This paper critically attempts to engage with the theory of appropriate technology development in India and how such theory is politico-economically neglected due to the mainstream approach (centralized and neo-liberal) to science and development. Therefore, the objective of the paper explores the challenges in taking Indian science to the public at present. In the process, the study explores the different models of village development that define and articulate the idea of smart village. From these perspectives, the study draws insights on Smart Village development from the ethnographic field based experience gained through teaching the course on “Human Geography and Societal Needs” for the B. Tech Second Year at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar. The findings of the study suggest as follows. First, it is highly important to graft the idea of technologically decentralized development in the minds of engineering students. The field based exposures provide ground for not only connecting Indian science and technology to village development. But also develops appropriate framework for applications of advanced science and technology to local developmental issues. Second, the local village governance (Panchayat Union) actually benefits from the interaction with premier technological institute like IIT Ropar. Such interactions helped to explore the different socio-economic and political dimensions of local development and techno-scientific issues. Third, the study identifies the different set of challenges involved in materializing the solutions identified through effective field works. Removing the bottlenecks through different measures would ensure the idea of smart village development. Consequently, the study concludes that critically interrogating the different positions of “academia-local governance, market and state” only would construct the decentralized idea of smart village development that is appropriately defined, contextually articulated, and strategically implemented.