Rare Honour: Hyderabad professor conferred Germany's prestigious award

Achim Fabig, the German Consul General in Chennai, conferred the prestigious ‘Bundesverdienstkreuz’ (the Cross of the Order of Merit) to Hyderabad-based professor Goverdhan Mehta.

The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany was instituted in 1951 by Federal President Theodor Heuss. It is the only honour that may be awarded in all fields of endeavour and is the highest tribute the Federal Republic of Germany can pay to individuals for achievements in political, economic, social or intellectual realm and for all kinds of outstanding services to the nation in the field of social, charitable or philanthropic work.

“I have always been dedicated to my work and hardly took any days off. When I first started working at the University of Hyderabad there was no proper infrastructure or even a place to sit,” says professor Mehta, who credits his success in life to his loving wife.

“I have achieved so much in my life because of the support of my wife Ranjana, who always went out of the way to help me out.”

Talking about his relationship with Germany, which began four decades ago, he says, “Germany has been a great source of vigour, discipline and precision for me. In 1995, I was the first Indian scientist to receive the Alexander von Humboldt Research Award. I have also been very fortunate to be a guiding force to bind Indo-German relations by suggesting the establishment of the DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) office in India. This foundation works for the advancement of Indo-German cooperation in the fields of science and research to the advantage of both the countries,” says the professor.