Long before it became fashionable, Indira Gandhi had become nature’s untiring advocate: Sonia Gandhi

The Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore to set up Indira Gandhi Chair for Environmental Sciences.

Speaking on the occasion, Congress President Sonia Gandhi expressed delight that the initiative had finally become a reality.

“The Indira Gandhi Chair in Environmental Sciences that is being instituted reflects two of Indira Gandhi’s abiding passions: ecology and science. I recall that she established the Ministry of Environment in November 1980 and she remained its Cabinet Minister till her death four years later. All through her tenure in this position distinguished scientists served as Secretaries in the Ministry,” she said.

“Throughout her life Indira Gandhi was fascinated by and drawn to Nature in all its aspects. Her upbringing, education and life experiences instilled in her a special affinity for India’s diverse natural heritage. Long before it became fashionable, she had become its untiring advocate not by words alone but by actions,” she added.

Speaking on the occasion, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Indira Gandhi is recognized as one of the builders of modern India.

“Her tenure as the leader of this country over 16 years in two separate phases saw a great transformation within our country and in our neighbourhood. Her political achievements, her firmness in the face of military challenges, and her numerous policy initiatives are well recognized,” he said.

“Her years as Prime Minister are peppered with path-breaking initiatives in the realm of science and technology. While ISRO was already in fledgling existence and the cooperative milk movement had started earlier, it was she who pushed the space programme and the white revolution to new heights. Who can forget the moment when Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian astronaut, told her that from outer space, India appeared to him as ‘sare jehan se achcha!’” he added.

Here is the full text of Sonia Gandhi’s remarks:

“I am delighted that this initiative has finally become a reality. This is a first for the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust. We have organized seminars, awarded prizes and mounted exhibitions. But we haven’t had long-term partnerships with academic institutions of the type we are launching today.

The Indira Gandhi Chair in Environmental Sciences that is being instituted reflects two of Indira Gandhi’s abiding passions: ecology and science. I recall that she established the Ministry of Environment in November 1980 and she remained its Cabinet Minister till her death four

years later. All through her tenure in this position distinguished scientists served as Secretaries in the Ministry.

The IGMT considered various alternatives and came to two conclusions quickly. First, that Bengaluru has a vast institutional network in both ecology and science making it the natural habitat for such a Chair. And second, within the city NIAS with its links to the Indian Institute of Science was the natural pivot for locating the Chair. It is my hope that it will catalyse inter-institutional collaboration in the field of environmental science as well.

Throughout her life Indira Gandhi was fascinated by and drawn to Nature in all its aspects. Her upbringing, education and life experiences instilled in her a special affinity for India’s diverse natural heritage. Long before it became fashionable, she had become its untiring advocate not by words alone but by actions. The Silent Valley decision is perhaps the most telling example.

It was her personal commitment, for instance, that resulted in the laws we have today to protect wildlife, preserve forests and combat air and water pollution. A number of conservation programmes for endangered species, in which we now take pride, were conceived of and launched because of her personal concern and involvement. And when the world had not yet discovered the value and virtue of environmental protection, she was the only Prime Minister to address the first ever UN Conference on the Human Environment at Stockholm in June 1972. Her speech there has become a classic and is still remembered and quoted. It was during her time that pollution control boards and institutions like NEERI in Nagpur and the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehra Dun were set up.

I could go on. But I am talking to those who know much about Indira Gandhi's love of nature and belief in science. Today, more than ever before, we need that courage and resolve. Let me just once again say how gratified the IGMT is that it could put in place this collaboration with NIAS. Let me also make it clear that for the Trust, the only thing that matters for this Chair is professional excellence and intellectual accomplishment. It is now over to NIAS.”

Remarks made by Dr Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister:

“I am very pleased to be present to witness the signing of an MOU between IGMT and NIAS to set up a Chair in honour of our esteemed late Prime Minister, Smt. Indira Gandhi.

She is, of course, recognized as one of the builders of modern India. Her tenure as the leader of this country over 16 years in two separate phases saw a great transformation within our country and in our neighbourhood. Her political achievements, her firmness in the face of military challenges, and her numerous policy initiatives are well recognized.

In today’s function we are recognizing aspects of her life, her interests and her governance that are perhaps relatively less appreciated. I am referring here to her staunch commitment to developing science and technology in India and its application not only to issues connected with the well being of the environment, the protection of our forests and wild life, the well being of tribal areas, but also science and technology on a wider scale. And for this reason it is very appropriate that this Chair will be located in one of the country’s leading centres for the study of science and technology.

It was Jawaharlal Nehru who first spoke about the need to inculcate a scientific temper among our people. Indira Gandhi took this forward by leaps and bounds. The 42nd Amendment to the Indian Constitution in 1976 introduced the concept of the Fundamental Duties of citizens among which was to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.

To her, this was no abstraction. Her years as Prime Minister are peppered with path-breaking initiatives in the realm of science and technology. While ISRO was already in fledgling existence and the cooperative milk movement had started earlier, it was she who pushed the space programme and the white revolution to new heights. Who can forget the moment when Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian astronaut, told her that from outer space, India appeared to him as “sare jehan se achcha!”

The Green Revolution, which made India self-sufficient in food, was a combination of the work of Indian scientists and political determination, steered by her. At a more practical level during her watch the Indian Meteorological Service was modernised and India took a major step in launching the Antarctica expeditions – for geopolitical, scientific and environmental issues.

The Chair that is being sanctioned today will focus on the environmental sciences, which are gaining in urgency as we witness global warming and numerous environment-related challenges. The cause of much of the challenge humankind is facing is because humankind has forgotten that it is usurping far far more than its due, and certainly far more than its fair share of nature and natural resources.

Earth has been sending out warnings for decades and humankind must heed them if it wants to survive, let alone thrive. We share this earth with other living beings, big and small, and it belongs to us all. Indiraji was perhaps the first statesman, who while participating in the World Environment Conference in 1972 laid emphasis on collective responsibilities of the international community for the protection of environment and removal of poverty.

I hope that the work done here under the auspices of the Indira Gandhi Chair in Environment Sciences will help make us all are aware of this, and our responsibilities to everyone and everything else on this planet. This will be a fitting contemporary tribute to our late prime minister.

I wish both IGMT and NIAS ever success in this new venture.

Thank you.”