President lauds scientists, ISRO for successful Mars Mission

President Pranab Mukherjee Tuesday congratulated the entire scientific community and space agency ISRO for successfully executing the country's Mars Orbiter Mission.

"I on my behalf and that of all our countrymen, pay tribute to the scientists and technical staff who have toiled tirelessly to create history...I need to remind all of you that you have a great responsibility ahead of you," Mukherjee said.

The President was speaking at the presentation of the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence in Public Administration, Academics and Management for 2014 at Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

The award this year was conferred on well-known scientist Apathukatha Sivathanu Pillai, which the president said "is recognition for the outstanding work done by our space and defence research scientists".

Mukherjee congratulated the entire scientific community and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in particular, for the "remarkable feat of having successfully executed the Mars Orbiter Mission in its very first attempt".

"...you must imbibe the Shastrian values of courage, integrity and selfless service. You all must rise above pursuits for self and look around to see what you can do for your fellow countrymen. Look inside you and see what you can do to bring about difference in the society and the nation," he added.

Pillai is a distinguished scientist and chief controller (research and development) at DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and chief executive officer and managing director, BrahMos Aerospace.