Dr.C.Rangarajan (Chairman, P.M’s Economic Advisory Council), Dr.V.K.Saraswat, Dr.Y.Venugopala Reddy (Former Governor, RBI),  Prof. C.R.Rao, Prof. Syed E.Hasnain, Sri P.Ravindra Reddy (Chairman, MTAR), Capt. S.N.Reddy (Vice-Chairman, Ae.S.I. Hyd.Chapter), Sri Vijay Kumar, Ladies & Gentlemen and friends from Media:

I am glad to know that the CR Rao Advanced Institute of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science (AIMSCS) is organizing an International Conference on “Frontiers of Interface between Statistics and Sciences” jointly with University of Hyderabad to honour Padma Vibhushan Prof. C.R.Rao, FRS who is a legendary figure in statistics.  His name is known all over the world.  I am told that the Conference is being organized in the 90th year of Prof. CR Rao.  I congratulate the CR Rao Institute and its Director for organizing the conference.  I am very happy to know that Prof. Rao, in his 90th year also spends most of his time in research and he is still publishing quality research papers in high impact journals. Research has become a passion to him.  I pray God Almighty to give good health and long life so that he can continue his research and earn good name to our country.

Next, I am delighted to know that for the international conference; about 100 invited speakers have come from all over the world and many from different parts of our own country.  They are all experts in various fields and they will deliberate many issues related to application of statistics to different science subjects like Biology, Biotechnology, Genetics, economics, Econometrics  , etc.  I am sure that the participants will get immensely benefited with the proceedings and the knowledge shared can be used for different applications in their own research work.

It is my privilege to inaugurate the conference and I declare that the International Conference on “Frontiers of Interface between Statistics and Sciences” is inaugurated.  I wish all the best to the conference and the participants.

It is also my privilege to be here this evening to join the organizers and distinguished guests in felicitating Padma Shri Dr.Vijay Kumar Saraswat on his elevation to the lofty positions of Director-General, DRDO, and Secretary Defence R&D Government of India and Scientific Adviser to Raksha Mantri.

Given Dr.Saraswat’s qualifications and impressive record in the DRDO, it would be hard to think of anyone else who is more or even equally accomplished enough to occupy these eminent positions and more importantly, direct all those exigent national initiatives in a manner that will undoubtedly result in honour and distinction for the country at the highest levels of defence technology.

A man of many interests, Dr.Saraswat is a member and active player in a number of premier professional and peer-group organizations, prominent among them being the Aeronautical Society of India, National Academy of Engineering, the Institution of Engineers, the Combustion Institute and the Indian Science Congress.  The Hyderabad chapter of the Aeronautical Society of India, of which he has been the President for the last decade, was adjudged the best Chapter in India and witnessed a number of technical sessions that benefitted academe and industry alike.

Another prominent position that he holds is that of the President, Managing Committee of Prof. C.R.Rao Advance Institute.  His relentless pursuit of providing a permanent home for the institute has borne fruit and the infrastructure is now coming up on a 5 acre plot of land granted by the University of Hyderabad.

Dr.V.K.Saraswat is very well known to the people of Andhra Pradesh as programme Director of Pridhvi & Dhanush Missile used by Indian Armed Forces and also the Indigenous Development and the successful testing of the Air Defence Interceptor missile three times in a row thereby making India the second nation in the world in this league, an achievement which all Indians are proud of.  He has been a strong advocate for the participation of private industry in defence manufacturing, claiming that is the ideal model for making significant advances in this high technology arena.  His crusading steps and enterprise in this direction have resulted in the creation of a SEZ for Aerospace industries here in Hyderabad.

Andhra Pradesh Government has taken the lead to develop the Aerospace Industry in our State.  The first Aerospace SEZ has been established at Adibatla, Hyderabad and Samuha Engineering Industries Ltd.  A consortium of established Aerospace industries of our State is the co-developer along with APIIC.  I would like Aeronautical society of India under the leadership of Dr.Saraswat to support the development of the Aerospace industry in our State.  I assure you that my government will provide all necessary support for the development & growth of Aerospace industry and if required my government will come out with an exclusive policy to attract global business in the Aerospace sector.  I wish Dr.Saraswat will take a lead in his new capacity to set up more Defence and Aerospace projects for the State of Andhra Pradesh for which my government will give all support to create the necessary infrastructure.

In conclusion, I wish to state that the nation has chosen well in placing this committed and single-minded scientist at the helm of its defence affairs.  As all great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together,  I have no doubt he will surely and steadily guide the course and enhance the prowess of the nation’s defence; and with his legendary energy at play, will leave his stamp of distinction on all his endeavours.

I join the nation in wishing him the very best in all that he undertakes.

Jai Hind.