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Post-Pokhran US sanctions on science
a mistake: Celeste

"Yes, I know one wouldn't expect this to come from the US Ambassador, but it (the imposition of sanctions) was wrong, it was a mistake on our part," Celeste told a gathering of eminent scientists at the Bose Institute in Calcutta.

"The sanctions were an emotional decision as we felt aggrieved, deceived and spurned by a friend," the ambassador said replying to a senior scientist who expressed concern over the uncertainty of US policies towards India, specifically in the area of science and technology.

Celeste, accompanied by the newly appointed US Embassy Science Advisor in India Dr Marco DiCapua, said the 1998 sanctions were mandated by US laws and were a result of political decisions.

"But I am a strong believer that science speaks a universal language. Good science respects a universal set of values," he said.

DiCapua said the USA was of the view that India should refrain from indulging in its nuclear strength as the security of the entire South East Asia depended upon this.

"Moreover, it is an awfully expensive programme and draining of funds this way would result in stunting development programmes," he said.

DiCapua said the biggest challenge for the Indo-US forum would be the demographics of the country, the physicist, who served as scientific counsel in Beijing for four years said, "Indian scientists must find technological answers to see how to make the pie bigger for one billion people."

Pointing out that sanctions were also imposed on certain crystallography projects being carried out by Atomic Energy Commission Chairman R Chidambaram due to some 'misunderstanding' Celeste said, "Those projects had nothing to do with nuclear science, but Chidambaram came under the sanctions as he was a nuclear scientist."

Urging Indian scientists to forge the bond between the two countries through more interaction Celeste said, "It is time we provided a buffer which guards science against political uncertainties. Future misunderstandings should not spill over to this area and turn it on or off like a light switch."

Celeste said, "Wisdom had come with the passage of time" and the US was keenly looking forward to the first meeting of the Indo-US sceince and technology forum constituted to collaborate and produce some 'outstanding scientific results'.

"I am sure India is going to be the leader and drive its economy through interventions in agro industries, new materials and biotechnology," he said adding 17 different US agencies were currently collaborating with India in various sectors.

Describing science as a critical driver of the new knowledge-based economy, Celeste said the distance from laboratory to land had shrunk as never before and scientists must now strive to explore new possibilities in private sector investments and industrial applications.

"As we encourage Indian participation in US science and vice versa, we will be inviting leading Indian scientists to participate in peer review panels of the National Institute of Health," Celeste said.

DiCapua said US companies were interested to fund basic research in India 'even if they do not see any immediate commercial gains'.

He said flow of international capital for basic sciences between countries was picking up and it was a healthy sign for growth of science.

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The Pokhran nuclear tests and after

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