By Aroonim Bhuyan, IANS,
Muscat : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and green activist Maneka Gandhi has been conferred the A.S.G. Jayakar Award for creating awareness about animal rights, deforestation, climate change and river pollution.
India’s ambassador to Oman Anil Wadhwa presented the award at a function here Friday evening in the course of the Science India Fiesta 2007-08 event organised by the Science India Forum (SIF), Muscat.
Gandhi is the second recipient of the award after Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman G. Madhavan Nair.
The award was instituted in memory of A.S.G. Jayakar of the Indian Medical Science who worked in Muscat between 1870 and 1900 and did pioneering work in natural science research and linguistics.
Speaking on the occasion, ambassador Wadhwa said that “Indian scientists had left indelible footprints through time on the pages of history”.
Addressing the gathering, Gandhi, said that initiatives by ordinary people could make a big difference in creating awareness about environment.
“You don’t have to have power and position to bring about change in this world. If you believe strongly about something, have an idea together with passion you can start right away,” she said.
Twentyone students, selected from a science talent examination organised by the Indian embassy in Oman in October, were also awarded the Sastra Pratibha awards. Over 2,000 students from 15 Indian schools in Oman had participated in the Sastra Pratibha Contest 2007-08.
SIF, Muscat, is a voluntary organisation comprising professionals in the field of science, technology and education, prominent members of the Indian business community and philanthropists in Muscat.
The forum’s main objectives are to introduce India’s rich contribution to science and technology to the younger generation here and provide opportunities to students to exhibit their talents and realise their potential.
Friday’s function also saw prizes being given to students from various Indian schools in Oman who participated in an elocution competition, an environmental forum and a quiz held as part of the Science India Fiesta 2007-08.