Nobel laureate and past student of Vadodara’s M.S.University Venkatraman Ramakrishnan arrived yesterday in Vadodara on three-day visit. Venki today visited the school in Vadodara where he was educated. He was given a grand welcome on this occasion by the school authority. A cultural programme was performed by the school students, and a memento was presented to him.

But the most important initiative was announced by the Alumni association of this school. The association has started Dr.Venkatraman award for best performing student in Science stream. In connection with this the first cash prize of Rs. 5000 was given to Riddhi Mehta who got 97 marks each in Physics and Chemistry. Riddhi said she was feelign proud to receive an award from Nobel prize winner Dr. Venkatraman.

Meanwhile Dr.Venkatraman visited his old school’s campus thoroughly and took pictures through his camera.

The school which was in Dr.Venkatraman’s time functioning on co-education model later has turned into girls school, Venki noticed. At the same time he also noticed that the discipline level was same.

Speaking with media persons briefly Dr.Venkatraman said there is a fashion of going in Engineering and Management courses nowadays, but actually the students should choose the path of career of their own choice only.

In his address at the school, Dr. Venkatraman said that children should be free to do what they want to do.”I am a scientist, and I wished my son to chose that career. One day when he came to me and said he wanted to shape his career in the field of Music, I was shocked, but I allowed him to chose his own path. He now plays music in his group and gives shows across the world. He has become good musician.”

“Today we see, the children are loaded with so many expectations.But such mental load actually adversely affects their creativity. Small children should be free to chose what they want to do.This will allow them to become more creative person,” he added.

Venki had reached Vadodara yesterday evening by air. He took lift in one Arvindbhai Bhatt’s car to reach the hotel. Bhatt was at airport to receive his relative, but when he spotted Venki, he offered him a lift in his car which Venki accepted. M.S.University had earlier approached him for airport pickup but Venki had refused. Even to attend today morning’s event at his old school, Venki just walked down from his hotel and reached an hour before the schedule.