Kalam launches Amrita-ISRO Network of village resource centers
By Sources   |   Thursday, 07 July 2005, 19:30 IST
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COIMBATORE:In the landmark initiative, India’s foremost agency for space technology and research, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and some of the foremost multinational companies such as, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Intel, Cisco, TCS, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Oracle. As well as, financial firms such as IL&FS and Dhanalakshmi Bank have joined hands with Mata Amritanandamayi Math’s AMRITA University, a multi-campus, multi-disciplinary University, to deliver wide-ranging benefits of Information and Communication Technologies to India’s vast rural population. Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi gave the message initiating the launch. The message was sent from Dallas, USA, where Mata is currently on Her North American tour. This gave the huge audience, which included faculty and students of various Amrita Educational Institutions, a feel of Her divine magnetic presence. Brahmachari Abhayamrita Chaitanya translated Mata’s words, which were spoken in Malayalam. “Science needs direction from spirituality. While we accomplish immense growth in computer education and Internet experimentation, we should not forget the truth that that it is spirituality that teaches us how to use knowledge with discrimination”, said Mata. Dr. Madhavan Nair gave a brief overview on the latest initiatives of ISRO. He also commended Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham which has distinguished itself as a dynamic University well on its way to becoming a world class institution of learning, education, and research in a multitude of disciplines. Amrita has launched numerous projects of both societal importance to our Nation and scientific relevance to the World. The Amrita-ISRO VRC Project stands out among these by taking the benefits of satellite network to the common man’s doorstep. Thus, the VRC initiative is an ambitious attempt at overall development of India’s vast rural landscape with the help of the best of communication and information technologies. Hewlett Packard CEO Balu Doraiasamy, Cognizant CEO N. Lakshmi Narayanan, Microsoft Senior Executive Chandar Sundaram, CISCO Senior Executive Ranajoy Punja, Oracle CEO Krishna Dhawan, Intel CEO Ketan Sampath, Infosys Cofounder and Ashraya Hasta MD K. Dinesh, IL&FS Senior Executive Harishankar, TCS Senior Executive Rajni Seshadiri all attended and actively announced their support and partnership in this ambitious VRC Initiative. In his speech for students, Dr. Kalam said, “AMRITA University has a major role to play in transforming our society into a knowledge society through its unique value-added education system”. He also added that he was happy that the AMRITA_ISRO VRCs had a mission of taking space technology and knowledge products from the University Directly for Communities at the grass root level like fisheries and agriculture. He also emphasized on the need to establish Village Panchayat Knowledge Centers to empower villagers. He also asked the students to repeat with him, learning gives creativity & creativity leads to thinking, thinking provides knowledge and knowledge makes you great.

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