‘Western univs not good for India’

Indian origin Nobel Prize winner Venkatraman Ramakrishnan has indicated his dislike for the idea.

Indian origin Nobel Prize winner Venkatraman Ramakrishnan says he is not in favour of western Universities setting up campuses in India as they venture into new markets purely for business reasons and often fail to reproduce the “culture of the origin”.

“Whenever these outstation universities set up campuses,be it in Singapore or other places,they have not be able to reproduce the culture of the origin,” the Nobel winner in Chemistry,popularly known as ‘Venki’,told members of the Indian Journalists Association here last evening.

While top universities like the Cambridge are not going to set up their campuses,he said: “The present campuses are set up for business reasons”.

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Though he agreed that western universities setting up campuses in India would help improve salaries of academics.

He noted that there were very good scientists in India doing work that was “world class” and “internationally recognised” but what India needs is more role models. When that happens,Indian scientists will be recognised more.

Looking forward to receiving the Padma Vibhushan from President Pratibha Patil,Ramakrishnan said he was touched the the Indian government’s gesture.

“I’m very much looking forward to receiving the Padma Vibhushan… I am touched and honoured by the Government of India’s decision to confer the second highest honour on me,” he said ahead of his departure for New Delhi.

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Ramakrishnan,57 said winning the Nobel Prize has not changed his life-style though more people recognise him now.

“Before October 7,when the Nobel Prize was announced,very few people had known me.

No doubt “winning the Prize is a big surprise. It took time to sink in. But it certainly has not changed my life style”.

On getting a tremendous response in India,he said he had panicked momentarily because of the deluge of e-mails and might have “overreacted saying it upset my work”.

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“People uniformally are warm and proud because I had studied in India. People had a sense of hope and a sense of inspiration. I hope that I am able to contribute,” he said.

Answering a query,he said: “I don’t think Indians need any advice from me or anyone”.

Hailing from a family of scientists,he said since 2002 he has been regularly visiting India every year and spending 2 to 3 weeks lecturing at various Institutions including the Indian Institute of Science,Bengaluru.