Chennai: Hailing Prof. M.S. Swaminathan as a transformative leader who has inspired many scientists to focus on the problem of Indian agriculture, Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that Prof. Swaminathan is a living legend who has done India proud with his extraordinary vision, commitment and pragmatism.
Conferring the 'Yeraringan' award to Prof. M.S. Swaminathan at a function held here on Sunday, Mr. Venkaiah said he was truly an iconic figure who has shown to the entire world how research can reach the farms and transform farmers’ lives. “He was a man with deep commitment to our country’s development,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion Governor Banwarilal Purohit said Dr. M.S. Swaminathan is an agricultural legend who is known for his innovation and research in the field of agriculture.
“The Indian economy is basically agrarian. In spite of economic development and industrialisation, agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy,” he said and added that nearly two-thirds of its population depended directly on agriculture for their livelihood.
The eminent agricultural scientist was awarded the Yerarinjar award by Agricultural Scientific Tamil Society, New Delhi in association with Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and Tamil Nadu Fisheries University. The award was presented in recognition of his contribution to the field of agriculture.
Do not understand problem in singing Vande Mataram:
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu said that he did not understand what the problem was in singing “Vande Mataram,” which meant “salutations to the mother,” a song that had inspired millions during the country’s freedom movement.
Recalling that Sister Nivedita, Swami Vivekananda’s disciple, had opened a girls’ school and tried to inculcate the nationalist spirit in the students by introducing “Vande Mataram” as a prayer song, he said, “she (Sister Nivedita) had introduced Vande Mataram as a prayer song in the school...now, some people have a problem with Vande Mataram also. What is Vande Mataram? Mata Vandanam, Amma Vanakkam -- that is Vande Mataram.”
“After so many years, now we are discussing (if) Vande Mataram is good or not, nationalism and patriotism are good or not. Also, we feel shy to talk about all this,” the Vice President said while speaking at an event to commemorate the birth anniversary of nationalist poet Subramania Bharati, which falls on Monday.
