A priceless opportunity to see Bharat Ratna C.N.R. Rao at Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru

Eminent scientist and Bharat Ratna awardee Prof. CNR Rao and Sri Siddar

amaih, Honorable Chief Minister of Karnataka and other dignitaries standing

for the Karnataka State anthem at the inauguration of state science and tech-

nology award function organised by Vision group of science and technology

(VGST), at Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore.

              That day I have been to Bangalore, what is now called Bengaluru in true Kannada flavor, as an accompaniment to my Research Supervisor for his award ceremony along with some of my close friends. It was organized by Vision Group of Science and Technology (VGST) a research wing of Government of Karnataka, India. JN TATA auditorium where we were seated was without much fanfare with silent yet busily awaiting audience whom were mostly scientist from all over Karnataka and their family. Although most of the audiences would be highly enthusiastic and anticipating to get the awards from the hands Mr.Siddaramaih, Honorable Chief minister of Karnataka, and Bharat Ratna C.N.R. Rao, my sole expectation was to have the glimpse of an exemplary scientist and to listen to his speech. The auditorium was very cheerful when the chief scientist and dignitaries arrived. It was great and cheerful moment for me too as I am seeing them all for the very first time. Though he is well known among scientist communities all around the world, Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao, also known as C.N.R. Rao grabbed the attention of entire nation when he was awarded Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award, from the Indian nation.  He is the first Indian to reach the h-index of 100, reflecting the enormity of the body of his published research work. But even before, I was aware of him, as one of my friend’s friend was doing Ph.D. under his guideship in Bengaluru. The person who was well known for his sharp and tiff words targeting government in support of research and development, was one that day really cool and humorous in his speech. He looked imperturbable and ever smiling, and the sentences that he ended up were not that pompous but generated high sounding claps from the audiences.

Prof. C.N.R. Rao interacting with the senior scientist at IISc, Bangalore, during the VGST award function.

  

Prof. CNR Rao interacting with Chief Minister Siddaramaih 

How a Scientist-Politician meet, generated grants.

            It is really every reformers or sufferer’s dream to question and rebuke the responsible persons for the cause. How joyous it would be for the scientist and public when CNR Rao could utilize the opportunity and create that situation thereby requesting the ministers who are his co-dignitaries on the same dais to fund the required grants for science and technology. To everyone’s surprise and to my expectations, his application was immediately answered by the Chief Minister Siddaramaih, that the government would infuse more grants in to the research and development sector. Karnataka is one of the countable and very few states in India that is pioneering research oriented activities. It is many a time made possible by this kind of scientist-politician interaction and the place where such an ambience is absent, reflects poor research performance, which is obvious and evident from the majority of Indian states. Karnataka in this aspect is truly inspiring, advantageous and pioneering. With the perfect blend of research scholars, scientists, industries, central and state research institutes, the place is really doing magic in R&D field.

Chief Minister Siddaramaih addressing the scientist 

community during the state science and technology

award function organizedby Vision Group of Science 

and Technology (VGST) at  JN Tata auditorium, IISc, 

Bengluru. 

Siddaramaih – A true Siddha!

    Please wait before getting into conclusions. You may wonder whether this article is being politicized. But honestly, the answer is No.  After all, Siddaramaih – A true Sidda, is not my statement. When CNR Rao was speaking, he warmly praised Chief Minister Siddaramaih as a true Siddha, but in the true sense it did not appeared to be panegyric or a formal speech intended as a public compliment. The term literally means an ascetic who has achieved enlightenment. True to the statement he looked calm and collected. But unfortunately I have forgotten some of the interesting conversation between CNR Rao and the Chief Minister Siddaramaih. The CM recollected many of his fun filled college days as a law student in the University of Mysore when he spoke. He too counter-praised CNR Rao for being honoured with the highest civilian award, but even his statement was also not panegyric. It appeared to the public that really have a good understanding with each other. In a brisk tone he made an enigmatic speech encompassing the current and future research developmental activities. Shri. Siddaramaih one amongst the few graduated Chief Ministers of India, was clever in making his oration which had a brilliant proportion of scientific discussion rather than taking advantage of the opportunity for the political promotion. 

MOMENTOUS MEET: Chief Minister Siddaramaih, Government of Karnataka, holding the hands and having a discussion with my research supervisor, Dr. B.T. Prabhakar, Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Kuvempu University. Bharat Ratna CNR Rao and Shri S.R. Patil, Minister for Planning and Statistics, IT, BT, Science & Technology could also been seen alongside.  

Dr. B.T. Prabhakar during the award ceremony at IISc., Bangalore, where he was awarded VGST- Young Scientist award, by Vision Group of Science and Technology (VGST), A research wing of Government of Karnataka.