Monika Koul
February 28, 2015 is celebrated as National Science Day throughout the country to commemorate the discovery of Raman Effect by Dr. C.V. Raman, Indian Scientist who was awarded Nobel Prize for his discovery. This year the theme for the day is importance of science and technology for nation building. Seminars, discussions, debates, lectures, on-the spot essay competitions and other activities will be organized in schools, colleges, science laboratories and national science institutions around this topical theme. It is important to recall the words of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, the person with scientific temper and vision on this day. Pandit Nehru emphasized in his speeches that science and technology are going to play an important role in country’s progress and development after independence. He said that it is science alone that can solve the problems of hunger and poverty, of insanitation and illiteracy, of superstition and deadening custom and tradition, of vast resources running to waste, or a rich country inhabited by starving people. He emphasized that the future belongs to science and those who make friends with science.
With this background and after 68 years of Independence, the challenges that India is facing are same. It seems that nothing much has changed in these years. We have witnessed rampant development of infrastructure at one end and enormous industrial growth at other, but challenges remain the same. We have grown in numbers and are going to surpass China in population size; we have hungry mouths to feed. Children are dying of malnutrition, newer diseases are emerging like monsters that are caught but they open their wings again as new morphs that are difficult to contain. We see newer pests and pathogens emerging from somewhere but there are no super heroes to curb their menace. The one that is a threat today is H1N1 virus that is taking a toll of young and old both. Natural disasters every year show how these are beyond boundaries and if nature takes its revenge for its over-exploitation how voracious it can be. Kedarnath disaster and Floods in Kashmir are some recent examples of nature’s revenge and fury.
It has become difficult to control epidemics. People have developed resistance to antibiotics that were once considered to be the magic drugs to control infection. Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinsons, Alziemers are on rise and these are no longer age related as off late many young people have been reported to suffer from these. Environmental pollution is a menace. Air quality in all major cities is considered to be bad and bronchial asthma is taking toll on young and old all over. Therefore, the situation is not all that good on many other fronts as well. People are again looking at science and only science to come to the rescue and help sustenance of human population. Who indeed could afford to ignore science today? The answer is that no one can underestimate the value of science in todays contemporary India. For our country to progress and become a global leader, science and progress in scientific advancements are going to play a key role. At every turn we have to seek its aid for development and progress in frontier areas.
It is science that is going to tackle the problem of food insecurity by providing alternate materials and develop new plants with novel traits that can increase the nutrient quality as well as yield of food crops. It is science only that can help us evolve sustainable natural resource management techniques by which we can preserve the resources for eternity. It is the science only that is looking at targeted drug delivery so that the medicines work fast on patients without side effects.
Science has many more things to offer to our country to become a global super power. It is offering the use of alternate energy sources for industries so that the development continues without harmful impact on environment. The progress in science can help in population control and poverty eradication. Science has the capacity to offer newer avenues and livelihoods so that younger generation is a satisfied lot.
Science is actually a magic wand that can transform India into what every Indian aspires it to be. So let this science day promise India’s development and growth. Salute the National Science Day…..
(The author teaches at Hans Raj College, University of Delhi)
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