In the final episode of What Shapes Us, Prof. Vidya Mahambare speaks with Dr. Raghunath Anant Mashelkar, Padma Vibhushan awardee, Fellow of the Royal Society, former Director General of CSIR, and pioneer of the Gandhian Engineering and Inclusive Innovation movements in India.
Dr. Mashelkar reflects on an extraordinary journey from a one room tenement in Mumbai, studying under streetlights and walking barefoot until the age of twelve, to leading forty national laboratories and shaping India's scientific and innovation ecosystem.
The conversation explores the defining moments that shaped his life, including the influence of his mother, the teachers who inspired him, and the philosophy that has guided his work for decades: creating access equality despite income inequality.
The episode also covers:
- Growing up in Mumbai and overcoming adversity
- The power of education and mentorship
- Leadership lessons from CSIR and global scientific collaborations
- The story behind India's Traditional Knowledge Digital Library
- Gandhian Engineering and Inclusive Innovation
- The Anjani Mashelkar Foundation and affordable healthcare innovation
- Advice for young leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs
Listen the final episode of What Shapes Us and discover the experiences, values, and decisions that shaped one of India's most influential scientific leaders.
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What is What Shapes Us?
Lived experiences through the 5 Es: Endowment, Environment, Education, Effort, and Equality of Opportunity
In this series, Vidya speaks with thinkers, academicians, and ordinary people to uncover how the five Es intersect in personal and professional spheres, a framework she first articulated in a 2010 op-ed in Mint
Every conversation moves beyond surface narratives, inviting guests to reflect on what shaped them, what held them back, and what propels individuals and societies forward.