‘Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan enhanced India’s prestige’

DHARWAD: Development of satellite technology by India has made the entire world sit up and take note of our country seriously, said A S Kiran Kumar, former chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro).

Delivering the keynote address at the inaugural session of the two-day Kannada science and technology convention being organised at Karnatak University here on Friday, he said when India was ruled by kings, only rockets were used for wars. “Based on this, satellite technology was developed. And now, the technology is used to explore the universe, planets, seas and celestial bodies. After the successful launch of Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan, our scientists are working on a project to explore other planets for human habitation,” he said.

Isro has also launched seven satellites (navic constellations) and has prepared a gadget to get signals and directions in deep seas. A compass needle-like device installed in boats will help fishermen identify the availability of fishes in a particular location. This apart, it will also help them know international borders, weather vagaries and its forecast. Even people who are illiterate are benefited with this, Kumar said.

Satellite constellations also help get reports on cyclones, super cyclones and to study crops, said the Padma Shri recipient.

He further said that Chandrayaan-1 was launched to know the availability of water on the moon surface. This was the major breakthrough in satellite technology which has helped Isro develop the satellites for the welfare of the country.

Mangalyaan was a success in its first attempt, and all scientists across the world started looking at India with great respect and expectations. Based on the success of these two major satellites, Isro has launched 104 satellites in one go. Now, search is on to find human habitation outside this planet, he added.

Speaking at the inaugural of the convention, legislative council pro-tem chairman Basavaraj Horatti said that rural students too have talent, but language has become a barrier for them to take up research works. He appealed to science writers to publish quality books on science and technology in regional languages and guide such students.

Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi said that language should not be a barrier for the growth of science and technology. “People in advanced countries like Germany, France and Russia speak in their own language. But in India, people are under the impression that only English will help them earn bread and butter,” he rued. He further said that the central government has promised to fund Rs 25 crore to set up a centre at the metrological department in UAS to forecast lightning. Every day, farmers are killed due to lightning, and the proposed centre will alert people in areas prone to lightning.

On the occasion, Akashvani additional director-general (retd) H R Krishnamurthy was conferred lifetime achievement award for his contribution to science literature.

KU vice-chancellor Pramod Gai presided over the programme, while Dharwad Regional Science Centre director prof K B Gudasi welcomed the gathering.