By S Ramadorai
In the documentary series “Connections”, science historian James Burke narrated how the smallest, most overlooked components in modern life could bring entire systems to a halt. He recounted howan evening in New York City was paralyzed, where traffic froze, elevators stopped, and hospitals stalled, due to a single relay fault in the power grid. It was not just a technical failure; it was a revelation of how fragile and interwoven our dependencies truly are.
Recent incidents such as the Air India flight AI171 crashand the tragic stampedes compel us to acknowledge, with humility and sorrow, the human lives lost, and the pain endured by families. It is in their memory that we must reflect quietly, collectively, and courageously, not just on what failed, but on how we must respond, learn, and build a safer and more resilient future.
When the world stumbled
History shows us that some of the world’s strongest safety systems were born out of tragedy and the courage to confront it. In 1977, the Tenerife airport disaster in Spain became the deadliest accident in aviation history when two Boeing 747s collided on a foggy runway leading to the deaths of 583 people. But from that darkness came sweeping reforms, including standardisation of cockpit communication, mandatory English usage in global aviation, and new frameworks like Crew Resource Management (CRM), which empowered junior crew to question decisions. Today, these reforms save lives every day in the airspace worldwide. Similarly, in 1994, the MS Estonia ferry disaster in the Baltic Seabecame a turning point in marine safety overhauling ship operations across Europe. These were not isolated corrections but were steps towards a safer world through systemic corrections.
A culture of safety
Across the world, nations have shown that safety does not emerge by chance or use of technology alone. It is cultivated through governance, education, skills, cultural values, infrastructure planning, and a shared sense of responsibility. In Japan, the Shinkansen bullet train network has operated since 1964 without a single fatal derailment or collision. This remarkable record is a result of a work ethic that treats public safety as sacred, supported by impeccable technical excellence. Regular and rigorous drills, meticulous logging of faults, clearly defined accountability, and high integrity make safety a natural outcome. Similarly, Sweden’s Vision Zero policy exemplifies a systemic, safety-first, quality-first approach to road safety. Roads are designed to anticipate human error, with speed-calming infrastructure, strong vehicle standards, and pedestrian-focused planning. As a result, Sweden has one of the world’s lowest traffic fatality rates.
It is important to understand that preparedness, in these societies, is driven by a culture of safety. Technological tools such as predictive analytics,early warning systems, real-time alerts, and simulation models are valuableallies, but their effectiveness relies on skilled professionals, and a culture of care and commitment. During the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the Taj hotel employees displayed extraordinary courage, calmness, a sense of selfless purpose and responsibility, protecting guests at great personal risk. Their actions were not commanded, but were a reflection ofinternalised values, rigorous training, and a deep sense of service.
In my own journey during the founding years of TCS, the pursuit of quality in software development was non-negotiable. The principle of zero defects was a design necessity and part of our operational ethos. This zero-defects philosophy of the world of software is equally relevant to public safety. Our systems must be engineered to prevent failure and not merely correct it.
Our aim for India should be to nurture a culture and mindset that is focused on “safety by design”. Just as nutrition and hygiene are introduced early in life, safety too must become a practice taught from the school level. This can be implemented through age-appropriate safety modules in curricula and field-based activities that help students identify risks in their surroundings.
The same orientation towards safety must seamlessly extend into higher education, vocational training, and the workplace. Sector Skills Councils must work with industries to develop role-specific certifications and micro-credentials in occupational health, safety engineering, industrial risk management, emergency response, and AI-led monitoring systems. By making safety a lifelong habit, from the classroom to the workplace, we can ensure that safety becomes a personal instinct and a behavioural standard.
A call for media, civil society and integrity
The role of the media and civil society in shaping the culture of safety cannot be overstated. Responsible and honest media can serve as an early-warning system for societies, raising red flags when norms slip, spotlighting good practices, and maintaining pressure for course correction. In today’s world, social media too has become a powerful amplifier. Social media can be a strong ally in spreading awareness andin enabling public participation. The public’s demand for accountability, transparency, and their refusal to accept negligence are vital to strengthening safety systems. Truth must be the bedrock, both in reporting and advocacy.
Lastly, at the core of a truly safe society lies an ethic of uncompromising integrity. Whether it is an air traffic controller’s alertness, a railway engineer’s diligence, or a public health official’s foresight, safety depends on people doing their jobs faultlessly. Institutions must reward honesty, precision, and public-mindedness. The pursuit of excellence must be considered as a matter of pride. It should inspire those who keep us safe to know that their unseen efforts are the threads that hold the nation’s trust together.
The future demands our best
To conclude, the way forward lies in integrating a culture of care with the discipline of “zero defect, zero failure” design. We must reimagine how we build and deepen our commitment to a future where safety is the norm and a collective promise. Such a future built on care, competence, and preparedness, is well within our reach if we move towards it with purpose and determination.A nation that builds safety-first systems, and instills a culture of precision, resilience and integrity in its people will secure a dignified future anchored in trust.
The author is former vice-chairman of TCS
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