Bengaluru is not an IT city: CNR Rao

Differing from many who hail Bengaluru as an IT city, renowned scientist Bharat Ratna Prof CNR Rao, on Saturday described the city as a Science city. “Bengaluru is not an IT city but a Science city,” Prof Rao said during an interaction organised by the Kannada and Culture department at Ravindra Kalakshetra.

“People think the city is known for Information Technology(IT). But the fact is that the city is actually a science city. It is in this city that we have the prestigious Indian Institute of Science (IISc) besides the state government being the only government in India that is giving enough funds to the science field. This is why I call Bengaluru a science city than just being an IT city,” Prof Rao explained.

Hitting out sarcastically at politicians who subscribe to superstitious beliefs and conduct religious rituals in the corridors of the power centre - Vidhana Soudha, Prof Rao said: “We can observe rituals like offering special puja to gods, vehicles and objects. But what if we begin to perform ‘mangal aarti’ (ritual) to a rocket? Can you imagine the situation?”