Sixty-two years after Nehru’s death on May 27, 1964, his choices are now frequently subjected to harsh retrospective criticism by the BJP. Yet one reality transcends partisan argument. Whether landing a rover on the moon or developing a strategic nuclear deterrent, India is still riding on a Nehruvian vision rooted in a belief in the transformational impact of science and technology on the country.In an impoverished and newly independent republic, Nehru chose to invest scarce resources in building foundational institutions such as the IITs, AIIMS, and the National Institute of Design, among several others. He placed great emphasis on fundamental...