Expressing concern over stockpiling of nuclear arms, former Head of the Department of Chemistry of Andhra University M.N. Sastry said Asia and the Middle-East are turning into a nuclear tinderbox in the name of deterrence.
Addressing a get-together organised by Centre for Police Studies at the School of Economics of Andhra University on Monday, he said while western countries were reducing their nuclear inventory the situation in Asia was quite alarming with number of rogue nations and generals. “Even India is guilty of it,” he said.
Drone technology which the US thought it was superior in was being commercialised by some sections and together with miniaturisation of nuclear weapons it could pose a great danger, Prof. Sastri said.
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There was a great need to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes but with politicians having the say governments were going in for weaponisation, Prof. Sastri who was instrumental in setting up the Centre for Nuclear Technologies in Andhra University with Atomic Energy Commission funds said.
There was a need to build world opinion for use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes but a section even in the pacifist Japan was in favour of building n-arms, he pointed out.
The octogenarian who joined the department of Chemistry of Andhra University way back in 1948 at the age of 23 said he intended to write a series of articles on the evolution of atomic theory, history of nuclear arms and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
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Centre for Policy Studies Director A. Prasanna Kumar described Prof. Sastry as a pride of Andhra University for his inspiring teaching. As a prolific writer he contributed almost regularly to the CPS bulletins.
Stating that professors never retire, CPS Chairman D.V. Subba Rao, who presided, lauded Prof. Sastri’s continued efforts to illuminate young minds.
Former vice-chancellor V. Balamohandas and Director of GITAM School of Law Y. Satyanarayana and a host of distinguished teachers participated.