Do not Define good Work by Awards: Nobel Laureate Ramakrishnan


London, Oct 8 (IANS) Indian-origin scientist Venkatraman Ramakrishan Wednesday said that he is "honoured" to share 2009 Nobel Prize for Chemistry but added that it's a "mistake to define good work by awards".

Asked about his initial reaction when he heard the news, Venkatraman said: "Well, I think it's a great honour and surprise! I am very happy!"

"I think it's a mistake to define good work by awards. This is a typical mistake that the public or even the press make. None of you called me about my work even two days ago...right?" Ramakrishnan told BBC Hindi Service in an exclusive interview on phone from Cambridge, Britain.

"I think people have to do what interests (them) and then pursue it...that's the way to do important work. Whether prizes come your way or not, it's really not so important."

Ramakrishnan, who is now a US citizen, was named for the $1.42-million award along with American Thomas A. Steitz and Israeli Ada E. Yonath for their "studies of the structure and function of the ribosome", which is found in cells with nuclei and translates the DNA code into life.

He also said that India has many promising scientists but the press seemed to be "hung up on Western awards like the Nobel".

"There are lots of good scientists in India but I notice the press is hung up about these Western prizes like the Nobel Prize instead of appreciating the excellent work they (scientists) are doing within the context of India," he said.

Venkatraman was born in Chidambaram town in Tamil Nadu and left for the US after his graduation in 1971. When asked about Western countries still being the destination of Indian youths trying to fulfil their dreams of higher research, Venkataraman's reply was very candid.

"No, no I don't feel that it is necessary any more. There are lots of good labs in India where they can do excellent work. Well, in 1971 there were only a few places in India - there was not much research and money for research in India at that time."

"I have been to India several times since and these days there are some really fantastic places in India like the Indian Institute of Science and several others...those are very good places and very good scientists," Ramakrishnan, 57, said.

Talking about his student days, the scientist with MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge said: "In my days, the choices were rather limited. So the US was, and still is, the world centre for science, although Europe and UK are not comparable...so in those days I chose to go to the US. But to do the kind of work I wanted to do, I chose to come to Cambridge because the MRC Lab of microbiology has a long standing tradition of supporting difficult fundamental work".

When asked about the implications of his work, Venkatraman said: "My work is about the fundamental molecular machine that translates genetic code into protein so it's essential to understand life - it's one of the central problems in life...how genetic info is used to make protein. For that reason it's important. Many anti-biotics bind to ribosomes."

"And with these structures people have been able to see how these anti-biotics bind and that helps them to design new anti-biotics. This is one of the implications," he said.

India-born Scientist Wins Nobel Prize in Chemistry

TOI

Washington, Oct 8: An India-born structural biologist whose quest for scientific excellence took him from undergraduate schools in India to graduate and post-doc studies in US and research in UK was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry on Wednesday for work on proteins that control life.

Dr Venkatraman ''Venky'' Ramakrishnan, 58, who had his early education in the temple town of Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, and Vadodra, Gujarat, before he made tracks to the United States, joined the long list of peripatetic Indians who had early education in India but thrived in the western academic eco-system, to have won the Nobel. Also with a chemistry Nobel, Indians or those with an India-connect figure in all prize categories.

The Swedish Nobel Committee awarded the Prize to Dr Ramakrishnan, who is currently affiliated with the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, UK, for his work on protein-producing ribosomes, and its translation of DNA information into life. He will share the Prize with Dr Thomas Steitz of Yale University, Connecticut, and Dr Ada Yonath of Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.

In a statement following the announcement of the award, Dr Ramakrishnan expressed gratitude to ``all of the brilliant associates, students and post docs who worked in my lab as science is a highly collaborative enterprise.'' He credited the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology and the University of Utah for supporting his work and the collegiate atmosphere there that made it all possible.

``The idea of supporting long term basic research like that at LMB does lead to breakthroughs, the ribosome is already starting to show its medical importance,'' he said.

The practical importance of Dr Ramakrishnan's work arises from ribosomes being present in all living cells, including those of bacteria. Human and bacterial ribosomes are slightly different, making the ribosome a good target for antibiotic therapy that works by blocking the bacteriums ability to make the proteins it needs to function.

Ramakrishnan, Steitz and Yonath demonstrated what the ribosome looks like and how it functions at an atomic level using a visualisation method called X-ray crystallography to map the position of each of the hundreds of thousands of atoms that make up the ribosome, according to the MRC.

``This year's three Laureates have all generated 3D models that show how different antibiotics bind to the ribosome. These models are now used by scientists in order to develop new antibiotics, directly assisting the saving of lives and decreasing humanity's suffering,'' the Nobel citation explained.

Scientists say growing knowledge of the ribosome has created targets for a new generation of antibiotics. The instruction manual for the creation of proteins is DNA, but the ribosome is the machine which takes information transcribed onto messenger RNA and turns it into proteins.

Elaborating, the MRC said Dr Ramakrishnan's basic research on the arrangement of atoms in the ribosome has allowed his team not only to gain detailed knowledge of how it contributes to protein production but also to see directly how antibiotics bind to specific pockets in the ribosome structure. Dr Ramakrishnan will share the 10 million Swedish kronor ($1.4 million) Nobel Prize money (1/3rd each), in a ceremony in Stockholm on December 10.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Dr. Nitin Shetty, South Korea

    Sun, Oct 25 2009

    First of all, heartly congratulations to V. Raman... and I appreciate Mr. Anil's thinking.

