WHERE IS INDIA?

I wonder where does India stand in this race for the first position in creative thinking, original writing and world class publishing. The Indian universities encourage their bright students to do research work in spheres of interest and national as well as global requirements. The motto of our alma mater is: QUOT RAMI TOT ARBORES - and that means let every branch become a tree. Thus, there is a emphasis on academic development where what matters is the end-result. The final product is what a researcher publishes and is acknowledged as a work worth taking note of. So the research guides keep on dinning into the ears of their research student - publish or perish. With so much effort put into creative writing and publishing, there is no reason why India shoud be ignored in a global assessment.

CHINA IS NOT ORIGINAL

I am not accusing China of stealing original ideas from other countries. I am just remotely quoting Vivek Wadhwa, a known columnist of the US, that plagiarism is the bane of Chinese scholars. One may ask that the said columnist may be anti-China because of historical reasons. Had it been so, he should have given a pace of honour to India, country of his ethnic origin, but it is not so. However, what goes on record and stands unrebutted as of now, is the glaring fact that the Chinese writers are under governmental pressure to produce volume after volume of their research work. The thesis and other writings on new subjects should not only see the day light in print but must be patented. This is the only way to surpass the American scholars who have a penchant for publishing and patenting. Americans stand at number one position on the pedestal. They are going full steam ahead and have no intention of slackening in this academic race lest China surpasses them and they are per force asked to stand at number two pace on the pedestal.

The crux of the matter is: originality of thought, expression and publication. Americans insist on maintaining this high standard. If a scholar is accused of plagiarism it is considered to be academic demise of that scholar. No one wishes to kick the bucket before the time is ripe.

Can one safely say the same about the Chinese research scholars who are under pressure to write more and publish more? Under this red alert pressure of the red government in Beijing, the Chinese scholars have no choice but to lift the research findings of non-Chinese scholars lock stock and barrel.