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23 August 2024 at 4:29:04 pm

Guru of Gurus: Tribute to M.M. Sharma

Luminaries of science and industry at the launch of "Guru of Gurus" at the ICT in Mumabi. Mumbai: In an evening marked by deep reverence and scientific celebration, eminent scientist Dr. Raghunath Anant Mashelkar paid a moving tribute to his mentor, Padma Vibhushan awardee Prof. Man Mohan Sharma. The heartfelt reverence took center stage at the K.V. Auditorium of the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), where academicians, students, and industry leaders gathered to honor one of India’s...

Guru of Gurus: Tribute to M.M. Sharma

Luminaries of science and industry at the launch of "Guru of Gurus" at the ICT in Mumabi. Mumbai: In an evening marked by deep reverence and scientific celebration, eminent scientist Dr. Raghunath Anant Mashelkar paid a moving tribute to his mentor, Padma Vibhushan awardee Prof. Man Mohan Sharma. The heartfelt reverence took center stage at the K.V. Auditorium of the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), where academicians, students, and industry leaders gathered to honor one of India’s most distinguished chemical engineers. Speaking passionately at the event, Dr. Mashelkar affectionately addressed Prof. Sharma as his revered "guru." He reflected extensively on Prof. Sharma's pioneering contributions to chemical engineering, placing special emphasis on his unique and visionary approach to science. Dr. Mashelkar noted that his mentor possessed the rare ability to seamlessly bridge the gap between complex fundamental research and tangible, real-world industrial applications. For Dr. Mashelkar, the occasion was not just a formal celebration, but a deeply personal reflection on a mentor whose teachings have left an indelible mark on both academia and the broader industrial landscape of the nation. This gathering of scientific and industrial minds was organized to mark the launch of two significant publications that encapsulate Prof. Sharma’s extraordinary legacy. The releases included a newly penned Gujarati biography and a beautifully curated coffee table book aptly titled "Guru of Gurus," published by Sundaram Digital Publication House. Both works chronicle his unparalleled contributions to science, his philosophy of knowledge-sharing, and his lifelong dedication to mentoring generations of talent. The sentiment of deep respect initiated by Dr. Mashelkar was echoed by other dignitaries throughout the evening. Guest of Honour Madhukar Parekh, Chairman of Pidilite Industries, expanded on this narrative by highlighting Prof. Sharma’s profound structural influence on India’s scientific framework. Parekh emphasized how Prof. Sharma’s steadfast commitment to innovation and his role as an institution-builder have actively shaped countless leaders, entrepreneurs, and technologists across various sectors. Taking the podium amidst the tributes, Prof. Man Mohan Sharma looked toward the future rather than simply reflecting on his past achievements. He shared his enduring dream of elevating ICT to the prestigious status of a Central University, underscoring the institute's immense potential to evolve into a world-class, globally competitive center for science and engineering. Ultimately, the event stood as a fitting and intellectually enriching celebration of a legendary figure. Through the poignant reflections of esteemed peers like Dr. Mashelkar and the launch of these new literary works, the gathering immortalized Prof. Sharma not just for his scientific brilliance, but for his profound dedication to nation-building and his lifelong, guiding role as the ultimate "guru of gurus."

India’s Goldilocks Moment

As global peers struggle with inflation or stagnation, India finds growth and stability in a rare alignment.

India’s economy is basking in a rare ‘Goldilocks moment,’ evoking the fairy tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears where conditions are just right, ‘not too hot, not too cold.’ The GDP surges at 7-8 percent without overheating, spurring job creation and maximizing resource utilization. Inflation nestles comfortably in the 2-4 percent sweet spot, safeguarding purchasing power and anchoring interest rates. The rewards cascade investment and consumption boom, stock markets thrive attracting foreign capital, fiscal headroom expands as dearness allowances remain modest and borrowing costs dip, while business confidence soars, heralding sustained stability Amid global headwinds, this phase stands as a beacon of resilience, positioning India for its tryst with destiny as the world's third largest economy and a developed nation by 2047.


