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Promoting Indian science in Indian languages
In order to promote the ancient Indian scientific knowledge as well as the modern science and technology to the common man in his mother tongue, the Vigyan Bharati, Delhi and Science and Technical Dictionary Commission jointly organised a three day All India Science Conference in New Delhi from February 19 to 21. More than 700 grassroots scientists, scholars and analysts from hundreds of reputed institutions like CSIR, DRDO, NPL, ICAR, etc. participated in the conference. The active participation of young scientists overwhelmed the organisers. Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Bachi Singh Rawat inaugurated the conference.
Enumerating the proceedings of the conference, convener, Dr Devendra Prakash Bhatt pointed out that more than 450-research papers were read at the conference. Besides there were about 80 oral presentations. ?This conference has proved that the science can be effectively propagated in the mother tongue without tampering with the originality of science and also using the English language, he said. A collection of all research papers was also released by Dr Krishan Kishore Aggrawal, Vice Chancellor, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha Universtiy, New Delhi.
Presiding over the conference national president of Vigyan Bharati, Prof. K.I. Vasu informed that the organisation earlier organised several Science Fairs in different Indian languages like Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, etc. and all were successful in taking the science to common man. He emphasised that the ancient Indian scientific knowledge can be brought fourth only through the mother tongue.
Speaking at the concluding ceremony, director, National Physical Laboratory, Prof. Vikram Kumar expressed satisfaction with the efforts being taken to access the reach of science to the common man. President, Vigyan Bharati Delhi, Prof. Chandrashekhar emphasised the need to promote the study of science in mother tongue.
Renowned Ayurveda expert, Vaidya Brihspatidev Triguna, Prof. Shri Krishna Joshi, former director General of CSIR and Dr Mahendrapal Yadav of Aligarh were honoured with the Swadeshi Vigyan award for their outstanding contribution to different fields of Indian science. Six Aryabhatta Puraskars were also given away to Air Martial (Retd) Vishwamohan Tewari for writing science in Hindi, Savendra Kumar Pandey, Dr Ram Singh Yadav, Jyoti Prakash, Dr Ramesh Somvanshi and Dr Gajendra Singh. Five Aryabhatta Samman were also presented to young scientists. (FOC)
Shri Rajendra Chaddha is the force behind the Vigyan Bharati movement. He is fully geared up to take it to every nook of the country. A senior Pracharak he spoke to Organiser on the aims and objectives of the Vigyan Bharati.
Excerpts:
What is the objective of Vigyan Bharati?
The Vigyan Bharati is a platform that coordinates between different science movements of the country. It aims to take the traditional Indian scientific knowledge to the world. It is a platform for those people who believe that India has a rich scientific and technological tradition, which is much advanced as compared to that of the other countries of the world. This advancement was obvious in mathematics, astrology, agriculture, vetenary, spirituality, chemistry, etc. The Britishers deliberately concealed this greatness, which resulted as inferiority complex among Indians. This trend continues even today. We are trying to develop self-confidence among countrymen so that we can achieve that prestigious place again. The movement has spread in most of the states of the country. It is the platform to promote the neglected Indian science among common man and that too through the Indian languages.
What is the outcome of this conference?
The Vigyan Bharati through such conferences has successfully attracted the young scientists of the country towards the ancient Indian scientific knowledge. We have been successful in bringing forth the talent of Indian scientists. Ninety institutions from 115 places of the country participated in the conference and the whole proceeding was conducted in Hindi. It was third conference in Hindi. The first two were organised in Lucknow (1999) and Jabalpur in 2001. Out of a total 400, 108 research papers were shown through slides in 16 sessions.
What are the future plans of Vigyan Bharati?
The future programmes will be decided in the general body meeting to be held in Bangalore on March 21.
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