Date:02/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/02/stories/2006050202991100.htm

National

Three national research professors appointed

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Government has appointed C.N.R. Rao, Obaid Siddiqui and C.S. Seshadri as national research professors in recognition of their contributions.

While Prof. Rao is known for his research in chemistry, Prof. Siddiqui is a biologist and Prof. Seshadri a mathematician. Their appointments have been made on the recommendation of a committee set up under the National Research Professorship Scheme comprising the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Human Resource Development, Finance and Home. In the past, C.V. Raman, S.N. Bose, Satyajit Ray, Ustad Bismillah Khan and Pandit Ravi Shankar had been appointed as national research professors. Recently, M.S. Valiathan, renowned cardiac surgeon; Mahesveta Devi, litterateur; and Habib Tanvir, well-known theatre personality, were appointed.

The scheme was instituted in 1949. Persons of eminence who have attained 65 years of age and made outstanding contribution and are still capable of further productive research are considered for appointment as national research professors.