Prof. VijayRaghavan and Prof. Virdee are “among the world's finest”
Bangalore-based biologist Krishnaswamy VijayRaghavan and Professor Tejinder Singh Virdee of Imperial College, London, who was associated with the design and construction of the Large Hadron Collider, are among six internationally-renowned scientists of Indian origin elected to the prestigious Fellowship of the Royal Society, Britain's premier science academy.
They join the ranks of some of the world's most famous names, including Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking. Sir Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society, said: “These scientists who have been elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society are among the world's finest. They follow in the footsteps of luminaries such as Newton, Darwin and Einstein and I am delighted to welcome them into our ranks.”
The Fellows, elected for life for their contribution to excellence in science, include more than 80 Nobel Laureates.
Prof. VijayRaghavan, Director, National Centre for Biological Sciences at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, is described as “an inspirational leader successfully promoting excellence in Indian biology.”
“He has worked to establish new institutions, drawing the best young scientists to India. An outstanding developmental geneticist, his contributions to understanding the cellular and molecular principles of adult muscle development in Drosophila are widely recognised. He has elegantly combined these studies with those on the development of the nervous system to study the control and development of movement,” said the Royal Society in its citation.
Prof. Virdee is commended for his “distinguished” contribution to the design, construction and exploitation of the huge CMS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. He originated the concept of CMS with four colleagues around 1990 and there are now over 3,000 participants from 38 countries.
“The superb performance of CMS since high energy collisions began at the LHC is testimony to his foresight, expertise and appreciation of the complex interplay of techniques which are needed for such success,” it said.
Other Indian-origin scientists include Varinder Singh Aggarwal, Professor of Synthetic Chemistry at the University of Bristol; Shankar Balasubramanian, Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at Cambridge University and Senior Group Leader, Cancer Research U.K., Cambridge Research Institute; Chandrashekhar Bhalchandra Khare, Professor of Mathematics at the University of California; and Professor Mathukumalli Vidyasagar of the University of Texas.
Prof. Aggarwal is commended for his “outstanding contributions to the field of asymmetric synthesis, particularly applications of ylide chemistry where he is the world leader”; Prof. Balasubramanian is hailed as “an internationally recognised leader in the field of nucleic acids”; Prof. Khare's “forte is finding ingenious but relatively simple new ideas”; and Prof. Vidyasagar has made “outstanding contributions to control and systems theory and statistical learning.”
Bangalore Staff Reporter reports:
Talking to The Hindu, Prof. VijayRaghavan said: “This is an important and valuable recognition of the efforts of my collaborators over the past two decades… Our contribution to the understanding of how nerves and muscles are built has been recognised and this has been an extraordinary scientific voyage whose success has only been due to the efforts of many students, postdoctoral fellows, junior fellows and collaborators.”
Keywords: Fellows of Royal Society, Krishnaswamy VijayRaghavan, Tejinder Singh Virdee, Britaish science academy
I have two points to make.First, as a scientist, I would like to point out that the knowledge gained through research endeavors is accessible to all. Those who benefit are not restricted by nationality. This is not the nature of science.
Second, I have read many comments mentioning that 5 of these scientists live abroad. Fair enough; but you are all clearly not interested learning about any one of them beyond the article you read here. Perhaps the reporter should be chastised for the lack of information but the onus is on you, the reader, as well.
Dr. M. Vidyasagar, returned to India in '89 to serve with the Ministry of Defence. At the time, he had been living in North America for 29 years having moved there as a child. For the last twenty years he has lived in and served his country. Currently he teaches at UT-Dallas. The accomplishments for which he is being honored span a career of over 40 years and multiple countries.
None ofthe honorees achievements are defined by geography
What happened to the Hindu's standards of journalism? For all those lamenting that several of these scientists are "settled" abroad, may I point out that Prof. Vidyasagar actually worked for the Government of India and with a private company based in India for the last 20 years, and only went to the University of Texas recently, after reaching mandatory retirement age in India? For all I know, the other scientists might have a similar history. So then the question is not only whether there are sufficient opportunities in India for people to develop, but why people who have a proved record of outstanding research are forced out at an arbitrary age, when they are still capable of good work.
Congratulations to the distinguished scientists and engineers which
helps the science-technology further.
We have enough resources but they how we make use of it is critical.
Most of the indian individuals succeeded in the foreign because we enter
into risky, multi-dimensional, extreme conditions, stress,
discrimination etc., actually quite helps in achieving their goals (as
this rigorous environment was not prominent) -- in positive way,
To 'RAMARAO M S, ts et al..' it is alright to say there is no need for patriotic
sentiment. Additionally, Ramarao et al need to see that 'going outside,itself an
opportunity' is not provided by Indian government. There are no scholarships or
support systems from Indian government or tax payers money to go OUT. Do you
know the living conditions of trainees abroad?
Nor do you all realise the meaning (and cost) of patents (whether pertaining to
agriculture, medicine, engineered goods, automobiles, weapons). Sense of
belonging and self-sufficiency is another (distant) matter.
