BANGALORE: Radars built by them have been virtually scanning the skies for 50 years, effectively tracking all flying objects. Their radars Indra and Rajendra have stood ground doing the duties for the Indian armed forces. Now, retired scientists and employees of the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) - a DRDO lab making radars and associated technologies - are panning their hearts from skies to society. Their mission: Give it back to society, whatever it takes.Called the ‘Forum for former LRDEians’, the three-year-old silent movement is all set to get propelled with the likely formation of a foundation embedding scientific temper and societal sensibility. Started with six people in 2009, the movement has grown to over 250 former scientists, engineers, technical staff and administration officers signing up. Secretary and the brainchild of forum A K Sugunan told Express that the regrouping of LRDE employees after retirement is steadily progressing. “To us, it’s an inspiring move in our life. Though we are all aged, we don’t want to fade away just like that. While we might have ensured a safe retired life, there are many out there not sure of what the next morning would look like. We want to touch their lives,” says Sugunan, a retired technical officer from LRDE.Eradication of child labour is one area that will fall under the scanner of these retired men. “We are focusing on limited areas in Bangalore, where children are employed as labourers. We want to go back as spirited souls who gave something back to society,” says 72-year-old P N H S Mani, forum’s advisor and former senior scientist with LRDE. Once the forum transforms into a Foundation, then these people also plan to become mentors. “We have a huge knowledge bank with and are keen that the public benefit from it. Be it getting into DRDO or any other defence establishment, we will counsel students,” says M C Padakannaya, forum president and former senior scientist with LRDE.The forum has brought a Corporation School in Bangalore’s Suddaguntapalaya under their radar and has provided books to the library, in addition to donating storage facilities.
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