Chandigarh : Bharat Ratna Awardee , Prof.CNR Rao delivered an emotional lecture ‘Doing Science in India’ touching the hearts of the audience today in Bhargava Auditorium. “To promote science in India young, talented people have to be encouraged by good teachers because science is where ordinary people go and do extraordinary things and real science is done in small labs by crazy individuals”, he said. While talking about science in India he said, “If India has to produce good scientists quality science has to be promoted. The money invested from the GDP needs to be increased like in South Korea and China. A scientist has to be motivated by the values of humanity, generosity and tradition as these feed the quality of his work. To persist with science a scientist cannot afford to be angry particularly in India and has to face his critics with a sense of humour. A scientist has to be mad about his work and deal with a judgemental society. Personal satisfaction and enjoyment help achieve the goal”. Prof Rao talked about the pain and pleasure being part of becoming a successful scientist. “We have a large number of bright and sharp students in institutions like the PGI and IITs but they need to work for science in India selflessly”. He also spoke about how some of the famous scientists of the past like Faraday worked with minimal facilities and grants. “It is amazing how they could have done those things in those years”, he said. He emphasized the role media can play by highlighting events/news related to science which is not being adequately done at present.
Earlier Professor Yogesh Chawla, Director PGIMER introduced the Chief Guest and said, “Prof. Rao has been influential in formulating the country’s science policies over many years. He has been the Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Council to five former Prime Ministers, a manifestation of immense faith different governments have placed on him”…. He is the third Scientist to receive Bharat Ratna after Prof. CV Raman and Prof. Abdul Kalam. While informing about the latest achievements of PGIMER Prof Chawla said, “We are particularly proud that the Department of Medical Microbiology has recently been given the NABL Accreditation, first of its kind in a government set up, for such a large department. We are also proud that our Dean Prof. Amod Gupta was recently conferred the prestigious Padma Shri by the Government of India”. While talking about the modern medical programmes in the Institute he said, “The institute has been performing Bone Marrow and Liver Transplantation apart from Renal and Corneal Transplantation. PGI also conducted heart transplant last year. Work on Stem Cell therapy is also going on in the field of Neurology, Endocrinology, Ophthalmology and Orthopaedics. PGI has an active Telemedicine unit which is connected to medical colleges in Punjab, HP, Haryana and Lucknow and neighbouring countries”.
Professor Arun K. Grover, Vice Chancellor, Panjab Universityrelated his personal experiences with Prof. Rao earlier and said that Prof. Rao was the most deserving candidate for the Nobel Prize. He informed the audience about the process of culmination of Chandigarh Region Innovation Knowledge Cluster (CRIKC).
Prof. Jyotsna Wig, Sub Dean PGIMER conducted the function and delivered the vote of thanks. The auditorium was packed to the full. Scientists from all the Institutes of Chandigarh Region Innovation Knowledge Cluster (CRIKC) were present. Senior faculty and students of PGIMER, Panjab University, IMTECH, IISER, IIT Ropar, NABI, ISB Mohali etc. attended the lecture.