ENARADA, Chennai, October 26, 2014
By Guruprasad
‘Prosperity of Nature, poverty of people,’ words coined by Prof.M.S.Swaminathan, many decades ago, explains the ironical situation in India, where natural resources are abundant but people are living in extreme poverty.
He reiterated that condition has not changed much. He suggested, using Modern Science for Agriculture and rural development for the development and dissemination of technology, to improve lives and livelihoods of tribal and rural communities.
Prof. M.S. Swaminathan was speaking after receiving the Degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) in a special convocation of KIIT University, held in Chennai on October 26.
Prof.M.S.Swaminathan(third from left) received the Degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) today at Hotel Accord Metropolitan, Chennai in a special Convocation of KIIT University. Achyuta Samanta, Founder of KIIT & KISS, Prof.P.P.Mathur, Vice Chancellor of KIITU and Prof.N.L.Mitra, Chancellor of KIITU, looks on.Photo by ENARADA.COM
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“I am happy that cyclone prone state like Odisha is relying on scientific developments to address natural calamities and reducing the danger on human lives and preventing destruction of property to some extent,” said Prof. M.S,Swaminathan. He further added, “Similar implementation of technology in producing and protecting varieties of energy rich crops goes a big way in eradicating poverty.”
He opined, entire farming community in the country including small famers and tribal people can be benefited by implementing scientific research analysis for improving the efficiency in the field of Agriculture.
Prof.M.S.Swaminathan thanked the University for organising a special convocation in Chennai, to confer the honorary doctorate degree on him.
In his welcome address, Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder of KIIT & KISS, revealed that due to preoccupation, Prof. M.S.Swaminathan, could not attend the regular convocation held in 2012 to receive the Degree at Bhubaneshwar and the same being conferred by organising a special convocation in Chennai, home of Dr.M.S.Swaminathan.
“The father of green revolution in India and the chairman of M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation, Dr.M.S.Swaminathan spent his early research career in cuttack, Odisha and he is working hard to eradicate poverty. I am also from a village near Cuttack and working hard to provide free education and food for indigenous children through Kalinga Institue of Social Sciences(KISS),” Dr.Achyuta Samanta, highlighted two similarities between his life and Prof.M.S.Swaminathan.
While reading of Citation, Prof.P.P.Mathur, Vice Chanellor of KIIT University, said Padma Vibhushan Dr. M.S. Swaminathan is one of the few personalities who have contributed in shaping the destiny of post independence India.
“By honouring Dr.M.S.Swaminathan we are not doing any favour to him but in fact, we are honouring ourselves,” said Prof.P.P.Mathur.
Prof.N.L.Mitra, Chancellor of KIIT University presided over the function and hailed the achievements of Dr.M.S.Swaminathan in working towards helping small farmers and tribal’s in remote villages, through a dedicated scientific research. He lamented that laws protect industrialists but not help the poor agriculturalists in India, who represents more than 65% of the overall population.
