ISRO Scientist Pillai: India Uniquely Qualified to Champion Global Peace, Deserves UNSC Seat
In a powerful address that underscored India's growing global stature, distinguished ISRO scientist and former CEO and Managing Director of BrahMos, Dr. A Sivathanu Pillai, asserted that India stands as the sole nation qualified to advocate for world peace. He firmly stated that the country certainly possesses the credentials to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Convocation Address at University of Madras Highlights National Achievements
Dr. Pillai delivered these significant remarks on Thursday while presenting the 167th convocation address at the prestigious University of Madras. The event proceeded with Governor R N Ravi conferring degrees upon 1,323 students, which included an impressive 896 women graduates. This was necessary as the Higher Education Minister and University Pro-Chancellor, Govi Chezhian, was unable to attend the ceremony.
Academic Honors and Widespread Graduations
In a notable academic achievement, Assistant Professor M G Ragunathan from Guru Nanak College was awarded the University of Madras's highest academic distinction, the Doctor of Science (DSc) degree. Furthermore, the convocation recognized a vast number of students, with degrees being awarded in absentia to approximately 1.72 lakh students from university departments and affiliated colleges, including autonomous institutions, alongside 19,859 candidates from the distance education program.
Vision for India's Economic and Technological Ascent by 2047
Elaborating on India's remarkable advancements and future trajectory, Dr. Sivathanu Pillai painted an optimistic picture. "With a sustained GDP growth rate of 7%, India has a tremendous opportunity to transform into a $30 trillion economy by the year 2047," he proclaimed, highlighting the nation's robust economic potential.
Space Sector Leadership and Defense Prowess
He pointed to the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) stellar achievements, noting that it has successfully placed 433 foreign satellites from 32 different countries into orbit. Looking ahead, ISRO is actively exploring space tourism as a viable avenue for revenue generation. On the defense front, Dr. Pillai emphasized India's unique strategic capability, stating that it is the only country to possess an operational multi-platform supersonic cruise missile in its arsenal—the BrahMos. "Its exceptional effectiveness was conclusively demonstrated during Operation Sindoor," he added, underscoring its proven combat reliability.
Advocating for Sustainable Energy and Climate Action
Addressing the critical issue of climate change, the scientist called for a unified global effort. "Humanity must collectively strive towards the common objective of achieving net zero carbon emissions," he urged. In alignment with this imperative, Dr. Pillai proposed that India should pioneer the development of fusion reactors utilizing non-radioactive Helium-3, which can be extracted from the Moon. Additionally, he advocated for plans to deploy a solar-powered satellite, a move aimed at establishing robust energy security while maintaining zero carbon emissions.
This comprehensive address not only celebrated India's current accomplishments but also charted a visionary path for its role as a global leader in peace, economic growth, technological innovation, and environmental stewardship.
