When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are

While delivering the IISc vision 2030 inaugural speech, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam shared with the audience, “three great minds having unique traits”.

Value to science
Dr.Kalam, while occupying the highest office of the republic, once came across a record on Sir C.V. Raman. In 1954, Sir C.V. Raman was to be awarded the Bharat Ratna. Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the then President, invited Raman to be his personal guest when he was to come for the awards ceremony. Sir C.V. Raman politely declined the invitation. Raman explained to the President that his student was due to submit his thesis by the end of January and that he wanted to be with his student supporting him in his endeavour. While praising Raman's sincerity, Dr. Kalam remarked “it is this unique trait of giving value to science that builds science”.

Birth of Creativity in a difficult situation
Mario Capecchi's is a story of a boy who had to fight against all odds to win the Nobel Prize in Medicine. When World War II broke out, Capecchi, got separated from his mother, almost died of malnutrition, and had to lead a life of a street urchin. He finally got re-united with his mother after six years, and sailed with her to the US within weeks. He started his education afresh and later his research work potentially provided cure for Alzheimer’s disease and even cancer. Stating this inspirational story, the former President exclaimed “When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are”.

Scientific Magnanimity
Dr. Kalam was conferring the 2005 M.S. Swaminathan award to Nobel Prize winning agricultural scientist Prof. Norman E Borlaug. Prof. Borlaug, while speaking, turned to the third, fifth and eighth rows in the audience and identified Dr. Raja Ram, Dr S.K.Vasal and Dr. B.R.Barwale respectively. He introduced them to the audience as the pioneers of the nation's agricultural science, made them stand and ensured that they are applauded. Dr. Kalam called this as scientific magnanimity which is essential for motivating the scientific community and nurturing team spirit.

[This story appeared in the Voices Centenary Conference Bulletin on 16/12/2008]