A cautionary note persists in the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), which turned negative since November 2025 at minus 0.32 percent, down from 1.21 percent in October 2025 and 2.16 percent a year earlier. The fall reflects easing prices of food articles, fuel, metals, and electricity. Food inflation slid to minus 4.16 percent from 8.31 percent in October, vegetables declined by over 20 percent, and staples such as onions and potatoes saw steep year-on-year drops, easing consumer wallets. Manufactured products softened to 1.33 percent (from 1.54 percent), fuel and power to 2.27% (from 2.55 percent). Cost pressures on industry stay mild, preserving production momentum without aggressive pass-through.


Contrast this with global peers: While the US grapples with sticky core inflation around 3-4 percent despite Fed rate cuts, and Europe battles energy-driven price volatility post-Ukraine, India's WPI softening reflects supply-side strengths like bumper harvests and stable commodity inflows. China's deflationary woes, with producer prices mired at (-) 2.5 percent through late 2025, stem from excess capacity and weak demand, but India's scenario feels more transitional, buoyed by robust domestic consumption. 


Bright Horizons

Retail inflation paints a steadier picture. Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose modestly from 0.25 percent to 0.71 percent in November, nudged by food prices. A softening rupee, firmer commodities, and vegetable spikes may lift WPI to a 0.5 percent positive. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), eyeing CPI, has delivered 1.25 percent cumulative rate cuts this fiscal year it upgraded FY 2025-26 GDP to 7.3 percent from 6.8 percent, mirroring Q1’s 7.8 percent and Q2’s 8.2 percent vigor, Inflation forecasts dipped to 2 percent from 2.6 percent, underscoring rapid disinflation. RBI hails this “rare Goldilocks phase” of high growth and low inflation, with its mandate to anchor prices firmly in place.Globally this optimism diverges sharply. The Eurozone’s 2.4 percent CPI masks industrial slowdowns, while Japan’s chronic low inflation (under 1 percent) hampers escape from stagnation. So what gives India an edge? A young demographic dividend fueling 7 percent plus growth, unlike aging Japan or the US’s 2.5 percent plod. RBI’s proactive 100 basis points easing mirrors the Fed's path but from strength, not distress.


Silver Lining

Negative WPI signals deflation - falling prices hinting at softening demand, output, or jobs, Consumers might delay buys, firms pause capex, reminiscent of Japan's ‘lost decades’ where PPI deflation averaged (-) 1 percent for years, trapping growth below 1 percent. Risks loom deferred spending erodes demand, shrinking margins idle capacity, spiking unemployment, real debt burdens swell for borrowers, risking defaults and a deflationary spiral - recession fueling joblessness, further demand collapse, and plunging prices. Central banks hit the zero lower bound, as in the 1930s Great Depression when US prices tumbled 10 percent, amplifying global misery. 


Yet, India's context brims with optimism. Deflation here lightens real debt, empowers savers and lenders as currency appreciates, enables deeper rate cuts to boost exports, like how South Korea leveraged post-1997 deflation for a rebound, and delivers affordable goods, especially aiding the poor. Unlike Japan's debt-laden trap (260 percent debt-to-GDP), India's 80 percent ratio affords maneuverability. Base effects from last year's spikes will fade, and kharif harvests promise food stability. Globally, brief deflations have propelled recoveries: Post-2008, Australia's mild producer price dips preceded a mining boom. 


Experts worldwide laud India's Goldilocks run amid turmoil - US-China trade frictions, Middle East volatility, and Europe's energy crunch. Base effects and food volatility warrant vigilance, but the RBI’s foresight and swift action, including the new rate cuts, are commendable. With the GDP firing on all cylinders, inflation tamed and global peers envious, India hurtles toward third-largest economy status. By 2047, as a developed powerhouse, it will banish inflation woes for its billion-plus citizens, scripting an economic epic that inspires the world.

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