A New India
Chapter 175 - 175: The Lecture at IIT Delhi

The sky over IIT Delhi was turning orange as the sun set, casting long shadows across the stone pathways that led to the main auditorium.

Inside, the seats were quickly filling up with students, eager for the evening's lecture.

Dr. William Harris, a British scientist known for his work on radar systems during World War II, was set to speak on modern advancements in electronics and communication technology.

His visit had been the talk of the campus for weeks.

The students knew they were part of a new wave of thinkers and engineers who would help shape the country's future.

Even though they have been studying, it cannot be denied that West is far ahead in technology and academic culture.

Which why Dr. Harris's lecture promised to be more than just a history lesson; it was an opportunity to glimpse the future of technology.

As the crowd settled into their seats, Dr. Harris made his way to the podium.

He was an older man, in his late fifties, with graying hair and sharp eyes that had seen decades of technological change.

Students from across disciplines, from electrical engineering to physics, were here to learn from a man who had been at the forefront of technological innovation.

He adjusted his glasses and began.

"Good evening," Dr. Harris said, his voice clear and commanding. "It is an honor to stand before you today, in a country that is on the brink of incredible technological growth.

I've been privileged to witness and be a part of some of the most transformative technological developments of the 20th century, and I am here today to share with you what I've learned, and perhaps give you a sense of where the future is headed."

The room was silent

"In the past few decades, we have seen electronics move from a novelty to the backbone of modern industry," he began.

"Take, for example, the invention of the vacuum tube. While today it might seem like an old technology, when it was first developed, it revolutionized how we thought about communication. With the vacuum tube, we were able to build radios that could transmit and receive messages across great distances. This single invention changed how we connected with one another."

He paused, glancing around the room, making sure everyone was following. "Now, I'm sure many of you know what a vacuum tube is, it's a device that controls the flow of electrons in a vacuum and can amplify signals. This was crucial during the war when we needed a way to boost weak radio signals."

Dr. Harris took a piece of chalk and sketched a simple diagram of a vacuum tube on the blackboard, illustrating the basic principles of electron flow between the cathode and anode, and how it was used to amplify electrical signals.

"This simple technology," he continued, "paved the way for radio communication as we know it. It allowed soldiers on the battlefield to stay connected and made it possible for governments to communicate over long distances during critical moments."

As he spoke, the students scribbled furiously in their notebooks, eager to capture every detail.

"Now, let's move to something even more transformative, radar technology," he said, turning to face the students directly. "During the war, I worked with teams that were developing radar systems, which allowed us to detect aircraft from miles away, giving us a significant advantage. Radar works on a simple principle, radio waves are transmitted, bounce off an object, and return to the receiver.

The time it takes for the waves to return helps us calculate the distance to the object."

He drew a diagram of a radar system on the board, explaining how pulses of radio waves were sent out in bursts, and how the receiver would capture the reflected waves.

"The challenge with radar," Dr. Harris explained, "wasn't just in building a system that could detect objects, but in creating one that could distinguish between different types of objects, whether it was a plane, a ship, or even weather formations. We had to fine-tune the system to cut down on false signals."

The students watched intently as Dr. Harris spoke, for them this is something very novel, hearing all this from someone who has been a part of everything they are studying.

"Radar," he said, "has evolved rapidly since its early days. Today, we use it in weather forecasting, aviation, and even in the early stages of space exploration. It is a perfect example of how a technology developed for war can find peaceful applications."

He stepped back from the board and looked out at the audience, gauging their reactions.

He could see that they were hooked.

"But what excites me most," Harris continued, "isn't just radar or radio, but what's happening now in the world of electronics. You've all heard of the transistor, yes?"

There were a few murmurs of agreement from the crowd, though not everyone had a complete understanding of this new technology.

"The transistor," he explained, "is set to replace the vacuum tube. It's a small, solid-state device that can amplify electrical signals just like a vacuum tube, but it's much smaller, more reliable, and uses less power. The first transistor was invented only a few years ago, in 1947, by John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley at Bell Labs in the United States.

I believe it's going to revolutionize how we build communication systems."

He held up a small model of a transistor and passed it around the room.

The students, many of whom had only read about transistors in textbooks, looked at it with awe.

"The transistor is still in its infancy," Harris said. "But in the coming years, it will become the foundation for smaller, more powerful communication, and will likely change the way we approach telecommunications. Imagine the size of this room, shrinking down to the size of a desk for communication. It might sound impossible, but trust me, it's not."

The student who were listening suddenly found themselves in awe, this was the advantage of experts because they not only bring knowledge but also a vision that most of time is far ahead then today.

For them the idea of smaller, more powerful communication was almost unimaginable to these students, yet here was a man who had seen technology evolve in ways no one had thought possible.

"As I stand here today," Dr. Harris said, "I see a bright future for India. You have the potential to build world-class technologies right here in your own country. You don't have to look to Europe or the United States to lead the way. The talent in this room is enough to create incredible advancements. Technological advancements doesn't look at race or ethnicity, it only looks at hard work and vision.

All you need is a vision and God forbid anyone who dares to stop you to reach there"

He glanced at the clock, realizing his time was almost up. "Before I finish, I want to leave you with one final thought. Technology is not just about building machines, it's about solving problems. Whether you're working on electronics, mechanics, or chemistry, the goal should always be to improve lives, to make things easier, faster, and better for society.

Sometimes you might question the process, the failures and even yourself. But today I will tell you that no matter what happens always believe yourself because every piece of technology you see today started from failure"

The students sat in silence, absorbing everything he had said. Dr. Harris smiled.

It felt gratifying teaching a new generation of students who are Hungry to achieve.

After the lecture, the room erupted in applause.

The students were inspired for them today was a day where they realised that technology can be achieved, all it takes is hard work and vision.

Finally, Professor Sharma stood up. "Dr. Harris has kindly agreed to take a few questions from the audience," he announced.

Hands shot up all over the room.

"Sir," one student asked, "you've worked on such groundbreaking technologies. Do you believe India can develop its own radar systems and communication networks?"

Dr. Harris nodded. "Absolutely. The principles of radar are well known now, and with the talent you have here, there's no reason India can't develop its own systems. It will take time and investment, but the foundation is here."

Another student asked, "What do you think will be the next big leap in technology?"

Harris smiled. "I think communication and transistors will drive the next wave of innovation. Communicaton will become more powerful, and eventually, we'll be able to reach distance that we can't even imagine today."

After few more questions the Q&A session ended, suddenly the students once again gave Dr. Harris another round of applause.

He had given them a glimpse of the future, a future they were eager to help build.

Later, as Dr. Harris walked through the quiet campus with Professor Sharma. "You have bright minds here, Professor," he said.

"India is on the verge of something big. These students, they're going to change the world."

Professor Sharma nodded in agreement. "They will, Dr. Harris. They certainly will."