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Sastra University recently set up Kalam Chair for rural development in a solemn function held in the University campus.
Dr A. Sivathanu Pillai, honorary distinguished professor, Indian Space Research Organisation recently launched the APJ Abdul Kalam - City Union Bank Chair for Rural Development and the Swami Dayananda Saraswati Chair for Indian Values at SASTRA University.
While delivering his speech Dr Pilai said, “Creative leadership is the key for a nation’s transformation to become self-reliant in science and technology.”
He also underlined the strength of India given its ancient technological discoveries and recalled the efforts of scientific leaders of India who chartered the course of Indian science and technology in the global order.
Highlighting the efforts of great scientists like Homi Bhabha, Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan, M. S. Swaminathan and Abdul Kalam, Dr. Pillai observed that Abdul Kalam was creative in his leadership roles to strengthen human capital not only in India’s space and defence programmes but also in ensuring that benefit of the technology reach the society at large.
He also praised the University for establishing the chair in rural development, an area that was close to Kalam’s Vision 2020 and also for establishing the Swami Dayananda Chair on Indian Values.
While N.Kamakodi, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of City Union Bank Ltd. handed over a cheque for Rs.50 lakhs as initial corpus for the APJ Abdul Kalam – City Union Bank Chair,” said press release from the University.
