In a significant boost to India’s scientific community, renowned biochemist Govindarajan Padmanabhan has been selected as the recipient of the inaugural Vigyan Ratna award, the country’s highest science honour for 2024. The announcement, made by the Union government, highlights Padmanabhan’s exceptional contributions to biochemistry and his pivotal role in advancing scientific research.
The Union government unveiled the 33 Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskars on August 7, which include 18 Vigyan Yuva Puraskars for young scientists, 13 Vigyan Shri Puraskars, and a special Vigyan Team award. The latter was awarded to Team Chandrayaan-3 for their groundbreaking lunar mission.
Govindarajan Padmanabhan, currently the Chancellor of the Central University of Tamil Nadu in Tiruvarur and an honorary professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has been honored with the Vigyan Ratna for his pioneering research in liver diseases, protein synthesis, and gene regulation. A Padma Bhushan awardee, Padmanabhan’s work has significantly advanced the understanding of these critical areas in biochemistry.
In response to the announcement, leaders from across the political spectrum extended their congratulations. Tamil Nadu BJP leader K Annamalai congratulated Padmanabhan on his achievement, praising his contributions to science and education. “On behalf of @BJP4TamilNadu, we extend our heartiest congratulations to the esteemed biochemist from Tamil Nadu, Thiru Govindarajan Padmanabhan avl, on being the inaugural recipient of the Vigyan Ratna Puraskar!” Annamalai said in a statement on social media. “His pioneering research has profoundly enhanced our understanding of liver diseases, protein synthesis, and gene regulation. As a former director of IISc, he has played a pivotal role in advancing scientific innovation and education in India.”
Similarly, Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) president G.K. Vasan also lauded Padmanabhan’s achievement. In a statement issued on August 8, Vasan expressed his delight at Padmanabhan being chosen for the Vigyan Ratna award and commended the Centre for recognising outstanding scientific contributions.
In addition to Padmanabhan, the Vigyan Shri awards have been given to a diverse group of scientists across various fields. The recipients include:
- Astrophysicist Annapurini Subramanian
- Agriculture scientist Anandharamakrishnan C from Tamil Nadu
- Avesh Kumar Tyagi from Atomic Energy
- Prof. Umesh Varshney and Prof. Jayant Bhalchandra Udgaonkar (Biological Sciences)
- Prof. Syed Wajih Ahmad Naqvi (Earth Sciences)
- Prof. Bhim Singh (Engineering Sciences)
- Prof. Adimurthi Adi and Prof. Rahul Mukherjee (Mathematics and Computer Science)
- Prof. Dr. Sanjay Behari (Medicine)
- Prof. Lakshmanan Muthusamy and Prof. Naba Kumar Mondal (Physics)
- Prof. Rohit Srivastava (Technology and Innovation)
The awards ceremony is set to take place on August 23, marking the first National Space Day, which celebrates the successful moon landing of Chandrayaan-3.
The selection of several Tamil Nadu-based scientists for these prestigious awards has sparked political debate. Critics argue that the recognition challenges claims by the DMK and its allies that Tamil Nadu has been unfairly treated by the central government. These claims have included allegations of neglect in budget allocations and other central initiatives.
The Vigyan Ratna and Vigyan Shri awards underscore India’s commitment to honoring excellence in science and innovation, celebrating contributions that drive progress in various fields.
