By OUR STAFF REPORTER
NAINITAL, 3 Sep: Uttarakhand’s sophisticated Nano Science Lab of Kumaon University was dedicated to the memory of Prof Rajendra Singh, popularly known as Rajju Bhayya, who was HoD, Physics Department, Allahabad University, and later rose to become RSS Sarsanghchalak (chief). Tarun Vijay, former BJP RS MP from Uttarakhand, who had contributed Rs 50 lakhs for the establishment of the lab from his MPLAD Fund, inaugurated the lab-renaming with VC of Kumaon University Prof KS Rana, Director of Nano Science Lab, Dr Nanda Gopal Sahu (In- Charge, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Centre), and several faculty members and students. The Nano Science Centre is working to convert plastic waste into graphene, the world’s strongest material and presently highly expensive to import. (A form of graphene is being preferred to existing polymer based water filtration membranes.) VC Prof Rana said it was gratifying that as MP, Tarun Vijay contributed significantly to the setting up of the lab, helping students to work in higher research, otherwise they were forced to go out of the state for their studies. The lab is named after a great person who pursued higher science and spent his life in service of society. This lab named after Prof Rajendra Singh would inspire students to dedicate their research for the public good, he said, Tarun Vijay thanked the university and said that the lab will go a long way towards helping students. All research and scientific pursuits ought to help people lead a better life. The lab will prove a boon for Uttarakhand students, who are brilliant but need better opportunities to pursue higher studies. Dedicating the Lab to Prof Rajendra Singh was a befitting tribute to a great social reformer, who urged all to have a scientific outlook and insisted the youth pursue higher science all their lives.
