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“Be daring and inspired”

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10 years ago

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FOR POSTERITY: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and nine Nobel laureates at Science City. Their handprints will be installed on "Nobel Path" at the Nobel Prize Exhibition

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Modi inaugurates Nobel Exhibition  

By Sujit Bhar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s hurricane tour of the country landed him, Monday evening (January 9), at his home state of Gujarat, at Ahmedabad’s Science City, far from his political affiliates.

Amid a fascinating crowd, that had no less than nine Nobel laureates, including Indian-origin Dr Venkatraman Ramakrishnan (Nobel in Chemistry, 2009, for his work on ribosome structure), he inaugurated the Nobel Exhibition—“The Nobel Prize: Ideas Changing World” —a travelling exhibition that showcases the best in every discipline that the Nobel Committee offers.

This was no political or business meeting, but Modi was not one to be caught off-guard. His speech converged on the “innovation” issue that fell in with his Make in India policy. He said: “…today, we are making history by having a galaxy of Nobel laureates in Gujarat… My government has a clear vision of where we want India to be in the next 15 years. Science and technology is the pivot on which that vision will translate into strategy and action.”

This is a special exhibition, which 250 students selected from around the country through a competition are attending, interacting with some of the best scientific minds from around the world. Addressing these students, Modi said: “Globally, science and technology have emerged as one of the major drivers of socioeconomic development. You will be scientists soon and must not neglect the challenge posed by poverty.”

BENIGN INFLUENCE: These past PMs nurtured scientific research during their tenures

BENIGN INFLUENCE: These past PMs nurtured scientific research during their tenures

A few special qualities would separate the achievers in this field, he said. “Be inspired and be daring, have courage and be your own person and not imitative. That is how our honoured guests succeeded and that is what you should learn from them.”

Even Lars Heikensten, executive director, Nobel Foundation, had come down for the exhibition. Said he: “(Alfred) Nobel knew that good role models – people and organizations – can show that it is possible to understand the world and improve it. It is in this spirit that we organize events such as this one.”

He talked about the 15 Nobel Laureates from India, of Indian origin or who have worked in India.”Persons like Tagore, Raman, Sen and Satyarthi are the role models Nobel was looking for. In the world today, many of his ideals are threatened. Even facts are refuted—climate change is good example of this. Thus, we all have good reason to work on what he believed in,” he said.

This year, India has been fortunate to receive a double bounty, around the same time. A day before Modi had inaugurated the 104th Science Congress at the Sri Venkateswara University in Tirupati (Tuesday, January 10). That was before he went over to meet the Nobel laureates.

Science and India

Science was the predominant occupation of the intelligentsia, especially in the east, in pre-Independence India. Eminent scientists of the era, starting from Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose, to Prafulla Chandra Ray were pioneers in this. Later, world renowned scientists Satyen Bose, Nobel laureate CV Raman, nuclear scientist Homi J Bhabha, father of Indian space research Vikram Sarabhai and others were instrumental in promoting progressive thoughts in society.

To this end, and with the help of two British chemists, Professor J. L. Simonsen and Professor P. S. MacMahon, the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) was set up in Kolkata in 1914. Today it has a membership of over 30,000 scientists.

The association meets in the first week of January, and helps in the advancement of scientific thoughts and teaching in the country.

Science thoughts have always been apolitical in this country, though it was because of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s initiative that science has seen phenomenal growth in the country. His dream of setting up premier scientific schools around India resulted in the formation of Indian Institutes of Technology as well as the Indian Institute of Science.

Later, his daughter and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, stressed on the use of science to boost India’s agriculture.

Modi has taken up the cause that had seen some slack in the recent past, and science education, he has said before, fits well into his development agenda. To this end, this was a great opportunity for him to make the best of a brief appearance.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1484053914518{background-color: #afafaf !important;}”][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”THE NOBEL LAUREATES PRESENT” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]The following were the Nobel laureates present at the Nobel Exhibition:[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

  • Venkatraman Ramakrishnan (Nobel in Chemistry, 2009, for his work on ribosome structure). He shared the prize with Dr Thomas A Steitz and Dr Ada Yonath.
  • Dr Ada Yonath
  • Dr Richard J Roberts (1993, Medicine)
  • Dr Harold Varmus (1989, Medicine)
  • Dr David J Gross (2004, Physics)
  • Dr Serge Haroche (2012, Physics)
  • Dr Randy Schekman (2013, Medicine)
  • Dr W E Moerner (2014, Chemistry)
  • Dr H C Harmut Michel (1988, Chemistry)

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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LPU students protest over reported rape allegation, police call it rumour

Students at Lovely Professional University protested over a reported rape allegation involving a worker, with police describing the claim as a rumour.

Published

14 hours ago

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September 27, 2026

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Students of Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab staged a protest after an allegation involving the reported rape of a student by a worker at the university surfaced.