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  • Praveen Bangera, kaup/Dubai

    Thu, Oct 08 2009

    Congrats Mr. V. Raman. I am very proud that U were an Indian before. Sad that we Indians are only interested in relegion but indian borns are interested in the good works. Its seems that the name RAMAN is very closely attached with NOBLE. The first being C.V. Raman and second is V. Raman. Insha Allah the third will be Only Raman and that will be Indian and not indian born.

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  • Gananath B Shetty, Nandikur/Mumbai

    Thu, Oct 08 2009

    Congrats for being awarded the Nobel price. You are intelligent and Down to Earth.We are proud of your achievement,you have brought honour to the people of INDIA & U.S

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  • Amit Sharma, Lucknow

    Thu, Oct 08 2009

    Would have been more happy for you had you have done the same as an Indian Resident nor as an american, Why so much Hoopls is there in India, C'Mon its an American who has won this award.

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  • Vidya , Bangalore

    Thu, Oct 08 2009

    Once again THANKS to the genius who invented X-ray Crystallography being a marvelous tool to look at nature at the atomic level. The last recognition was in 1985 for Photosynthesis. Congratulations Sir, We are very proud of you.

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  • dayanand mukane, solapur

    Thu, Oct 08 2009

    Sir we really proud of you as u r indian.but trazedy is indian govt do not see such talented person .

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  • BIJU MITHRAN, TRIVANDRUM/VARKALA

    Thu, Oct 08 2009

    congratulations Mr.Ramakrishnan, We all indians are proud of you. you put our indias name once again in the top of the world we wish all the best in your future projects...

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  • Pronab Kanti Pal, BURDWAN

    Thu, Oct 08 2009

    Sir, we are really proud for you, as an Indian. You make a glorious job for us.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Sundaram, Bangalore

    Thu, Oct 08 2009

    I definitely agree. Its very sad that people don't get recognised without any prize tag. So good work should be recognised and credited appropriately

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • sudarshan shetty, dubai.ganjimut

    Thu, Oct 08 2009

    Fully agree with Mr. Anil. Community members should really try and get these diamonds back to india and help them to achive the goals. Feel bad to hear indian born scientist instead of indian scientist.

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  • M.Mathias, Mangalore

    Thu, Oct 08 2009

    "Do not Define good Work by Awards" - what a good statement by a good person.Congratulations. Only these awards can tell their good work to the entire world.

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  • henry MISQUITH, MANGALORE/BAHRAIN

    Thu, Oct 08 2009

    Many many congratulations to Ramakrishnan, for making India and the people of India proud.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Abdulla Madumoole, Abu Dhabi

    Thu, Oct 08 2009

    Congratulation V.Ramakrishnan. I agree with V.R. that awards do not define the good work.At the same time, we have to accept that it is because of these awards people behind the good work are brought to the public attention.There may be many good works but exceptional good works are awarded. We are very proud of you VR. I share the concerns expressed by Anil Kundapura. We will have to wait till we change our status from "Indian Origin" to "Indian".

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  • sumana, Mangalore

    Thu, Oct 08 2009

    Congratulations. We ,the Indians are very proud of you Sir. Our country is really great.

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  • Dr.Madhyastha H, Hungarcutta/Japan

    Thu, Oct 08 2009

    Yes,it's a mistake to define good work by awards but in India award means he/she is great and VIP. Congrats on your achievement.

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  • Syed Anwar, Dubai/Balehonnur

    Thu, Oct 08 2009

    WE ARE PROUD OF YOU DR.VENKETRAMAN WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN YOUR NEAR FUTURE

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  • Anil, Kundapura/Dubai

    Thu, Oct 08 2009

    Wow! Great achievement… Wish all the best for your future. This is true that in our India there are so many scientists are side lining and those scientists are going to other countries like: Korea, US, UK & etc in search of facilities and growth. Why India can’t think seriously about these guys. I still remember that there was a news in Daijiworld about Dr. Jay Shetty .. pls refresh once again: [For Daijiworld Media Network— USA (CN) California, Jun 25: Dr Jayaram Shetty, vice-president of Genencor based in Palo Alto, California, has bagged the 2008 Research Excellence award, for his contribution to the development of new advanced technologies for bio-fuel production using agricultural raw materials.

    Popularly known as Dr Jay Shetty, this native of village Kadangodu near Sooralu of Udupi district, was presented the award at an international biofuel conference held at Nashville, Tennessee. Previously, Dr Shetty has also been a recipient of the 2005 Top R&D 100 award during the ceremony held in Chicago in 2006. ‘Jay’s contributions to Genencor and to the industry have been truly outstanding, so I think it is very fitting that he received this award. Our hats off to him!’ said Glenn Nedwin, EVP, Technical Enzymes. Dr Shetty has also been exhorting the Indian government to invest in production of bio-fuel so that fuel becomes cheaper in India and help meet the nation’s energy needs.]

    Why we have to hear always like “India-born Scientist” why can’t “Indian Scientist” Concerned people please think about this… Community leaders please try to find such diamonds in your community and help them to achieve their goals, and then it’s sure that along with India’s name our community name also shines

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  • Santhosh, Udupi

    Thu, Oct 08 2009

    Congrats Venkata Raman Ramakrishnan, We are proud of you, Jai Hind

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse


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