NT Reporter
Panaji
Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan on Saturday said India’s scientific progress has benefited not only its own people but also many developing countries, reflecting the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. He said that while many nations pursued patents during the COVID-19 pandemic, India chose to serve humanity.
“If India grows stronger, humanity will be in safer hands,” he said while addressing scientists, researchers and students during his visit to the CSIR–National Institute of Oceanography (CSIR-NIO) in Panaji.
Encouraging young researchers and students to dream fearlessly and work tirelessly, the Vice-President said true excellence often emerges from deep personal interest and dedication. Referring to mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, he said institutions and senior mentors must identify and nurture talent.
He expressed confidence that future breakthroughs in climate solutions, marine biotechnology, renewable energy and ocean conservation could emerge from the young minds present at the institute. He added that one among them could one day lead India’s future deep-sea missions.
Highlighting India’s maritime importance, Radhakrishnan said that for a country with nearly 11,000 kilometres of coastline, the ocean is not merely a resource but a living ecosystem that must be respected and protected. He said India’s seas are not boundaries but bridges linking the country to global trade, energy security, economic prosperity and strategic strength.
Referring to India’s maritime heritage, he said the Indian Ocean has shaped the country’s civilisation for centuries, with
Indian traders, scholars and navigators building cultural and economic links across the seas.
Praising CSIR-NIO, he said the institute has remained one of India’s premier scientific institutions for nearly six decades and through its research and innovation is helping the country become more self-reliant and future-ready.
The Vice-President also spoke about the growing threats of climate change, sea-level rise, marine pollution, biodiversity loss and microplastics, saying coastal communities across the world are increasingly vulnerable. Development, he said, cannot come at the cost of nature, and scientific progress must be guided by compassion, sustainability and responsibility.
During the visit, Radhakrishnan toured laboratories and a research and technology exhibition and released the coffee table book A Diamond Legacy of Oceanographic Excellence. Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai, CSIR-NIO Director Prof Sunil Kumar Singh and others were present.
