By TCN News,
New Delhi: Asserting that science is very essential for India’s future, Bharat Ratna Professor C N R Rao on Wednesday said, if India is to have a bright future, it is essential that due focus is given to quality and excellence in education.
Talking about illustrious scientists and their course-changing contributions, Professor Rao bemoaned that India lacked behind considerably in the world of science. He was speaking of the importance of science during a public lecture on ‘Celebration of Science’, wherein he said application of science was imperative for creation of technologies.
“No academic institution in India have facilities comparable to the best in the world. The strength of science gave us power, honesty, fearlessness and unselfishness,” he said.
The public lecture was attended by hundreds of students who had gathered in Dr M A Ansari Auditorium, JMI to listen to the Bharat Ratna Awardee. They listened to the lecture with rapt attention and often applauded for his incisive comments, a release from Jamia’s media coordinator said.
Later, interacting with the media, Professor Rao said the quality of education in India needs to be considerably improved. “The educational scenario in the country was undergoing a phenomenal change as 3-4 crores children would come to higher education in near future given the huge increase in population. Though successive governments have discussed enhancement of budgetary allocation to education, it unfortunately remains pegged at 2% of the GDP as against 6% that has often been demanded over years.”
Talking about China, he said that our neighbour was investing heavily in Science to become a global leader. He signed off by saying that ‘whoever ruled Science will rule the World’.
Earlier, Professor Talat Ahmad, vice chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia and Professor Rao issued a signed joint statement on the ‘Importance of science for India’s economic development and promotion of inter-institutional research’, the release added.