3rd Convocation Of Karunya
Chancellor of Karunya University Paul Dhinakaran (second left) conferring the honorary D.Sc. degree on A. E. Muthunayagam (right), former chairman, Board of Governors, IIT-Madras, at the third convocation of the university in Coimbatore on Saturday. Chief Controller, DRDO, and CEO and MD of BrahMos Aerospace A. Sivathanu Pillai (third right), and Vice-Chancellor Paul P. Appasamy (left) are in the picture. “Our ancient way of teaching brought enormous brain power to the students.The scientists of those days were endowed with the power of forward thinking. Where are such scientists today? Where is the creative learning? When will we be able to bring back India to that stage of glory?,” asks A. Sivathanu Pillai, Chief Controller of Defence Research and Development Organisation, and Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of BrahMos Aerospace.
Delivering the convocation address at Karunya University here on Saturday, he said the ancient scientists of India were thinking far ahead of others in fields such as mathematics, medicine, aviation, cosmology, and also in terms of scientific achievements.“There are extraordinary advancements in the world technologies. The impact of these technologies on modern society has been undoubtedly beneficial. This is a point of greatest advantage for all of us and it provides an opportunity for young India to become the most important country,” Mr. Pillai said.
He said that the era of wood and bio-mass was almost nearing its end. “The age of oil and natural gas will also soon be over. Exploration for new energy resources is on-going and will continue in the future. The projected total energy supply for the year 2010 is 11,500 million tonnes of oil equivalent (mtoe) and is expected to reach 13,700 mtoe by 2020. There is a great need for generation of clean power. Nuclear, hydrogen fuel and solar rays are the three modes to get clean power,” he added.
Highlighting the defence programmes, he said they formed an important part of the advancements and had given spin off technologies. “The BrahMos missile is the fastest operational land supersonic cruise missile in the world. It has undergone 15 successive flight trials and has been inducted into the Indian Navy and Army.”
He elaborated on certain spin offs of the Defence Research and Development Organisation – the Floor Reaction Orthosis (FRO) used to make light-weight calipers for the polio-affected, the three-minute Typhoid Test Kit, introduction of indigenous coronary artery stents, aspheric magnifier for improving vision, Sanjeevani – the acoustic detector, etc.He said that nanotechnology was likely to have a profound impact on the economy and society in the coming years.
“Research in this area promises breakthrough in materials and manufacturing, nanoelectronics, medicine and healthcare, energy, biotechnology, information technology and defence,” Mr. Pillai said.Former Union Secretary A. E. Muthunayagam was conferred with honorary D.Sc. degree by Chancellor of the university Paul Dhinakaran.Nearly 950 candidates, including 42 gold medallists, received degree certificates. Vice-Chancellor Paul P. Appasasmy and Registrar Anne Mary Fernandez spoke.
