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Updated: Jun 25, 2015 23:01 IST

Terming India a ‘slightly schizophrenic country’ on the issue of developing scientific temper, Nobel laureate Venkatraman Ramakrishnan on Thursday said it was “dangerous” for vast numbers in the country to use practices such as astrology and homeopathy.

'Venky’ Ramakrishnan, 63, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2009, was speaking at an event to felicitate him on his election to the prestigious post of president of the Royal Society. The first India-born president of the ancient society, he takes over on 1 December.

“India is a slightly schizophrenic country with regard to scientific temper. It is the only country whose the constitution mentions the need to develop scientific temper. Yet, despite efforts by people like Nehru and Homi Bhabha, the average scientific temper in the country has not improved”, he said.

Ramakrishnan, who was knighted in 2012, added: “Vast numbers consult astrology. It is very dangerous, there is no truth to indulge in these practices. It is much more productive to have a logical, rational approach to problems and to get them resolved”.

Ramakrishnan saw his new Royal Society role as “a chance to repay to Britain and society for fostering my science for so many years”. As president, he would seek to foster greater interaction and exchanges with Indian scientists and students and the society.

“I would like to encourage short and long-term visits by Indian scientists and students. I would like to encourage India to focus on electron microscopy”, he said.

The event was attended by leading individuals such as scientists Tejinder Virdee and Yusuf Hamied, actor Sharmila Tagore, industrialists Swraj Paul and Kartar Lalvani, and members of the Indian Journalists Association.