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Excerpts of Nobel laureate Venkatraman Ramakrishnan- 20-Mar-2010
Winning the worlds most coveted and prestigious Nobel Prize for Physics, Venkatraman Ramakrishnan has added grandeur to Tamil Nadu and its people.
Today, he stands as a role model for many students and youngsters. Working in Molecular Research Laboratory of Britain's Cambridge, Medical Research council, he is an absolute witness for persistent effort and hard work.
In a special address to young aspiring students and parents, he says:
Scientist are also just like Children. Children persistently keep on doing the things they desire, scientist are also the same.
It is good to introduce the children to scientific principles when they are very young. Though they may not become great scientist, but science is inevitable for everyone. We are living in an era of technology. How is possible to communicate with ones around you or how to know about the recent decisions taken by the government? How to find out the authenticity about the global warming and other details about environmental pollution? Though you would have studied science at least up to high school, it would help you to solve several problems on your own, without needing get to depend on others.
My parents moved to Baroda city, when I was just three years old. In the city there was only one English medium school and my parents' didn't want me to go to Gujarathi medium school. As they also did not know Gujarathi, they would not be able to help me learn it.
As, my parents found me very difficult to understand teachers; they decide to put me in an English medium school. It was co-education school. When I was studying 2-3 standard, Rosary Higher Secondary School became an English medium school. Therefore, the school I was studying run by Christian sisters became a full-fledged girls school. But, the old boys having joined earlier were allowed to continue to study in the same schools. Hence, I happened to study in girls' school.
When we were studying, gradually, the boys' strength started to come down, the girls strength increased. Finally, the girls' strength surpassed the strength of the boys. My father wanted me to study medicine; accordingly I also got a seat in Baroda Medical College, at the same time, I had written National level talent Science Scholarship tests. But, though my mother was well versed about the various study opportunities available, she was very particular that I should join the course of my own desire.
If I happened to get the scholarship at that time, I had told my dad that he should not compel me to join elsewhere. After which, I got the scholarship, discontinued from medical course and acquired an admission to Physics course when my father was out of grave. Even the clerks working in the medical college considered that I was making a great mistake. I firmly believed that I always had another way in my life towards my destiny. It is very important ask the children to study what they like. My son has completed Honours in Physics, but he is shaping into a musician. We should never interfere in the interest of anyone.
