Guwahati, Sep 17 : ISRO Chairman Sh. Kiran Kumar today while inaugurating 1st Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial Lecture at University of Science & Technology Meghalaya commented that ISRO must work hand in hand with the research scholars of different universities. It has to build a close linkage with the universities, specially those who are more focused on research activities in the field of science & technology so that more information on different applications and space technologies that ISRO is undertaking can be made available in the public sphere.
It was sharp 12pm and people braving the scorching heat started swarming at USTM Campus to be a witness to a historical moment. The lecture was inaugurated by the welcome address by Sh. Mahbubul Hoque, Chancellor USTM. In his speech he wanted to remind once again the students of USTM & RIST that the objective of a student pursuing studies at USTM “Your goal should not be restricted only for getting a job, rather to think how the knowledge or skill that you have acquired at the university can be utilized for the benefit of the society, for the societal development”. He also urged ISRO chairman that our research scholars would need the guidance and advice from ISRO in order to accelerate the research activities of USTM. Sh. PLN Raju, Director, North East Space Research Centre also had thrown light on different space research programs that NESAC has undertaken aiming for the development and welfare of the society starting from disaster management to satellite communication to forecasting activities etc.
Sh. Kumar in his lecture started with the remembrance of his association with Dr. Kalam as young scientist and how he had evoked the emotion of the entire country, Dr. Kalam’s spiritual association with Pramukh Swamiji by whose grace he had re-discovered his spirit and made the Indians believe that they can give leadership to the world. Sh. Kumar has elaborated how Indian government started realizing the importance of space technologies by means of which only the society can thrive and develop. Staring from a mere beginning where resources were less available, India has now completed almost 140 mission launches, 35 satellites have been made operational in the orbit. He has ended his deliberation with a note that we all researchers, scientists and academic members of different universities and above the entire nation must work together, then only we can move towards a developed nation, and instead of shifting to developed countries like Europe or US or any other parts in the world, we must work within our country, then only we can achieve the real societal development.