Bengaluru(DC): The proud son of Karnataka, known for his research work in solid state and material chemistry, structural chemistry, and nano-science has been awarded with the greatest civilian award of India, the “Bharat Ratna” at the age of 80.
On Saturday, Prof. Rao, chairman of the Prime Minister’s Science Advisory Council and India’s most cited researcher, became only the second Indian scientist to win the honour.
As he stepped off a flight from Thiruvananthapuram, with wife Indumathi Rao beside him, Prof. Rao’s first thoughts were to pay tribute to his mother Nagamma and remember his inspiration, Nobel laureate and the first scientist to win the Bharat Ratna Sir C. V. Raman.
Doing Science had given him supreme satisfaction, he said.
As a dozen scientists and former chief of DRDO Dr. V. K Aatree crowded around Prof Rao and his wife Indumathi Rao on their arrival from Thiruvananthapuram at the airport, the scientist told Deccan Chronicle in an exclusive interview that though he worked with scores of young scientists and with several Prime Ministers to promote science and technology in the country, the feeling for science and the satisfaction of being a scientist was incomparable.
“I feel basic science is getting its due now. I used to say earlier that Dr Homi Bhabha should get this honour and also some other eminent researchers. Scientists work very, very had but rarely get recognition. I have been working for 62 years. I was 17 when I started my research. I am going to be 80 soon,” he added.
His wife Mrs Rao said “I am overwhelmed. He (Prof. Rao) is a unique person.”
Prof Rao said he would continue to inspire youngsters to take to science but wouldn’t consider himself an icon. “Based on my work, if somebody considers me a good man then I will be very happy. I have done a lot to get young people interested in science and will continue to do it.”
Recalling his association with the late Sir Raman, Prof Rao said he visited the Nobel prize-winning scientist’s laboratory in Bengaluru first as an 11 year-old school boy. “He was the first to recognize my interest in science and has given me a lot of encouragement. He made me a member of the Indian Academy of Sciences when I was only 30. I can never be equal to him.”
He said his late mother Nagamma’s blessings helped him gain recognition worldwide. “She used to bless me and say may Goddess Saraswathi bestow you with knowledge so that you win every award.”
Admitting that news of the award came as a complete surprise to him, Prof Rao said “I heard about it (award) when I was at the Thiruvananthapuram airport. An airline employee said there was an urgent phone call from somebody who wanted to greet me. I turned my cell phone on and then got a call from PM Manmohan Singh. I thanked him for the honour.”
He congratulated Sachin Tendulkar on winning the same award.
