.

Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Hon. Home Minister of Kerala and Prof KV Thomas, Hon. Union Minister of State (Independent charge) for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution are among the dignitaries who visited the exhibition.