Scientists Chidambaram, Anil Kumar, Goswamy win awards

Mysore, Mar 21 : Dr R Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Govt of India and Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet was presented Bhramara Life time achievement Award instituted by Bhramara Trust of Y T and Madhuri Thathachari.

The Prof Y T Thathachari Prestigious Research Awards for Science were awarded to Prof P S Anil Kumar from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and Prof Debabrata Goswami from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur.

The award, comprising Rs one lakh cash, a citation and memento, were presented by Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji in a function held here last night.

Speaking after receiving the award, Dr Chidambaram said the scientists must contribute their might to the progress of knowledge.

He said apart from many Indian scientists involved in the experiment, India had contributed 40 million dollars for the machine in which protons were made to collide in a specially constructed tunnel underground. 'But the origin of the universe stil remains a big question,' he added.

Regarding the restrictions on scientists' works, Dr Chidambaram said 'you do not ask Sir C V Raman or Ramanujam to submit a project report and set up a Committee to decide on whether the project should be funded or not. A scientist must be given the freedom to carry out research works without posing hurdles.'

Bhramara Managing Trustee Madhuri Thathachari, the driving force behind the awards meant to bring to fore achievers in the field of science, said in her welcome speech that this might be the last in the series of annual awards presented in the name of Prof Y T Thathachari.