Mistake to define good work by awards

My work is about the fundamental molecular machine that translates genetic code into protein. One of the central problems in life is how genetic information is used to make protein. And for that reason its important. It also has some implications,because many antibiotics bind to Ribosome. And with these structures people have been able to see how these antibiotics bind and that helps them to design new antibiotics. So,that is one of the implications that comes out of it.

After graduating from Baroda University in 1971,why did you go to the US?

In 1971,there were only a few places in India,there was not much research and money for research in India. I have been to India several times since and these days there are some really fantastic places in India like the Indian Institute of Science. The US was and still is the world centre for science,thats why I chose to go to the US. But to do the kind of work I wanted to, I chose to come to Cambridge because the MRC Lab of Microbiology has a long standing tradition of supporting difficult fundamental work. It was a good place to come and work.

Do you feel the new generation still needs to head West to fulfill dreams?

No. There are lots of good labs in India where they can do excellent work. I think its a mistake to define good work by awards. This is a typical mistake that the public or even the press make. None of you called me about my work two days ago. I think people have to do what interests them and then pursue it thats the way to do important work. Whether these prizes come your way or not its really not so important. There are lots of very good scientists in India but I notice the press is hung up about these Western prizes like the Nobel Prize,instead of appreciating that they are doing excellent work within the context of India.