BHUBANESWAR: India is a role model for others in space technology and its applications which have been contributing to the country’s economy apart from the exploration of space and planets, said former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Space Commission K Radhakrishnan here on Saturday.
Delivering the convocation address at Siksha O Anusandhan University, Radhakrishnan said India is now on the threshold of climbing the next level of technology ladder embracing international alliances for newer capabilities and fostering national space industry to meet national and global needs.
“The world watched with awe after we executed Mission Mangalayan as the first country to succeed in the first attempt with commendable precision in 2014. Mars Orbiter Mission was complex, risky and challenging as compared to placing a spacecraft around the earth or moon. It was the cheapest mission so far,” he said.
Even as the space technology is contributing to the grassroots in the country, the Padma Bhushan awardee said there is a lot to be done in technology management. To make an impact, the country has to be an exporter rather than an importer. Indigenous value addition is essential to be an exporter. ISRO has a lot to do in the area, he opined.
The ISRO chief said at a time when the global economy expanded by just 2.2 per cent, the slowest growth rate since the great recession in 2009, India displayed remarkable resilience to the economic shock and sustained high growth rate of 7.3 per cent in 2015 and 7.6 in 2016.
Lauding the university for figuring in the list of top 20 universities of the country, Radhakrishnan urged the students to develop inner strength of character and be innovative while inculcating the spirit of leadership.
Secretary of Department of Agricultural Research and Education and Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research Trilochan Mohapatra emphasised on integration of research, education and frontline extension for creation, dissemination and application of new knowledge.
Along with Radhakrishnan and Mohapatra, scientific advisor to Defence Minister and DG (missiles and strategic systems) G Satheesh Reddy and Chairman of Centre for Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility of International Management Institute Prof Arun Kumar Rath were conferred with honoris causa.
Chancellor of the university Prof Khageswar Pradhan and vice-chancellor Amit Banerjee were present. As many as 121 scholars were presented with PhD, 92 students with university gold medals and seven received chancellor’s gold medal.