The Panjab University Vice-Chancellor, Professor R.C. Sobti has been conferred upon the highly prestigious Swami Vivekananda National Award-2011 for education in recognition of his outstanding and extraordinary contribution towards establishing institutions of scientific excellence and making Panjab University a leading university in bio-medical sciences.

The prestigious award was instituted by former Prime Minister late Mrs Indira Gandhi to recognize the great and outstanding contribution, and excellence of the citizens in different fields to rebuild and take the nation to greater heights.

This is the second prestigious award presented to Prof R.C. Sobti within the first fortnight of January 2011.

Prof. Sobti had recently been awarded Gold Medal by the prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh to honour him for his significant contribution to the development of science and technology in the country at the 98th Indian Science Congress at Chennai on January 3.

The research work accomplished by him has a direct bearing and relevance to human health. No one can afford to ignore his contributions in establishing institutions of scientific excellence, the award jury noted.

Padma Shree awardee, Prof Sobti has to his credit an enviable number of prestigious national and international academic distinctions, awards, fellowships and medals already to his credit. He also holds many distinctions conferred upon him for his role in popularising science in the society. Besides academics, he has also shouldered administrative responsibilities very effectively. He has authored a respectable number of titles relating to his subjects of specialisation.

Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting
Mrs Ambika Soni presented the award to Prof R.C. Sobti at the Swami Vivekananda National Award ceremony held at New Delhi at a function to mark the 148th birth anniversary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda recently.

In conformity of the idea and vision of Mrs Indira Gandhi, the authority of the conferment has been entrusted to the Ramakrishna-Vivekanand International Foundation (RKVIF) the philanthropic apex body for human excellence through Indian wisdom and an international known organization dedicated to the ideal of unity of mankind, which has endeavoured over the years to make people aware of the richness of the human potentiality and culture of the globe and also urgent need for the enhancement of appreciation and understanding. One of the foremost aims and objectives of RKVIF is to create a unique environment in the business, corporate and public governance world based on the strong foundation ofdivinity and scientific spiritual intelligence.

Among the other prominent personalities who received awards of different categories are Mr Somnath Chatterjee, former speaker of Lok Sabha and Mr Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar (for Statesmanship); Mrs Sudha Acharya, chairperson of Joint Committee of New York (for Philanthropy and Social service); Dr Nikhil Vijay Shende of S&I Engg. Solutions and Mr Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia (for Entrepreneurship); Dr Vijay Mallya, Chairman, UB Group and Mr Partha S. Bhattacharya, Chairman CIL (for corporate Leadership), Prof R.C. Sobti, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, Dr Ashok Chouhan, founder President Amity Universities, Ln. M.K. Bashar, Chairman, Cambrian Group of Institutions, Bangladesh and Prof O.P. Bhalla, Chancellor,Manav Rachna International University have been presented the award for their distinguished contribution in promoting excellent quality education. Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, noted economist and deputy chairman planning commission of India and Prof Jagdish N. Bhagwati, Professor, Columbia University have been awarded for the development of macro economics; Mr T.K. Nair, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India has been awarded for distinguished public services; Dr Manoj Khanna, cosmetic and plastic surgeon and Dr Sunita Aggarwal, noted eye surgeon were awarded for quality healthcare services; Mr Rajdeep Sardesai, editor, CNN-IBN and Mr Tarun Tejpal, notedjournalist, editor-in-chief, Tahelka have been awarded for their contribution to media and journalism. Md. Maulana Maghoob-ur Rahman, Rectr of Deoband Dal-ul-Uleman, Islamic University, Md. Amjad Ali Khan, Indian Classical musician and Dr Vijay Kumar Swaraswat, Secretary, Defence R&D have been presented the lifetime Achievement Award; Ms Vidya Balan, eminent film actor and Mrs Kanaka Sudhakar, noted classical dancer were awarded for promoting superb art and culture; while Mr Mahant Devendra Dass of Shri Guru Ram Rai Education Mission has been awarded for his distinguished missionary services.