Date:04/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/04/stories/2008120453920400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Politician by accident, says Manmohan

Special Correspondent

‘Teaching career most enjoyable
part of life’
Bangalore’s achievements in science hailed

BANGALORE: “I am a politician by accident. It is teaching that is my first love…” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh prefaced his address to scientists and researchers after dedicating the International Centre for Materials Sciences in Bangalore on Wednesday.

Deviating from the written speech, Dr. Singh remarked that the years he spent as university teacher were the most enjoyable part of his life. “Whenever I get an opportunity to visit institutions, my heart is filled,” he said.

He hailed Bangalore’s achievements in science and technology. “Long ago, Sir Winston Churchill said the empires of future are going to be the empires of the mind. Whenever I visit Bangalore, I get a feeling of elation that India has captured the attention of the world because of its strides in various fields.”

He said that because of the collective efforts of many people, Bangalore and Karnataka had become national hubs of science and technological activity.