The protest led to disruption around the university, with students taking to the streets and blocking the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway, according to the report.

The allegation triggered anger among students, who demanded action over the reported incident.

Police describe rape claim as rumour

Police, however, described the rape claim as a rumour, indicating that the allegation had not been established as a confirmed incident.

The distinction is important because the reported sexual assault allegation should not be treated as a confirmed rape unless investigators or other authoritative sources establish that fact.

The protests nevertheless continued as students sought clarity and action over the issue.

Protest disrupts traffic

The student demonstration also affected traffic on the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway. The protest brought attention to the allegations and the concerns being raised by students at the university.

With police calling the claim a rumour, further verification and investigation would be necessary to establish what actually happened.

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India News

INDIA bloc likely to meet on September 30 over Gyanesh Kumar row

INDIA bloc parties are likely to meet in New Delhi on September 30 amid growing opposition to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Published

1 day ago

on

September 26, 2026

By

Rahul-Gandhi

Opposition parties belonging to the INDIA bloc are set to meet in New Delhi on September 30 to discuss concerns surrounding the Election Commission, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and a proposed removal motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The proposed meeting comes amid growing coordination among opposition parties over the functioning of the poll panel and demands for action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The parties are also discussing a possible joint response to the developments.

Why is the INDIA bloc meeting being planned?

The INDIA bloc meeting on September 30 comes amid reports of objections within the Election Commission over certain decisions and orders related to the SIR exercise. 

According to the report, Opposition leaders have been discussing a coordinated response to their concerns over the Election Commission and the electoral-roll revision process. 

The issue is also expected to be discussed at the Congress Working Committee meeting scheduled for September 29, a day before the proposed INDIA bloc meeting.

Gyanesh Kumar removal demand in focus

The demand for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has become a major point of contention between the Opposition and the Election Commission.

The CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML)-Liberation have demanded Kumar’s removal and an immediate halt to the SIR exercise. Congress has also intensified its criticism of the CEC.

Opposition parties are also working on a fresh removal motion against Gyanesh Kumar. The September 30 meeting is expected to finalise the strategy for the motion, including the collection of signatures. According to the report, this would be the Opposition’s third such attempt. 

What is the SIR controversy?

The political dispute is linked to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, or SIR.

The controversy intensified following a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on several occasions concerning decisions and orders related to the SIR process.

The Election Commission has said that differing views and observations are part of normal deliberations in a multi-member constitutional body. The poll panel has also maintained that its orders have legal sanction and follow statutory procedures, while stating that the final decisions on the SIR were taken unanimously. 

TMC and Left parties coordinate over the issue

The developments have also brought the Trinamool Congress and the CPI(M) together on the Election Commission issue, despite their political differences in West Bengal.

CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby proposed an immediate meeting to discuss a joint strategy. According to the report, Mamata Banerjee spoke with M A Baby and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, after which the leaders settled on September 30 for the meeting. 

What could be discussed at the September 30 meeting?

The proposed meeting is expected to focus on:

  • Concerns surrounding the Election Commission
  • The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
  • Opposition demands concerning CEC Gyanesh Kumar
  • A possible fresh removal notice against the CEC
  • A coordinated response by INDIA bloc parties

The exact agenda and participation will depend on the discussions among the opposition parties before the proposed meeting.

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India News

“Will die but won’t give up”: Sahil Wakode’s parents urge IIT students to continue fight 

Sahil Wakode’s parents have appealed to IIT Bombay students to continue their fight for justice amid the ongoing investigation into their son’s death.

Published

1 day ago

on

September 26, 2026

By

Sahil Wakode

The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode have appealed to students to continue raising their voices and fighting for justice following their son’s death.

Sahil Wakode, a second-year student at IIT Bombay, died in his hostel room on September 18. His death has led to student protests and an ongoing investigation by the Mumbai Crime Branch.

What Sahil Wakode’s parents have alleged

Sahil’s parents have alleged that their son faced caste-based discrimination and harassment at IIT Bombay before his death. They have sought action against those they hold responsible and have demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

The family has also called for a CBI inquiry and has sought the arrest of officials named in the case. These remain allegations and are part of the ongoing investigation.

The Mumbai Crime Branch took over the probe after an FIR was registered following the complaint by Sahil’s parents.

IIT Bombay’s position

IIT Bombay has said that Sahil was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination and had uploaded the question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers.

The institute has maintained that no disciplinary action had been initiated against him. It said the matter had been discussed with him by the instructor and the Head of the Department, who counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career.

The circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death are being investigated by the appropriate authorities.

Investigation continues

The case remains under investigation, with the Mumbai Crime Branch examining the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death and the allegations made by his family.

His parents have continued to demand justice and action against those they believe were responsible, while the investigation is expected to establish the facts surrounding the case.

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