National Science Day

National science day is celebrated to commemorate the achievement of Sir CV Raman when he discovered the ‘Raman Effect” on 28^th Feb 1928, for which he also got the Noble Price. This was the achievement of the character and personality he had. Therefore, when we celebrate this day, we must prepare our mind to imbibe this noble character what he possessed. The purpose of this celebration is not only to widely spread among the people of the country the importance of science but also the discipline, inquisitiveness, perseverance, truthfulness, sincerity and love for the country ingrained in such a personality.

Here, it is important to first understand what is Science? Science is a logical thought process that ends up in generation of new knowledge, which includes hypothesis, experiment, observation, analysis and finally new knowledge. A systematic study of something. Therefore, science does attempt to understand material things and also the intangible aspects of life such as society, economic, psychology, politics etc. Today we generally see physics, chemistry and biology as science subjects but we do not give too much value to the science of human behaviour, their response to changing social phenomenon etc. We have to apply, therefore, a scientific temperament in every walk of our life. Humanities (the science of human or mass behaviour) have become an unavoidable science in the present social scenario. As we can see different material aspects through various instruments and can be visualized and touched, we generally believe this to be science but it is not true.

Why should we spread the message of importance of science among students, teachers, parents? A nation is known by its character, the brand value. The national character is made by the people of the country and therefore we need to build our own character first which will automatically manifest in national character. Please see India from a perspective where scientific temperament is imbibed within the national character.

Look at a child. He comes to this world without any knowledge. But mother nature wants it to survive in this new environment, this is why it is born. Now, its survival depends upon how fast it gathers new knowledge of this world. This is the God’s gift to it i.e. inquisitiveness and perseverance. In the infancy it does many things which parents are afraid of and restricts it to attempt. But what happens, they cry so ferociously as if they are going to die next moment, the psychological effect, just for having the knowledge it wants to gather. This is why we say that children have the temperament for science. This means our mind is scientific from the very beginning. So the true quest for knowledge is Science.

The most important personal traits for this thought process is inquisitiveness of human mind and perseverance to know more and more, which is opposite of ignorance.

What science does to the life of human being? Yes, Science is a ladder for change. Create new knowledge, use this knowledge for the betterment of human life. All the new technologies we are witnessing are the testimony that so many people have gone through such a perseverance for quest for knowledge have come out with physical and chemical principles which ahs been used for the new technologies in medicine, materials, aerospace, transportation, agriculture for the benefit of the mankind.

How fast is the process of generating new knowledge? It takes time. But the possibility increases if we have more and more number of people engaged in such endeavors. How will it come? By inculcating such scientific temperament in the people. The primary aim is therefore the children in every part of the country. Who are responsible for doing this? Obviously, the teachers.  The teachers have to be aware of child psychology so as to bring out maximum from them and this requires freedom of thought. You are the budding teachers and the onus is on you to prepare yourself for the task and deliver to the country the people with scientific temperament. This can be achieved by developing the following in schools: openness in our behaviour with students, encouraging them to ask questions, developing a personal rapport etc.

*The talk given in Jaminikant B.Ed. College on Science Day (28.02.2020)