Indian space research programmes has not only helped the country in attaining development on various fronts but has also propelled its image in the comity of nations besides making it an elite member in the space club, A. Sivathanu Pillai, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, BrahMos Aerospace, New Delhi said on Saturday.
Despite facing hurdles and challenges, the country has moved forward rapidly in space research due to the technical brilliance of our scientists, Dr.Sivathanu Pillai, also Chief Controller (R&D), Defence Research and Development Organisation, said at a function got up to felicitate him in the city. The felicitation function was organised by the G.V.N. Hospital, Tiruchi.
The country was a pioneer in missile technology even in the olden days; he said referring to the rockets used extensively by the Tipu Sultan’s army to defeat the British as early as in 1792. Learning from this, the English used the rockets to defeat Napoleon later, Dr. Sivathanu Pillai said.
The Brahmos cruise missile, an outcome of joint venture between India and Russia, was the world’s first supersonic missile that can travel three times faster than the sound with very high destructive power, Dr. Pillai, a distinguished scientist, pointed out.
It was tremendous technological team work of Indian and Russian scientists and companies that helped the country in developing the Brahmos missile, he said.
He said technological developments in the areas of information technology and communications had ushered rapid development and growth over the past few years. He called upon the students to have a goal in their life and work steadfastly towards achieving it without getting bogged down by defeats and challenges.
Various speakers at the felicitation function hailed Dr. Sivathanu Pillai for his great contribution in the areas of space and missile research and development.
Bharathidasan University Vice Chancellor K. Meena, Periyar Manimmai University, Thanjavur, Vice Chancellor, N. Ramachandran, Director, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchi, S. Sundarrajan, managing director, High Energy Batteries (India) Ltd, S. Sridharan, N. Gopalswamy, Director, Dalmia Cements, K. Anbarasu, Principal, National College, G. Rajasekar, Director, Indra Ganesan Group of Educational Institutions, noted Tamil scholar S. Sathyaseelan and V. Jayapal, chairman, GVN Hospital offered their felicitations.
