Bhubaneswar:
Claiming that India's missile programme purely aims at peace in the country, Defence Research Development and Organisation (DRDO) Director General Avinash Chander on Saturday said Bhubaneswar has been the Gateway for all the Missile Launch campaigns.
"I feel proud to say that Bhubaneswar has been the Gateway for all the Missile Launch campaigns for last many decades," Mr Chander, who is also the scientific advisor to Defence Minister, said while addressing the third convocation of IIT-Bhubaneswar in the city.
Stating that many of the Launch Complex and other Range Stations are located in proximity to Bhubaneswar, Mr Chander said they play a vital role in strengthening the National deterrence.
"Whatever Research and Development effort goes in any corner of India with respect to our Missiles, ultimately needs to reach Bhubaneswar and then taken to Chandipur or Dhamra for its final testing," he said adding this place has divine blessings. Mr Chander said this while telling students that they should be proud of the place and their institute.
Referring to the deterrent aspects of missiles, Mr Chander said, "Our missile programme is for peace in the country. And the message of peace went to the entire world from Odisha where Kalinga war was fought."
Indian Science and Technology is regarded as one of the most powerful instrument of growth and development, Mr Chander said adding, "Today, India has become one of the strongest in the world in terms of scientific manpower in capability and maturity."
"We are in a position not only to understand the technologies that we may have to borrow, but also to create our own technologies with extensive indigenous scientific pursuits. We have come a long way since our Independence, from mere buyers of technology to those of who have transformed science and technology for national development," he said.
Claiming that India is a technology leader, the renowned scientist said it is a time when the Nations are measured by their technological prowess. Right from the explorations in Deep Space, down to commercial aviation to communication, Nations are assessed by their potential to explore and venture into new areas.
India to its credit stands tall as a power to reckon with, he said and added "We have developed ourselves the Geo-Synchronous Launch Vehicles, Arihant nuclear submarine, our own fighter aircrafts and Battle Tanks. The Intercontinental Ballistic Missile AGNI-5, Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan Mission."
He said India could pool and augment the resources effectively and has been able to network the knowledge base available in the Universities and other academic Institutions.
"We are looking at the new generation to lead with new ideas," he said.