NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.
Posted by bmhegde on 1
It is very difficult to define science. Many have defined science in their own way, but none of those are satisfactory. Science is the organized curiosity to understand the secrets of Nature in its variegated forms with, of course, a touch of logical skepticism. With limited budget for research these days all over the world we will have to ration scientific research to have direct relevance to mankind’s immediate needs. Technology, on the other hand, is the application of scientific knowledge to benefit mankind. It is a moot question if these aims are really met in the present day scientific world! Market forces might twist these altruistic motives, though. Young nations should watch out to avoid this happening.
Although science is good for mankind, scientists and their mentors might use scientific knowledge for power. When Oppenheimer, Niels Bohr, and Otto Frisch were trying to split an atom their teacher, Max Bohm, a Nobel Laureate physicist, had this to say: “I am proud of my pupils’ cleverness; how I wish they had used a bit of their wisdom, in addition. This atom which they are trying to split would one day teach mankind a bad lesson.” How prophetic were the words!
Martin Luther King Jr. had rightly felt that science without a touch of spiritualism would sink mankind into the valley of moral nihilism, but spirituality without a scientific touch would take man into the valley of illogicalism.” Mahatma Gandhi, the father of our nation, was of the firm belief that India should pursue micro development through all round village development, since more than eighty per cent of India lives in the villages. That has yet to happen. We are making great strides under the present rulers in that direction as well, albeit slowly.
Indian science of yore, which probably led the world thousands of years before the Universities in Europe, was in its pristine glory in the eighteenth century. The Royal Society in London sent twenty of their great scholars to study Indian Science and Technology. Their observations reveal the greatness of Indian science at that stage. The best steel, the finest cloth, blast furnaces, advanced mathematics and astronomy, astrology, metempsychosis and, even, medicine were recorded by them.
The only disease mankind has been able to eradicate thus far, small pox, was achieved through very low tech. method of vaccination which was in practice in India for “times out of mind,” wrote Dr. T.Z. Holwell, FRS. He was the one that recommended to the Royal College that the anecdotal experience of Edward Jennner be given permission for wider use, based on the Indian experience that he had in The Bengall Province of the Raj of those days for twenty years prospectively. The original document of Holwell is still preserved in the archives of the College in London. It has providentially survived two great fires since 1747 AD.
Today India stands on the threshold of scientific development of the most advanced type in every field of scientific endeavour, starting from agricultural revolution to cutting edge research in human genome mapping. Our space programme could match the best in the world as also our atomic and defence research facilities. In the area of pharmaceuticals, definitely in numbers, we lead the world. Modern science and technology have taken a backward India in the 1940s to one of the most advanced nations today, barely half a century lapsing in between! Soft ware development is our forte. We also are leaders in textile, and are very comfortable in the core sectors like cement, steel, automobiles and many other infrastructural areas. Although our fossil fuel reserves are not really very large, we have a large area yet to be explored and the work is going on. In addition, we hope to harness large quantities of diesel from a plant source in the not too distant a future.
The talk would throw light on India’s efforts to give better living standards for its citizens through science and technology since Independence with, of course, a touch of moral values to our scientific research, the hallmark of Indian education. We have a long way to go, miles to go, miles to go, before we sleep. This world will never have permanent peace until the lowest of the low have three square meals a day and have the basic minimum needs met. This could be achieved through judicious use of our existing scientific knowledge to do most good to most people most of the time. We, in India, believe that this whole world is but one large family and would, therefore, be most willing to share our knowledge and wisdom with those that need them. Jordon and India have been great friends for a very long time. May our friendship grow from strength to strength for the mutual benefit of our peoples? May science and technology also come to help cement that bondage further?
Jai Hind.