Bharat Ratna awardee and renowned scientist CNR Rao today said he wished to see India become a strong and developed country in the next 10 years, for which he asked governments to increase the allocation of funds for the field of education.
Laying emphasis on school education, Rao said schools were the best breeding ground for children and by strengthening these institutions Karnataka could become one of the best states in the country.
Rao also urged the government to allocate more funds for encouraging science and scientific research so that India becomes a leading nation like the US and China.
He was speaking at a function organised by the Karnataka government to felicitate him on winning the Bharat Ratna, where the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he wished that the eminent scientist wins a Nobel Prize for his contribution in the field of chemistry.
"I wish CNR Rao, a great scientist, wins Nobel Prize for his contribution in Chemistry," he said.
Siddaramaiah said Rao was a living example of a person who studied in Kannada and yet achieved much and brought laurels to the state and the country.
"Nowdays, parents want their children to study in English medium schools. They think the children will achieve more by studying English, but Rao achieved much more even after studying in Kannada," he said.
The CM also said Rao, from a very young age, had a scientific bent of mind which was instilled by the scientist's father.
"I am told Rao's father did not initiate his son into Vedic communion. So from an early age he had that scientific bent of mind," he said.
Siddaramaiah felicitated Rao in the presence of other Ministers and senior space scientists K Kasturi Rangan and U R Rao.
A photo exhibition on the life and achievements of Rao was arranged in the secretariat on the occasion. A book and a CD on his life was also released.
