Self-reliance doesn’t mean that we do everything ourselves: ISRO chief 

ISRO Chairman said that self-reliance doesn’t mean that we do everything ourselves while delivering an address in the Department of Space programme on Self-reliance in Space Technology

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S Somnath on Friday said that self reliance doesn’t mean that we do everything ourselves.

Delivering the inaugural address in the Department of Space programme on Self-reliance in Space Technology, Mr Somnath said, “Indian space story is a story of Atmanirbhartha (self-reliance), promoting Atmanirbhartha. I would like to look at this word once again more carefully. What exactly do you mean by Atmanirbhartha? I believe that it is nothing but if we want to do something we are not denied the possibility of doing it. It is simple like that. So, it doesn’t mean that you do everything by yourself. I think that meaning is not there”.

Mr Somnath added that in a world which is getting more connected and inclusive we cannot take such a stand that we are going to do everything ourselves and be in a closed society.

“Of course, such a society cannot grow because growth happens by participating with so many other people. I think this has been the trademark of ISRO as well when we started the whole programme of space we were not equipped to do it and we took support and help from so many people across the world, including advanced nations to initiate the capability and development in this country and we see the fruits of the benefit, ” Mr Somnath added.  

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Mr Somnath said that when India’s space programme started there were a lot of questions as to why ISRO was doing it.

“Today it is very easy to say that we are already a developed nation, but we don’t even understand the difficulties and issues faced by the forefathers in even thinking about it (space programme),” Mr Somnath said.