Learn art of being humble from 'rishis': Manohar Parrikar to scientists

NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today asked the DRDO scientists to learn from 'rishis', the art of being humble and overcoming jealously and anger.

Stressing on the need for educated people to be humble, he said 'rishis' in the olden years were "probably great scientists".

Parrikar, who was speaking at the the 39th Directors' Conference of DRDO here, said he would not like to get into a controversy whether 'rishis' were scientists or spiritual.

Before he spoke about 'rishis', Parrikar said one of the major issue which he would like to identify, this should not be taken in a wrong sense, "I always believe that power enhances with restraint and education enhances with humility."

Giving the example of mythological rishi Dadhichi, Parrikar said he provided Indra with 'vajra'.

"They say that he made it out of his bone but I think he would have probably done some scientific research to develop a metal which provided that kind of superior technology. So you can classify him into a scientist. But the major difference that I find in those days and today is that rishis had control over ego, control over anger. These are very important for educated person," Parrikar said.

The Minister said education does not have any value if it does not come with integrity.

"For a educated person, to have humility is one of the most important virtue. I think the scientist community should choose to make it part of their overall behaviour and set up. This one apsect...I see many tussle. Politics is done everywhere but is also being sometimes played in a wrong sense. I understand you have high aspirations," he said.