He’s not the only one to have skipped the event. Of the 41 laboratories under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), only two are represented by their directors. Indeed, the director general of the CSIR himself has not shown up.

Premier scientific institutions like the Indian Institute of Science, TIFR, various IITs etc., are either not represented at all or have a mere token presence. Moreover, not a single top-level scientist has turned up from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) or the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) or the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had a team led by its director G Madhavan Nair but its session on community development through space applications was a rehash of ideas already expressed at several other fora.

Some of the big names who were scheduled to speak pulled out at the last minute. National Knowledge Commission chairman Sam Pitroda was listed for a lecture on Friday but as was revealed later, he had never sent in his confirmation. Secretary of Department of Biotechnology M K Bhan could not make it because of poor health.

“It is disappointing to see that the Science Congress is not able to attract the best of scientific minds in the country. I am very concerned with this,” admits celebrated agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan, one of the few well-known faces present here. “We must look at making better arrangements and doing whatever is necessary to ensure that the top scientists attend this event.”

... contd.