Chennai: Union Human Resources Development Minister Dr Murali Manohar Joshi on March 13 said the people should not become slaves to the modern technology.

'They should be masters of the technology and not their slaves', he said after awarding the best scientist award to Dr K Kasthuri Rangan, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) Chairman, at a function organised by the Jeppiar Educational Trust in Chennai.

He said the modern technology should have a 'human face' and should contribute to the development of mankind instead of destructing it.

He said India should not adopt the western technology in toto. 'We should innovate and become a leader of science in our own right', he said.

He said the modern technology had become a powerful weapon for development. But at the same time it had also become a weapon to create a 'great divide' between the developed and developing nations, which might ultimately lead to 'political divide', he said adding that this should not be allowed to happen.

He said the western countries were using technology for competing with others in the world. The competition was also used for combating, which would lead to dangerous consequences, he said.

PTI