‘Name Silent Valley after M G K Menon’

CHENNAI: Prof M G K Menon was a scientist’s scientist who provided the base for the scientific community for over five decades, said M S Swaminathan, agricultural scientist and chairperson of the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation.
In a statement here on Thursday, Prof Swaminathan said the acclaimed physicist and former Isro chief who passed away in New Delhi on Tuesday was the most active exponent of Jawaharlal Nehru’s concept that “the future belongs to science and those who make friendship with science”.
Prof Menon not only made great contributions in his chosen field of research, physics, but also promoted all other sciences, both theoretical and applied. His unique contribution in saving the Silent Valley Rainforest of Kerala helped convert it into a biosphere reserve, Prof Swaminathan said. “We should acknowledge this unique contribution by naming the Silent Valley Biosphere Reserve ‘Prof M G K Menon Biosphere Reserve.’” He was always concerned about the well-being of science and scientists in India and abroad and gave his time generously to building science academies to make them serve as the voice of the scientists.
“His life and work will inspire and guide generations of young scientists and scientists to be born,”. Prof Swaminathan said.