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Moon team ignored for Padma awards
MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: India discovered water on the moon and won international acclaim. It was easily India's most impressive scientific feat last year. But scientists and engineers of the prestigious Rs 386 crore Chandrayaan-1 mission which located water molecules on the lunar surface remain unrecognised as they find no mention in the list of Padma awardees.
The reason for their work being overlooked is a rule framed by the government a few years ago stipulating that those attached to government organisations like Isro and department of atomic energy (DAE) will not be entitled to any "government-backed" awards, like the prestigious Padmas.
Well-placed sources said the matter had been taken up and efforts are on to change this discriminatory rule. Government now wants to revise this decision keeping in view the obvious fact that it will be counter productive in terms of morale of those who labour in official agencies at salaries that are much less than in the private sector and where national pride is a big motivator.
The controversial decision comes at a time when government wants to stem brain drain of scientists and engineers to foreign organisations like Nasa and woo them back to India with better terms than before and by rewarding good performance. Yet, if official recognition is itself banned while Padmas are awarded to achievers of Indian origin in foreign countries, Indian establishments are bound to feel rather left out.
In 2009, G Madhavan Nair and Anil Kakodkar, who were then chairpersons of Isro and DAE respectively, were given Padma Vibhushans. "This was a real exception because of the moon mission and the Indo-US nuke deal. This year, none of the 10 scientists or engineers who have been given Padma awards are part of any government organisation," said a senior scientist familiar with the system. Nair was given the award three months after the launch of Chandrayaan-1 when majority of the 11 scientific experiments on board the spacecraft had only just started operating.
On Monday evening, when the names of Padma award winners were announced, Isro officials started to look if any one from the Chandrayaan team had been honoured as an exception as was done with Nair last year. They were shocked to find that none had figured in the list.
A space agency official on condition of anonymity told TOI, "This was really disappointing. After the honour the moon mission brought to India, we thought that at least Chandrayaan project director, Mylswamy Annadurai, would have been honoured. But even he has been ignored. The Chandrayaan mission has been considered a brand ambassador of India." Annadurai could not be contacted for a response.
Secretary of the India chapter of Moon Society, Pradeep Mohandas said, "It is quite disappointing to know that no Padma honour was accorded to the Chandrayaan-1 team which has got kudos from several national and international fora for being an engineering and management success. It was also a project that showcased India's scientific and technological prowess to the world."
This year, 10 scientists received Padma awards -- and one of them is Nobel Prize winner Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, raising questions among the scientific fraternity why he should be conferred with Padma Vibhushan after being bestowed the world's top-most honour. Added the scientist, "The remaining nine scientists have either retired from government organisations or are working in universities. On the other hand, the doctor who performed a cardiac bypass on the PM received an award."
Moon team ignored for Padma awards - India - The Times of India
India is country of Lions ruled by d o g s. They have given award to Saif Ali Khan and even Halen last year but ignored our real pride.
This is the reason the youngsters are more attracted towards films and cricket, there is money, fame and recognition.
MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: India discovered water on the moon and won international acclaim. It was easily India's most impressive scientific feat last year. But scientists and engineers of the prestigious Rs 386 crore Chandrayaan-1 mission which located water molecules on the lunar surface remain unrecognised as they find no mention in the list of Padma awardees.
The reason for their work being overlooked is a rule framed by the government a few years ago stipulating that those attached to government organisations like Isro and department of atomic energy (DAE) will not be entitled to any "government-backed" awards, like the prestigious Padmas.
Well-placed sources said the matter had been taken up and efforts are on to change this discriminatory rule. Government now wants to revise this decision keeping in view the obvious fact that it will be counter productive in terms of morale of those who labour in official agencies at salaries that are much less than in the private sector and where national pride is a big motivator.
The controversial decision comes at a time when government wants to stem brain drain of scientists and engineers to foreign organisations like Nasa and woo them back to India with better terms than before and by rewarding good performance. Yet, if official recognition is itself banned while Padmas are awarded to achievers of Indian origin in foreign countries, Indian establishments are bound to feel rather left out.
In 2009, G Madhavan Nair and Anil Kakodkar, who were then chairpersons of Isro and DAE respectively, were given Padma Vibhushans. "This was a real exception because of the moon mission and the Indo-US nuke deal. This year, none of the 10 scientists or engineers who have been given Padma awards are part of any government organisation," said a senior scientist familiar with the system. Nair was given the award three months after the launch of Chandrayaan-1 when majority of the 11 scientific experiments on board the spacecraft had only just started operating.
On Monday evening, when the names of Padma award winners were announced, Isro officials started to look if any one from the Chandrayaan team had been honoured as an exception as was done with Nair last year. They were shocked to find that none had figured in the list.
A space agency official on condition of anonymity told TOI, "This was really disappointing. After the honour the moon mission brought to India, we thought that at least Chandrayaan project director, Mylswamy Annadurai, would have been honoured. But even he has been ignored. The Chandrayaan mission has been considered a brand ambassador of India." Annadurai could not be contacted for a response.
Secretary of the India chapter of Moon Society, Pradeep Mohandas said, "It is quite disappointing to know that no Padma honour was accorded to the Chandrayaan-1 team which has got kudos from several national and international fora for being an engineering and management success. It was also a project that showcased India's scientific and technological prowess to the world."
This year, 10 scientists received Padma awards -- and one of them is Nobel Prize winner Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, raising questions among the scientific fraternity why he should be conferred with Padma Vibhushan after being bestowed the world's top-most honour. Added the scientist, "The remaining nine scientists have either retired from government organisations or are working in universities. On the other hand, the doctor who performed a cardiac bypass on the PM received an award."
Moon team ignored for Padma awards - India - The Times of India
India is country of Lions ruled by d o g s. They have given award to Saif Ali Khan and even Halen last year but ignored our real pride.
This is the reason the youngsters are more attracted towards films and cricket, there is money, fame and recognition.
