Bharat Ratna scientist CNR Rao speaks to NDTV
Catching up with recent Bharat Ratna awardee CNR Rao for a separate chat with NDTV was quite a challenge. In the time since the announcement was made, he has been felicitated, garlanded and surrounded by flashbulbs and television cameras.
We sat with him for a post-award discussion at his home-cum-office in the beautiful campus of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research which he founded.
Professor Rao has always been outspoken - and one of his first reactions after receiving the award raised eyebrows.
Commenting on inadequate funding of scientific research, he had said, "The best money we are given is only enough for 20 per cent of the requirement. What the hell these idiots...all these politicians have given so little for us."
He clarified to NDTV, "Unfortunately, I was quoted as saying I called somebody 'idiots' - but I did not do that. I won't call anyone an idiot unless I am sure. 'Idiotic' is a word used in diplomacy. You know, you can do idiotic things - like I sometimes do idiotic things."
Professor Rao has often expressed his reservations about Bangalore's flourishing IT industry - and he said he was relieved when he got a congratulatory call from Infosys founder, Narayana Murthy.
"I have great respect for Narayana. I have great respect for IT but what I am saying is that this one sector should not suck away all the talent."
This scientist certainly has reservations over the use of technology. He barely uses his mobile and does not like laptops either! At almost 80, he is still leading an active life in scientific research and his animation, as he talks about his latest work in artificial photosynthesis, is obvious.
"In the last two years, I have started a new area of research and that is artificial photosynthesis. I have had lot of success in this area in the last two years. I am really excited."
This Bharat Ratna awardee has more than 58,000 citations to his credit and it looks as if his scientific exploration is far from over.