The father of India's nuclear programme, late Homi Jahangir Bhabha, deserved the country's highest honour and should be given 'Bharat Ratna' posthumously, Chairman of Prime Minister's scientific advisory council, Prof C N R Rao said in Mumbai on Thursday.
"Merely calling Bhabha as an institution is not enough. I would call him a colossal leader who had an unparalleled and unlimited vision for India's growth and also practically carried out during his short lifetime," Rao said at the three-day 'Bhabha Centenary Symposium: Science and Technology at the Frontiers', which began on Thursday.
"It is unfortunate that after the eminent physicist Sir C V Raman, who was one of the first recipients of Bharat Ratna in 1954, no scientist has been honoured till date with the country's highest honour," he said.
"Homi Bhabha should be conferred Bharat Ratna posthumously," he said addressing scientists and artists at the grand finale of the Bhabha centenary celebrations.
"When lesser known people like cinema actors and musicians have received the same award, why was Bhabha not given this honour?" he asked.
"Science has not been given the same importance like sensex and economic issues in India during the discussions and debates in Parliament and is not even a priority among scientists," he said.
{{/usCountry}}"Science has not been given the same importance like sensex and economic issues in India during the discussions and debates in Parliament and is not even a priority among scientists," he said.
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