Looking attentive and friendly, Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, 58, carefully read all the certificates that he gave away to young scientists on Tuesday here at the Indian Science Congress , smiled and exchanged pleasantries with each of them.
But he politely ignored the shouting battery of photographers and refused to look at their cameras.
“I am not a cricket star or a politician,” he said later in his speech, frankly expressing his disdain for limelight and flashbulbs.
At the award ceremony he glanced at the press photographers through the corner of his eye, like a kid caught in the act. He was more direct when he got the mike: “ Take photos in 10 second and get done.” Then he ensured that they did.
Ramakrishnan took a dig at the organisers of what he called the world’s most ceremonious science congress. “ There is no real place for ritual and ceremony in science.” His speech to the children about the importance of irreverence in science came after half an hour of largely pointless talks – which he listened looking bemused sometimes a bit lost.
Another meet had dragged on with the customary exchange of plaques, praises and shawls on stage. Ramakrishnan contrasted the scene with his Nobel Prize acceptance speech at the Swedish Academy. They gave just a five minute introduction there.
Instead, on the home turf, wherever Venki went, often absorbed in friendly conversation with colleagues and strangers, there were autograph seekers in their scores.
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