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M. Somasekhar

The honorary President of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, Prof C.N.R. Rao, speaking at the Indian Science Congress in Hyderabad on Tuesday. — K. Ramesh Babu

Hyderabad , Jan. 3

MR CHINTAMANI Nagesa Ramachandra Rao is one of India's most distinguished scientists. He has been honoured with several national and international scientific award, except the Nobel prize.

When the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, presented Mr CNR Rao, as he is better known, the first India Science Award amidst a galaxy of scientists and Nobel laureates, at the inaugural of the 93rd Indian Science Congress on Tuesday, it was just another feather in his cap.

Even after five decades of tireless research work, CNR Rao continues to be a student of science, looking to learn new things with a childlike curiosity.

Regarded as the world's foremost solid state and materials chemist, Prof Rao's current passion, at the age of 72, is nanomaterials (especially carbon nano tubes) — the thinner than human hair stuff that promises to revolutionise several fields — from defence to human health.

Prof Rao, along with Dr M.S. Swaminathan, Dr R.A. Mashelkar and Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, is an inspiration for young scientists.

"Though, our generation might not see the fruits of nanotechnology, I have been pursuing this. I want India to be in the forefront of nanosciences. Young scientists should venture (into nanosciences) and not be afraid, and the country should liberally fund," said Prof Rao.

A firm advocate of cutting edge scientific research, Prof Rao rues the fact that India has missed the bus in semi-conductor technology and is not doing enough to be among the best.

He is a bitter critic of the excessive attraction that the IT sector is getting in the country.

The result of this distortion is that there is a shortage of researchers and science students, and science as a career is becoming unattractive.

While it is heartening that youngsters are making money in the IT sector and IT is contributing to national development, it should not happen at the cost of pure sciences, Prof Rao had said at a function organised by the AVRA Foundation and A.P. Akademi of Sciences a few years ago in Hyderabad.

"I am proud to see that you have a tradition of honouring scientists who have won Padmashri in this city. In Bangalore, everyone is talking only of IT and more IT.

"A day may not be far when your child asks you to meet a distinguished scientist in Bangalore, and we have to direct him to the Vishweswarayya Institute of Technology Museum,", remarked Bangalore-born Prof Rao.

Prof Rao also does not mince words on science and the quality of research in India, despite being a strong believer in India's potential as a scientific power.

During his decade-long directorship at the Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore, during 1984-94, and in his various roles heading scientific bodies, he had advocated the need for basic research.

This Padma Vibhushan awardee has written 37 books and over thousand research papers.

A Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemists, the Royal Society of London and the American Academy of Sciences, Prof. Rao has headed the Third World Academy of Sciences.

He is currently the Chairman of the Science Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister.

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