Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Aug 12: Veteran scientist C N R Rao on Monday August 11 blamed the IT industry for turning city and Hyderabad into cities with huge concentration of brainless young men and women. Prof Rao, who has passed comments against the IT industry in the past too, was delivering a lecture on 'Doing Science in India: Personal Reflection' at the Indian Institute of Astro-physics, as part of the Founders Day Lecture on Monday August 11.

The IT virus has taken city in its grip. The city has the biggest concentration of brainless youngsters. The only other city which suffers from this phenomenon, is Hyderabad," he said.

He described IT professionals as 'young fellows with briefcases' and said that the tilt towards IT has created an imbalance in the society. A balanced society needs scientists, musicians, artistes, playwrights etc.  A huge population of people with lot of money but no minds, tilts the balance unfavourably, he felt.

Rao felt that Bangalore's contribution to science and technology has not been valuable of late. On the other hand, rural talents from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal have been enriching these fields in a praiseworthy manner, he added.

"I am not against IT industry. But I am hurt that noteworthy talents are not emerging in the country as far as research is concerned. The youngsters, who account for more than half of the population, are not making much contributing to science. Development of knowledge industry is the need of the hour for building a bright future of the country," he explained.