Dr.Raghunath Mashelkar’s Most Powerful Equation – “ E = F “

It was an honour and a rare privilege for Rotary Club of Bombay West when Padma Vibhushan Dr.Raghunath Mashelkar presided over as Chief Guest at the Annual Smt.Chandaben Mohanbhai Patel Rotary Excellence Awards on Monday, 30^th July at Smt.Chandaben Mohanbhai Patel Homeopathic College Auditorium in Vile Parle West Mumbai.

Speaking to the young minds – around 200 top ranking SSC students from around 60 schools in western suburbs of Mumbai – Dr.Mashelkar (a globally recognised genius scientist himself) narrated an incident when there was a discussion on what is possibly the most powerful equation that was ever developed by scientists. Someone said that it was the equation describing Newton’s second law, giving the relationship between force (F), mass (m) and acceleration (a), namely, F = ma. Someone else said that it is Einstein’s equation linking Energy (E) to mass (m) and the velocity of light (c), namely, E = mc2. The others came out with some other suggestions.

Then they asked him as to what he thought. He said neither Newton nor Einstein. The most powerful equation is E = F. Here E is Education and F is Future! This means education is equal to the future. This equation is universal and eternal. If there is no education, there is no future. No future for the individual, no future for the nation.

He went to add that there was new challenge for education vis a vis industry.  Industry 1.0, the first industrial revolution, was mechanization of production using steam. Industry 2.0, the second industrial revolution, was mass production using electricity. Industry3.0, the third industrial revolution used ‘simple’ digitization. ‘Complex’ digitization gave birth to the terminology Industry 4.0. Here cyber-physical systems are bringing in dramatic shifts. Internet of things, advanced automation, robotics, artificial intelligence and big data analytics are going to be the major drivers.

Students need to be future ready.

Lastly, he gave 5 Mantras – what he called as Mashelkar Mantras based on his own personal experience –

1.      Your aspirations are your possibilities, so keep them always high.

2.      Like instant coffee, there is no instant success. Work hard and success will follow.

3.      But work hard in silence. Let success make the noise.

4.      Don’t wait for opportunities to knock on your door, create opportunities, build your own doors.

5.      There is a no limit to human imagination and achievement, excepting the limits you yourself put on your mind. So go limitless. Outperform yourself.

He concluded his talk by quoting the famous words of US President John F. Kennedy - ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.".  He urged the students to ask themselves every night before going to sleep as to what they did today for their country and get up in the morning with the question as to what they will do for their country today. (Read more about Dr.Raghunath Mashelkar on his official website www.mashelkar.com)

Earlier, Dr.Mohanbhai Patel, the Guest of Honour, explained what he thought was “Excellence” quoting anecdotes from Mahabharata.  He also gave recent life examples of Mary Kom, Bansal brothers of Flipkart fame and the rescue operations in Thailand to save children trapped in the cave as epitome of “Excellence”.  Rotary International District Governor Rtn.Shashi Sharma too addressed the students and motivated them to study further and achieve success in their lives.  President of Rotary Club of Bombay West, Dr.Anand Gupta welcomed the gathering, gave glimpses of the community service activities of the Club and wished the students a great future ahead.  The event was graced by several educationists and members and spouses of the Club and Inner Wheel Club of Bombay West.

The students were later handed over Merit Certificates with cash awards along with an information booklet on Guide to Education Loans & Skill Loans from Banks in India published by the Club.

-          Report by PP Rtn.Aslam Merchant