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MUMBAI:
To celebrate India's 60th year of Independence, Discovery
will showcase India's technological progress and the power
of innovation exemplified in the advanced products and solutions
indigenously created by both scientists and common men/wollIen
and used by millions across India and abroad.
It
will kick off the six episode show Daily Planet Goes To
India from 15 August at 8 pm. It will showcase innovations
that are changing the face of India and will propel the nation
into the 21st century.
The
show will explore the science and technology driving India's
economic development both at the global and grassroots level.
The
series will give viewers a glimpse into India's technological
advancements made across diverse fields ranging from Isro's
Chandrayaan moon mission to the BandraWorli Sea Link, from
the restoration work at the Taj Mahal and Ajanta Caves to
an engineering marvel fit for the Gods Global Pagoda under
construction near Mumbai, slated to have the largest stone
dome in ' the world, from the first indigenous developed and
designed multi purpose civilian aircraft Saras by National
Aerospace Laboratories to the SkyBus an ideal solution for
the growing traffic congestion.
The
series will also highlight product and service innovations
directly impacting Indians' daily lives including: the six
sigma credited century old practice of Dabbawallas, a highly
specialised lunch delivery system; the innovative Jaipur Foot,
artificial limbs changing the life of millions of amputees;
grassroots innovations encouraged by National Innovation Foundation
like the Amphibious Bicycle created by Mohammad Saidullah
from Bihar.
This
conventional bicycle that can be modified to cross ponds and
other water bodies and is extremely useful during floods and
Pedal Operated Washing Machine created by Remya Jose from
Kerala. Millions of cricket lovers in India can also witness
the research undertaken at Nasa's Ames Research Centre in
California to assist cricket bowlers' perfect their swing.
Viewers
will also hear what Narayana Murthy, the founder of IT company
Infosys has to say about the India's economic future and renowned
scientist Dr. M. S. Swaminathan who decades back revollutionised
India's agricultural production and is today working to improve
the lives of millions by bringing the Internet to the poorest
in remote villages.
In
addition an independent computer ititeractive project titled
Hole in the Wall in action in a slum in Delhi showcases
how without any adult intervention, neither teachers nor parents,
computers can increase children's social and behavioural maturity.
The series also covers a solution for contaminated drinking
water consumed every day by poor slum dwellers an inexpensive
and effective water filter.
In
the first episode show hosts Kim Jagtiani and Ingram kick
off the episode with an interesting solution to Mumbai's traffic
terrors. The Bandra Worli Sea Link is an eight lane highway
that, when completed, will extend out over the Arabian Sea,
linking the downtown core to the suburbs. Next, it attempts
to keep up with the Dabbawallas, a highly specialised lunch
delivery system.
Though
not computerised, they are never late and rarely make mistakes.
But how have they kept this intricate system working perfectly
for over a century? Then, travel to Maharashtra and find out
how priceless Buddiiist paintings and sculptures within the
famous Ajanta eaves are being preserved for the future.
Next,
it takes a look at the Indian film industry which produces
the highest number of motion pictures in the world. Also in
this episode, explore the traditional dance forms which demands
dexterity, athleticism and grace.
Discovery
India executive VP and MD Deepak Shourie said, "Technology
is fast becoming India's biggest strength and strongest differentiator.
Alongside empowering India's economic growth, the series highlights
how India's technological capabilities have amplified its
reputation around the world. It also describes how product
and service innovations from grassroots level to moon missions
are making a difference to our daily lives. On the 60th year
of our independence, we believe it is the most pertinent
message to send to millions of Discovery viewers spread around
the country."
Isro
director Space Applications Centre Dr. R Navalgund said, "
The initiative taken by the Discovery in generating this programme
to showcase India's achievements in space technology, applications
and science is laudable. Today, India has the largest indigenously
built domestic communication satellite system in Asia Pacific
region with ten satellites providing services such as tele
communication, television broadcasting, meteorology, teleeducation,
tele health, disaster warning.
"
Chandrayaan I is a science mission aimed at high resolution
remote sensing of the moon to generate three dimensional atlas
of the moon surface and mineralogical mapping. Chandrayaan
1 would be launched by an indigenously developed polar satellite
launch vehicle. Data received from Chandrayaan will help expanding
scientific knowledge of the moon."
Saras
national aerospace laboratories programme director Chidananda
said, "The Saras aircraft is being developed as a multi
role light transport aircraft. Its usage in the vast but poorly
connected parts of India (the North East region, for example)
is expected to provide a quick and efficient mode of travel
between tier two, tier three cities and towns with major aviation
hubs. This is also expected to promote growth of civil aviation
outside the major hubs and help the overall economic development
of these regions. This attempt is also expected to trigger
growth of a vibrant civil aviation industry."
National
Innovation Foundation executive vice chairperson Professor
Anil Gupta said, "In the last one or two decades, I have
witnessed tremendous rejuvenation of the scientific and technological
determination in India to overcome the age old efficiency
benchmarks. In some sectors, it is more evident than others.
Growth in manufacturing, success in space and automatic sectors
is of course contrasted with sluggishness in agricultural
and environmental technologies. But, there is a realisation
t hat
one cannot grow without another.
"Not
only this, the innovations at the grassroots level are also
receiving much more attention than they ever did in the last
five decades. Climbing trees using a tree climber and crossing
the river on an amphibious bicycle along with having a man
on the moon are examples of the range of scientific and technological
rendezvous.
"The
show will draw both national and global attention to what
has been accomplished and also stress even more what remains
to be achieved. And that is a lot. The synergy between grassroots
innovations in the informal sectors and the excellence in
the formal scientific sectors is the prime need of the hour."
Skybus
inventor B Rajaram said, "The intellectual capital of
India needs to be liberated. The sky wheels based Konkan Skybus
is an example of how the same existing railway can be re configured
to provide economic, safer and eco friendly rail transport
for people and goods in urban habitats. Discovery through
their research truly brought out the emerging spirit of India,
to showcase the paradigm shift in infrastructure development
leading to improved quality of life at economical costs.'
Nutan
Mumbai Tiffin Box Supplier Charity Trust and Association president
Raghunath Medge said, "We, the Dabbawalas, are known
to provide excellent a~d reliable services without any technological
back up. It is a highly specialised system that is over a
century old, something which has become an integral part of
Mumbai's culture."
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