Article Posted on : - Jan 04, 2014

Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai, Distinguished Scientist & Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, BrahMos Aerospace.

NEW DELHI (BNS): Dr. A S Pillai, Distinguished Scientist and CEO & MD, BrahMos Aerospace has urged to focus teaching and research on developing technology that leads to nation building.

Tracing the history of education and research in the country he said, India has witnessed glorious days of scientific knowledge and technology in the ancient times and cited the examples of Aryabhatt, Bhaskara and other historical mathematicians and astronomers.

Dr. Pillai was addressing members of the faculty at the National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra on 29th December 2013.

India's leading newspaper the Hindustan Times quoting the defence scientist said, "Later, during the period of successive invasions, India lost its glory, which we should strive to regain."

"India's only way out of poverty is through developing and employing relevant technology," he was quoted as saying.

Dr. Pillai was recently conferred the "Order of Friendship" award by Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, for his great contribution to the strengthening of friendship and cooperation with Russia and the development of scientific ties.

India's missile programme was one of the best in the world and all its technology related challenges had been handled within the country. The teachers and researchers in various educational institutions were responsible for solving the country's technological problems, he said.

"Indian brains have helped in the development of technology in many other countries. We suffer from both brain drain and resource drain" he said and stressed on the need to arrest the drain and allow academics, research, and industry to collaborate.