Kapil Sibal requests Nobel-winner Venkatraman to often visit India

HRD minister Kapil Sibal has appealed to Chemistry Nobel Prize winner Venkatraman Ramakrishnan to visit India as often as he can to impress the youngsters with the delights of scientific discovery and technological innovation.

In a letter to Ramakrishnan congratulating him, the minister said he came to know that Ramakrishnan had "very recently" visited the University of Madras and gave his lectures.

"I would appeal to you to come to India as often as you can and impress the young men and women of India with your infectious passion for science," Sibal said. He said the delights of scientific discovery and technological innovation were unfortunately unknown to many of the young men and women in the country, primarily because opportunities were not available to them.

Sibal said the HRD ministry was determined to remove everything that impedes creativity and innovation in young minds. "Our plan to establish 14 world-class universities in India is part of this great endeavour. I shall greatly count on your contribution to realise this great dream of India," he said in the letter.