Before the location of the Institute could be decided upon, and for some time after, there were serious controversies about the suitability of Karaikudi. It was felt by those who had heared about the arid tracts of southern Coromandel Coast that in Karaikudi there could be little supply of water , which is essential for research, not to mention for a community of men. And those who saw the unwooded plans and the scrub jungle of this location. It looked as if that almost the only factor in favour of Karaikudi was its location in the vicinity of the magenetic equator. I am not sufficiently versed in higher physics to explain the implications and advantages of this fact. But naturally it was a pleasurue to me to observe that it has a distinct attraction for eminent scientists. Fortunately we now that there is plenty of water available under the ground, which cab be easily taken out in quantities to meet all our demands. The bore-well constructed here is a pointer to hydrological possibilities of this neglected tract.

It is our great good fortune that the institute is to be declared open by our beloved Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, Vice President of India. He is the most eminent torch-bearer of eastern culture and civilisation. He happily represents today an aspect of our acient Upanishadic tradition where we learned of kings who imparted enlightenment to seekers of truth. This scholors statesman is the modern counterpart of the philosoper king. he is a man whose association with a Government would add stature to it be it in any part of the world and i am greatly elated at our special good fortune to have hium here today.

In the history of the ancient land there have been periods when seers and sages pursued the their indefatigable Enquirer into many realms of truth. Their speculations were marked by fearlessness and devotion to truth and bore the hall-mark of great minds tacking great problems. No aspect of knowledge appears to have been neglected; no aspect of acience, learning, arts, crafts and scholarship was over looked. What they did was possible because of the prevalence of a climate of freedom and other favorable factors, which endured through the varying vicissitudes of our history over centuries. Today there are sings that we may once again be starting on a voyage the freedom of this land in a remarkable and unique manner which will forever be counter be counted to our credit. In our midst there appeared a man like the great mathematician S Ramanujan, who made a profound mark, and carved for himself a place in the hall of fame inspite of the handicaps with which he worked and lived during his short life. Name like those of Rabindranath Tagore, Ramanujan, Radhakrishnan and Raman suggest that we are not on the thresold of a new era. We have to think of creating a milieu in which there will naturally emerge a large number of distinguished men in various branches of learning and other human activities. The Prime Minister has initiated and vigorously set in motion policies which are bound to bear fruit within a reasonable time. I refer to the encouragement that is being given to scientific research in nation institutes and other centers of higher learning. The passionate yearning and hopes to come true, thanks to the co-operative effort, pension like Dr.S.S. Bhatnagar. I take this opportunity to pay my meed of tribute to the great ideals, which are inspiring the encouragement of scientific research by the Government of India. The Ramanuja Institute of Mathematics, which is now in Madras, may have its location for the present here in the Central Electrochemical Research Institute. I am Grateful to Dr. Bhatnagar for giving Ramanuja Institute facilities for a proper location till it has its own buildings. The Ramanuja Institute will be, like that with the assistance of the Government of India it will come to occupy its rightful place as one the foremost centers of mathematical research in our country.