Maybe most people in India are content begging (World bank loans) or buying
(military goods) despite very poor GDP and PPP.
My heartiest congratulation to all the SIX SCIENTISTS who have been awarded this prestigious FELLOWSHIP I wish them many more laurels and achievements like this in the near future. I prey the ALMIGHTY to give them long life,happiness and good health.
It is a great honour to the scientists of Indian heritage to be recognised this way.
We should support and provide facilities of international calibre in various parts of India, taking the help and guidance of these celebrated scientists. We have a huge talent in India, but for scientific research to flourish at home, there is a need to tap the talent, at early age, provide facilities, and give autonomy to research institutes,without any political interference. Scientific research is a wise investment and each and every rupee spent shall yield thousands in the long term.
You can see indian researchers in all the major research institutes in UK and US. While the most excellent get recognised, those at the bottom level, have to put up with discrimination and other challenges, as we don't have an alternative in India, as a back up.
I feel extremely privileged to have worked/interned under Dr
VijayRaghavan. He deserves this more than anyone else from India and I
hope he goes on to win the celebrated Nobel prize for his research.
Kudos to everyone who's earned the Fellowship.
Well, here is the answer why 5 out of 6 scientists are stationed at abroad. Reason 1: Feudal and mediocre society and culture of India, Reason 2: Clerk-producing educational system of India, Reason 3: Feudal and hegemonic educational-institutional-classification and funding in India, Reason 4: All capable Indians in their respective fields have migrated to abroad and only the residues are staying in India.
Nothing to mourn about it because the same had happened in history of India. Read history (pre-colonial and post-colonial), you will find the same.
Congratulations for all those honoured.
The contribution made by you is for man kind. Its not for a country or a company. The discoveries made by Newton, Darwin and Einstein changed the very way we think. I believe, your contributions help to change the destiny of mankind.
Truly the quest for knowledge is independent of Nation,class, creed, race etc. And I am proud that people of Indian origin have set the best examples.
Congratulations to all those selected. You make India Proud.
By hereditary, there are extremely brilliant children in India. But lack of encouragement,recognition and support at the right time, these children end up like ordinary ones. The great mathematics genius Srinivasa Ramanujan once wrote," I am struggling in hunger like an ordinary human being". His work was recognized by only a foreigner at a later time. The Indian brute politics kills merit when it buds in the name of reservation. Here merit is a taboo. Right from admission in good schools and colleges and until appointments,all the opportunities are grabbed by pseudos. In Tamilnadu, children from villages admitted to premier institutions based on school marks are unable to cope up and a few committed suicides recently.Rampant copying even in PG medical admissions indicate the level of deterioration. The politicians have no guts even to remove the creamy layer of beneficiaries.When are we going to recognize merit like western countries ? The Intellectuals should think ways to bail out.
Indian government should award Padmashree/padmabhushana awards to Indian origion also in recognition of their achivements.
Heartiest congratulations to the country's six scientists, five of whom are of Indian 0rigin for winning the international award of becoming members of the the Royal Scientific Society. Every time our countrymen win such prestigeous Awards, we bemourn the fact that due to lack of infrastructure and motivation, our men are perforce to go abroad to prove their mettle and earn recognition. This unfortunate trend will continue till such time as our research institutions are not freed from the control exercised by our politicians. Their sole desire with a few exceptions is to have a major say in every field of activity, whether sports, medical science, civil aviation etc etc and generally act as a stumbling bloc to their progress without making any positive contribution. We have the talents even in the remotest parts of the country but the will to discover and motivate them is lacking.
For your info, on NCBS, Director is elected as Fellow of Royal Society.
Indian Politicians try to learn lesson from Royal Society to give prestige to the scientists for the development of the country. The country who gives prestige to the scintist can only develop. But in the recent past we have seen our politicians punishes the scientist with out giving prestige. Our politicians will give prestige to the person who will murder, cheat people and collect Black money by corruption .
Its a UK award so why are we sulking if they are settled in UK or US..these people are pioneers in their field and contributors to modern science. why does everything need patriotic inclination
In these days of global village , it matters not whether our
scientists are in US or UK or India. They have the innate urge and
specialisation to forge ahead and have ventured successfully and that
is great and appreciable. We are excited about that. Congratulations
to them.
Lamenting that India has not provided opportunities will not take a
scientist any further. or is going outside,itself an opportunity ?
superb news.....being an indian .....
iam feeling grt
Though it is a proud moment for every Indian, I feel these articles are self-congraulatory. The point should come when we have scientists working in Indian institutions who are receiving such accolades. 5 out of 6 scientists are based in US and UK which reflects the scarcity of research opportunities in India despite her having some of the brilliant minds in the world.
Five of the six scientists are settled abroad. The country must provide opportunities for such scientists to work in India.
Congratulations for being the member of Royal Society, of Britain, and, to join the rank of the Globally renowned names!
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