The Indian Institute of Science has produced Nobel laureates, trained many of India's greatest scientists and helped nurture some of the country's finest scientific institutions

"What advances a nation or community is not so much to prop up its weakest and the most helpless, as to lift the best and most gifted, so as to make them of the greatest service to the country." It was this thought which motivated Jamsetji Tata, the founder of the Tata Group, to conceive of establishing an institution of advanced scientific education and research, the like of which even England did not have, at the end of 19th century.

Jamsetji was convinced that national resurgence was only possible through multi-level industrialisation, higher education and scientific research. "He was a visionary who had personally established industries which were at the forefront of technology in those times. Besides, he donated half of his personal wealth (14 buildings and four landed properties in Bombay) for the creation of this institution," says Dr Goverdhan Mehta, director, Indian Institute of Science (IISc).

After consulting several authorities in the country, Jamsetji constituted a provisional committee to prepare the required scheme for the setting up of the Institute. On December 31, 1898, a draft prepared by the committee was presented to Lord Curzon, the viceroy-designate. Subsequently, upon the request of the secretary of state for India, the Royal Society of London asked Sir William Ramsay, a Nobel laureate, for help. Sir William made a quick tour of the country and reported Bangalore to be the most suitable place for such an institution.

At the initiative of the dewan, Sir K Sheshadri Iyer, the government of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, the maharaja of Mysore, came forward with an offer of 372 acres of land, free of cost, and promised other necessary facilities. Thus Jamsetji's original scheme became a tripartite venture, with the association of the Government of India and the Mysore maharaja.

In 1911 that the Maharaja of Mysore laid the foundation stone of the institute and, on July 24 that year the first batch of students was admitted in the departments of general and applied chemistry, organic chemistry and electro-technology. Since then the IISc has grown into a premier institution of research and advanced instruction, with more than 2,000 active researchers working in almost all the frontier areas of science and technology.

During past decades, Nobel laureate CV Raman, Homi J Bhabha, Vikram S Sarabhai, JC Ghosh, MS Thacker, S Bhagavantam, Satish Dhawan, CNR Rao and scores of others who have played a key role in the scientific and technological progress of our country have been closely associated with the Institute.

The IISc has helped to create and nurture other laboratories and scientific institutions within the country. The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and the Atomic Energy Commission were born here. In fact, Homi Bhabha wrote the proposals for creating both these institutions when he was on the faculty of the Institute. The Indian space programme, too, was nurtured here. It also enabled CV Raman to undertake research in light scattering, which eventually won him the Nobel Prize in 1930.

Says Mr Mehta, "Jamsetji's vision was that the Institute should commit itself to the quest of excellence for the betterment of the people. That has been the endeavour of this Institute for close to a century: to be in the forefront of research for the benefit of humankind and the people of India. It is a not a one-time activity, but an ongoing process."

JRD Tata, the late chairman of the Tata Group, took a keen interest in the Institute. He believed that it should contribute not just to science but to society as a whole, while emphasising the social relevance of science. "He took good care of the employees and even helped start the Tata Memorial Sports Club, which he regularly visited," says NV Raghavan, the Institute's public relations officer. "While mingling with the crowd, JRD, a strong advocate of population control, would casually ask scientists and workers about the number of children they had."

JRD paid great attention to the maintenance and upkeep of the buildings. Current Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata is continuing this legacy. In recent times, he has helped promote the Sir Dorabji Tata Centre for Tropical Diseases and assisted with the maintenance of the structure. His contribution is not just financial; he is also is a strong motivational force.

Every institute is continually in an evolutionary phase. The world of science and technology has metamorphosed since the establishment of the IISc. The Institute has tried to keep pace, both in terms of training of human resources and its research contributions, which are widely recognised in India and abroad. "The contribution of institutes like ours should be judged from how much it has enriched the intellects of science and technology in the country," says Mr Mehta with a hint of pride. "We have manned some prestigious and nationally important missions and projects."

The Institute has also started the process of celebrating its centenary, while defining its goals for the next century of its existence. "My dream is to transform it into an international institute of science," adds Mr Mehta. "I believe that we have done our best and maintained the vision of the founder. His spirit is still present here."