Presented below are excerpts from Nobel prize winner scientist Dr.Venkatraman’s talk in Vadodara. Dr. Venkatraman is on three-day visit of the city where he completed his school and university education.

“Nobel prize has created no impact on my research. This award has not brought my work to end. In India there’s one wrong belief that once you win an award, the task is over.If I start going in inauguration functions and becoming Chief Guest, then I would invite my retirement. Nobel prize is nothing, it’s a side job.”

“Our teachers were great, they were very nice. Unfortunately our good teachers have not been able to become good scientists. Because it needs too much hard work. Publishing of research papers in India is not enough. There are high profile magazines like Nature and Science where papers should be published, where interview should come.Then there are international interactions, key note speech.But this all never happen in one night. Sitting at one place gives nothing. Moreover nothing should become the last goal. Think about the next step.”

“I was one of the three scientists who got Nobel, but I should say, I didn’t do something for Nobel prize.”

“A person should stay tuned with whatever he is interested in. Every person should discover his subject of interest. Do learn whatever interests you. Go, meet and create contact with those who are in that field. Join the best University and complete your area of interest.”

“I didn’t get any gold medal in my career. However those who have won gold medal should celebrate their that moment, but then should forget it to go ahead.”

“When I was in M.S.University as student, I was living near Jivraj Mehta hall. In those days students used to come to the University on foot or on bicycle. Nowadays the situation has totally changed. Now nobody comes to college on foot or on bicycle. In fact now there’s a trend that nobody wants bicycle here. This is not at all good for our country. There should be a separate lane in the campus for bicycles. It would not cost much. Nowadays students don’t walk here, they don’t exercise, they don’t ride bicycle. They eat food that would increase obesity and other problems. In this campus I can see lots of two wheelers and cars only.”

“It feels that the rulers of Vadodara have no systematic planning for this city. Not only Vadodara, but the other cities of India are also facing this same problem. The politicians have no planning about how this city will be after ten or twenty years. How many roads, bridge, water, drainage systems will be needed in future should be planned. Whatever progress we see in Vadodara, it has happened in haphazard manner. Vadodara should have a mass transport system. The traffic problem has increased here due to to much vehicles. There should be a train system for public transport. I have one old photograph of this city in which Sayajiganj area’s old tower and police station are visible. On that road, there are just two bicycle, and leaving this entire road is open. Now on same road the same picture is possible today?”