Biotechnology

By Nadir Godrej

November 22, 2004

We are in the age of information

Software is the pride of the nation.

And on its back the nation rises

But it's high time it realizes

All knowledge is not in the bits

And that a lot of it just sits

In the genome, yet to be read.

Now is the time to focus instead

On the knowledge that lies in the genes.

To understand what it all means

We have with us Villoo Patell

I'm sure she will have much to tell

On how the mastery of the gene

Will help us all transform the scene.

We'll find new cures for diseases,

Crop yields will show great increases.

We'll know who'll have side effects

We can eliminate defects.

We'll have the power to do much good

Although it is well understood

We could perhaps inflict much harm.

There might well be cause for alarm.

But if we take the right precautions

And use it in the right proportions,

We can avoid insanity

And benefit humanity.

Villoo learnt her craft in France

And IFTA's glad to gave the chance

To learn from her how things will go.

She is really in the know.

Villoo studied avidly

And in Strasbourg in '93

She was awarded her Ph.D

From Louis Pasteur University.

And studying more was her intent

And so she went on to Ghent.

In India it was Bangalore

That was considered at the fore.

Sometime later there and then

She started up Avesthagen.

With her she's brought Gilles Amsallem

I'd like to to thank both of them.

And they will talk technology

But if it is left up to me,

I would have them talk of France

As well. And Gilles took quite a chance

He chose to work here with us

He must have thought this was the bus

That he must catch and we are pleased

That our reputation has increased

To the point that we are now

The place to be. Gilles tell us how

We got to this exalted height.

We must be doing something right!

You have all heard me before

So I will say nothing more

And finally I'll yield the floor

To Villoo whom you'll all adore.