Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

`India is building knowledge capital for world'

Staff Reporter

EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH: A. Sivathanu Pillai, Chief Controller, Research and Development of DRDO, New Delhi (right), being conferred Degree of Doctor of Science at the 18th convocation at Avinashilingam University in the city. Chancellor K. Kulandaiv el (centre) and Vice-Chancellor Saroja Prabhakaran look on. - Photo: M. Periasamy

COIMBATORE: India, which transformed itself from an agricultural society to a knowledge society, is now building knowledge capital for the world, said A. Sivathanu Pillai, Scientist and Chief Controller, Research and Development, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), here on Saturday.

Delivering the convocation address at the Avinashilingam University, he said that India was now considered one of the technology powers with a growing economy and top class human resource. And in today's world, knowledge workers were going to be a key resource for development and future growth.

Dr. Pillai was conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science by the University.

Contribution of women

He spoke about the contribution of women to society, more specifically in space mission, biotechnology and nanotechnology.

Agni, the project launched by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to establish re-entry technology, had the valuable assistance of Rohini Devi, a chemical engineer at the Defence Research Development Laboratory, Hyderabad.

Similarly, the phase shifters required for destroying multiple targets in the Akash missile technology was designed by Professor Bharti Bhatt, at the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi.

When it came to biotechnology, Biocon, India's pioneering biotech enterprise, was started by Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, a scientist and an able entrepreneur.

The world was heading towards a nano, bio and info revolution with various technologies coming to a convergence. The nano and bio medical sensors would also play a major role in early detection of diseases such as AIDS and cancer, he said.

Dr. Pillai commended the service of Dr. Aruna Viswanathan of Vikram Hospital, Coimbatore, who had successfully conducted more than 300 cochlear implants. Thangam Murthy, a doctor in Tirunelveli, had given vaccination for Hepatitis B for more than 200 children, he said.

Chancellor of the University K. Kulandaivel appealed to the graduating students to work diligently and make use of the opportunities available to them wisely. Around 1,300 students received diplomas at the function.

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