Hyderabad: Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra on Thursday compared the public-private partnership in space with the mythological character of ‘Narasiṃhan’, the Lion-headed God and fourth Avatar of Lord Vishnu, to stress on the fact that the space sector needs to think differently and be innovative to untap its full potential.
While talking during a webinar organised by the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on ‘Unlocking India’s Potential in Space Sector’, Mahindra said: “Two very different halves made a very unexpected whole. I am thinking of Vishnu in his avatar as Narsimhan – half man, half lion. I am visualizing an ecosystem for a public-private partnership that combines the knowledge and intellect of a human being with the fearlessness, speed, strength and the killer instincts of a lion.”
Mahindra went on to explain how Narasimha had to think differently to conquer the demon of Hiranyakashyap, who was invulnerable to weapons and could not be killed by any living being, not at daytime or night time and not above or below.
“I would urge all of us to keep the story in mind (of how Narasimha killed Hiranyakashyap despite all oddities) as we deliberate on ways to unlock the space sector. Think of creating structures and systems that have never existed before, think differently about achieving the goal, whether you are a public or a private player,” Mahindra said.
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“Let’s make it a part of our work on how to produce the next generation of problem solvers like Narasimhan. Let’s think beyond existing paradigms and answers will emerge. Our ultimate goal is to create a catalyst for space entrepreneurship,” he added.
Mahindra added that it was the right time for India to become a ‘Space-faring’ nation from a ‘Space-exploring nation’. Noting the immense potential in the sector, he said, “Space may well become the new gold rush and why this gold rush… because there is gold at the end of the rainbow… plenty of it.. for both governments and businesses.”
Earlier in June, the Union Cabinet approved a slew of changes in the space sector to boost private sector participation in the entire range of space activities.
The government created a new body -- the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centres (IN-SPACe) -- to provide a level-playing field for private companies to use Indian space infrastructure. It also created a public sector enterprise, New Space India Ltd, which aimed “to re-orient space activities from a supply-driven model to a demand-driven one, thereby ensuring maximum utilisation of space assets,” a statement by the government had said.
(ETV Bharat Report)
