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Who is CNR Rao?

Sir Paul Nurse (R), president of the Royal Society with scientist and Bharataratna C N R Rao, during the inauguration of the Commonwealth Science Conference in Bengaluru in November 2014. TOI photo by Chethan Shivakumar)

NEW DELHI: Eminent scientist and recipient of Bharat Ratna CNR Rao was on Friday conferred Japan's highest civilian award for promoting academic interchange and mutual understanding in science and technology between the two countries.He was presented with the ' Order of the Rising Sun , Gold and Silver Star ' and certificate by Japanese ambassador to India Takeshi Yagi in the presence of senior officials of the Department of Science and Technology, which Rao has helped shape up over the years."I believe the future of India and Japan are connected together. India has to realize Japan as its greatest strength in Asia and Japan has to realize India is its greatest friends. The future of Asia depends on these two countries working together," Rao said after being bestowed with the honour.He said both the countries should help each other emerge as great nations and appealed the younger generations both in India and Japan to know more about each other and work together in realizing their potentials."The scientific work Japan is doing is outstanding. I owe a lot to Japan. Its a great honour received from a great country. I am an admirer of Japan from my childhood and have seen the country grow after the second world war", he said.The highest civilian award of Japan is conferred on academicians, politicians and military officers.Rao had been bestowed with about 70 honorary doctorates and is the 'Linus Pauling Research Professor' and honorary president of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore.He is the only Indian to be elected as a foreign member of the Japan Academy.He is also credit for shaping several premier technical institutes in the country such as IIT Kanpur and has authored over 1000 research papers and 36 books.Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology Shailesh Nayak said the award is not only an honour for Rao but also an honour to the entire scientific community in India.Rao, he said, continues to inspire thousands of scientific minds in the country and still as the same curiosity, he said.