Our ancestors had, at some point, displayed great strengths in space science. What people like Aryabhata had said centuries ago is being recognised by science today. What I mean to say is that we are a country which had these capabilities. We need to regain these.

India's struggle for technological self sufficiency and defensive autonomy-a story as much about politics, domestic and international, as it is about science.

When you look at what was happening with e-commerce and how big that was going to become, there's the big wave of India, there's the big wave of e-commerce, and then there's the question of, "Is this the brand to invest in?". We developed this confidence in that team, and so far we've been proven to be right about that.

India has probably lost its position to China as the world's workshop. At the same time it has the power to be ahead of China when it comes to knowledge. Not that the Chinese are far behind. They will get there. But our challenge is to invest sufficiently in education.

Wonder why some people tend to see science as something which takes man away from God. As I look at it, the path of science can always wind through the heart. For me, science has always been the path to spiritual enrichment and self-realisation.

Science is a beautiful gift to humanity; we should not distort it.