Rakesh Kumar Pandit
Our national main stream media, both print as well as electronic is very active and buzzing. It has a power to mould the opinion of the masses. It is presenting each and every kind of stuff from political developments to saas-bahu aur saazish to our people. Sometimes it shows morally and ethically objectionable stuff to the people in a glorifying way. If we carefully analyses our TV-channels particularly news channels, they are selling the news to the nation rather than presenting it. They dramatize the issues and most of the times gets deviated from the real issues. On November 7 last, I wondered why this so called progressive and active main stream media fails in its duty to pay tribute to one of our real national hero Sir C. V. Raman. November 7, was the birthday of Sir C. V. Raman, one of the greatest scientists of the world. It is a special day for our nation and we as a grateful nation must celebrate it. It is a matter of great regret, that not a single minute was devoted by any news channel except DD- National to pay tribute to this great scientist and national hero. It also reminds me of a documentary titled “The Quantum Indians” by Raja Choudhury in 2013, an educational film which won the national award in 2013. This superb documentary got the same ill treatment by our progressive and active media. None of the news channels ever show even the trailer of this master piece to our children. They are eager and busy to show which entertainment film is about to get released and moreover what is happening inside the Big- Boss Show. This discriminatory attitude by the national media motivates me to highlight in few words what this documentary “The Quantum Indians “was all about. I will retain the title “The Quantum Indians” because it is too inviting and moreover impossible to replace it by any other name.
It was a Raja Choudhury’s directed 52- minute documentary on three celebrated Indian Scientists. These are Sir C.V. Raman, Prof. Megnad Saha and Prof. S.N. Bose. This documentary highlights their individual biographies and collective impact on the world of science. These three scientists contributed to the development of Quantum Physics. This documentary highlights how they revolutionized the world of physics by their remarkable discoveries. The work of these scientists is too large to be consolidated in few lines. These scientists have inspired generations after generations in our country to pursue basic scientific research as career and imbibe hope in them that they too can excel in scientific research. A very brief account of their life sketch is as:
Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman was born on November 7, 1888 and died in 1970. He was a professor of Physics at the University of Calcutta where he did most of his research work. He was awarded Noble Prize in Physics for his work on the scattering of light and for the discovery of the effect named after him (Raman Effect). The day on which Sir C. V Raman discovered the Raman Effect (28th February) is observed as National Science Day in India. He founded the Raman Research Institute Bangalore . He also became the fellow of Royal Society in 1924. His contribution in the development of scientific research institutes in India is immense. He was a genius and this reflects from his confidence when he wrote to G. D Birla, requesting him for funds to buy Spectrograph and assuring him that his discovery will definitely land a Noble Prize. He was a true patriot as well. While receiving Noble prize in 1930, he was hurt by the absence of Indian Flag at the ceremony and dedicated the prize to the freedom fighters of India, who according to him were spending the golden time of their life in jails.
Prof. Megnad Saha was born in 1893 and died in 1956. He was from a poor and humble background but went to become one of the world’s most renowned scientist. He was a renowned Indian Astrophysicist. He is noted for Saha Equation which remained fundamental in all work on Stellar atmospheres. He is founder of institute of Nuclear Physics in Calcutta. This institute has indigenously built various experimental devices like electron microscope etc. He became the fellow of Royal Society in 1927. Megnad Saha will always be remembered for cultivating scientific culture in our country and an institution builder. Being a member of parliament he demanded a favourable atmosphere to encourage the aspirant scientists. He had expert knowledge of river valley projects. He is original architect of Damodar river valley project.
Prof. Satyendra Nath Bose was born in 1894 and died in 1974. He is the creator of quantum statistics. His work with Albert Einstein leading half of the particles in this world named after him (Bosons) and the statistics called as Bose- Einstein Statistics. His idea of quantum statistics was worth to get a noble prize. He became the fellow of the Royal Society in 1958. Bose was a rare gene, as he was against all that would publicise his name. He did not attempt to get a Ph.D degree and so while doing path breaking work in science he remained a plain M.Sc. he favoured and worked for teaching of science in mother tongue to break the language barrier. He loved music and fine arts as he loved science. He in collaboration with Megnad Saha published “Saha-Bose theory” of gases. Megnad Saha and S. N Bose were classmates and all the three Sir C. V. Raman, Saha and Bose started their careers at Calcutta University.
In short Quantum Indians shows the scientific legacy of our India through the lives of these scientists who in spite of all odds like inadequate funding, limited resources put India on the scientific map of the world.
It is a sorry state of affairs that our national media is neglecting such masters in an era driven by science and technology. Our younger generation has a lot to learn from such great scientists and it is the duty of national mainstream media to give due space and time to anything related to such scientists. Last but not the least, I request all the science students to watch this documentary on the You-Tube.
(The author is a teacher of Physics at GDC- Bhaderwah)
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