Jawaharlal Nehru saw India's future in eyes of youth: Rajnath Singh

Tribune News Service

Mohali, January 3

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had a word of praise for former Prime Minister late Jawaharlal Nehru by saying that Nehru had a vision to see the future of India through the eyes of the youth of the country.

Rajnath Singh stated this while inaugurating the Kalpana Chawla Centre for Research in Space Science and Technology at Chandigarh University, Gharuan, in Mohali on Monday. He also launched a Rs10-crore scholarship scheme for the wards of Defence personnel.

The minister said Nehru had said, “When I want to know the future of India I don’t look at the stars and planets but into the eyes of the little children”. He said, “In the 21st century, the future of India can be secured only when you have a gleam in your eyes to reach the stars and planets. More Indians like Aryabhatta, Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan and Kalpana Chawla will emerge from amongst you all if you eye different planets and constellations”.

Underlining the importance of the space sector in today’s times, Rajnath Singh said it was deeply connected with mapping, imaging and connectivity facilities, speedy transportation, weather forecast, disaster management as well as border security, adding that it played a crucial role in keeping the world connected during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said the government understands the potential of the space sector and called for an active and long-term public-private partnership to take the education and science sectors to a global level and make India a knowledge economy. “Today, the private sector is exposed to a large number of opportunities in the space sector. Whether it is Defence or space, we are fully welcoming the private sector,” he said, reiterating the government’s commitment of strengthening the private sector for the holistic development of the nation.

The CUSat, built by students of Chandigarh University, will be among the 75 student-built satellites to be launched into space on the eve of the 75th Independence Day in 2022. The Chandigarh University has joined the list of 13 institutes like the IIT-Kanpur, IIT-Bombay and became the first university in North India to design and develop its own satellite. For the project, 75 students of the university have been working on Chandigarh University Student Satellite Project under the guidance of eminent Indian scientists. With the launch of CUSat, Punjab will become the first border state in India to have its own satellite in space.

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