Mysuru, November 13 (H.S.): PM Narendra Modi said India was continuously achieving new milestones in science and technology, and that the state-of-the-art COSMOS Planetarium in Mysuru would add a new chapter to the country's scientific journey. He made the remarks on Friday after inaugurating the planetarium, built at the foothills of Chamundi Hills in Mysuru, Karnataka.

On the occasion, PM Modi highlighted India's ancient scientific heritage, its contemporary achievements in the space sector and the innovations being driven by young scientists. He said renowned astronomers such as Aryabhata, Varahamihira, Bhaskaracharya and Nilakantha Somayaji had made remarkable discoveries despite having limited resources and technological facilities. Through complex mathematical calculations, they had made invaluable contributions to the advancement of science.

PM Modi said the government had opened up India's space sector to private participation, creating new opportunities for private enterprises and enabling Indian start-ups to demonstrate their capabilities. Today, a growing number of young people are actively contributing to science and technology. Young scientists are launching rockets and setting new benchmarks in innovation, he added.

He observed that technology was rapidly transforming the world. Today, people can easily track the location of a train and find out how long it will take to reach a particular station. The participation of young people, he said, was extremely important in driving such scientific and technological advancements.

Expressing his pleasure at visiting Mysuru, PM Modi recalled that he had visited the city a few months earlier for the inauguration of the Swami Vivekananda Memorial. On the occasion, he also remembered Goddess Chamundeshwari, the revered deity of Karnataka.

Congratulating everyone who had contributed to the development of the COSMOS Planetarium, PM Modi also appreciated the role played by the erstwhile royal family of Mysuru. He said the family of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar had made significant contributions to the advancement of education and research by encouraging students and researchers. Mysuru, he added, had consistently fostered scientific and academic activities.

Following the inauguration, PM Modi watched an introductory video about the COSMOS Planetarium. He also toured special exhibitions showcasing astronomy, space and the history of Mysuru and received information about the displays.

World's First 15-Degree Tilted LED-Dome Planetarium

The COSMOS Planetarium in Mysuru features what is described as the world's first LED dome tilted at an angle of 15 degrees. Developed on a 3.5-acre site within the Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Centre for Higher Learning campus of the University of Mysore, the project has been completed at an estimated cost of approximately Rs 115 crore.

Another distinctive feature of the planetarium is its visually striking representation of the name 'Mysuru', incorporating letters from Kannada, English and Hindi. Developed using state-of-the-art technology, the centre aims to raise awareness and interest in astronomy and space science, particularly among students and young people.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar