Date:30/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/30/stories/2008013050860200.htm

Andhra Pradesh

A much coveted award

Ramesh Susarla

It is presented to scientists every year

TENALI: Yelavarthy Nayudamma represented the young and progressive generation in Indian science.

In his memory every year a scientist of repute from India is being awarded the prestigious Nayudamma Award since 1986 in this small town in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.

This award has created for itself a place in the National and International scientific circles and eagerly looked forward to as who would be lucky to get the honour. At the 16th edition of the award function to be organised here on Saturday A. Sivathanu Pillai, the man behind BrahMos missile would deliver the keynote address and receive the honour, said organising secretary P. Vishnumurthy.

The earlier recipients were: U.V. Warlu of Electronics Corporation, M.R. Naidu, the Managing Director of HMT Limited; M.S. Swaminathan, Agriculture scientist; MGK Menon; SZ Quasim; Verghese Kurien for White Revolution; Kasturi Rangan, Space Scientist; J.S. Bajaj, Diabotologist; Arya Mashelkar, CSIR Dir. Gen; R. Chidambaram of Atomic Energy Commisson, V.K. Atre Sceintific Advisor to Prime Minister; Kota Harnartayana for his contribution to Light Combat Aircraft; G. Madhavan Nair, ISRO, Sam Pitroda Knowledge Commssione Chairman; and last Nori Dattatreyudu, Oncologist.

Extension lectures

Two additional extension lectures were also organised inviting J.A. Choudhary of South India Technology Park of India; Ajay Sahani -- IIIT Chairman; Lalji Singh of CCMB; G. Tyagarajan former director and head scientific secretary of United Nations body COSTED on science.

A graduate in industrial chemistry from the Banaras Hindu University Nayudamma was associated with the Institute of Leather Technology, Chennai, from 1943 to 1945. Impressed with his aptitude and brilliance in leather technology, Government of Madras sent him for advanced training in leather technology to UK and US.

On his return to India in 1951 he was associated with the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), which he helped construct, plan and organise into a full-fledged national laboratory. He became director of CLRI in 1958.

The first Director-General of CSIR to lay down office on his own to return to active research.

He demonstrated how with the use of indigenously developed technologies, low capital and labour intensive projects could be implemented.