Indian Professor Honoured in Australia

Melbourne : Amitabh Mattoo, one of India's leading thinkers, has been honoured in Australia for his significant contribution towards deepening and strengthening bilateral ties.

Mr Mattoo, 52, the inaugural director of Australia India Institute, was honoured yesterday by Victoria's Governor Alex Chernov during a function attended by India's High Commissioner in Australia Biren Nanda, Consul General in Melbourne Manika Jain and former Australian High Commissioner Peter Varghese.

Chernov highlighted various initiatives of Mr Mattoo which he said were instrumental in deepening and strengthening bilateral ties.

He said the Mr Mattoo's writings had a positive impact on the foreign policies of the two sides.

"I believe it was his (Mattoo) arguments...that paved the way for Australia finally agreeing to sell uranium to India," Mr Chernov said.

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The state governor further lauded Mr Mattoo's role in setting up taskforces on key issues apart from launching Tiffin talks, initiating higher education student exchange programmes and visits of high-profile Indian leaders and politicians.