Rakesh Kumar Pandit
The Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) came into existence in 1914 with Kolkata as its headquarters. Since then it meets annually at a suitable place. The main aim of the association is to stimulate the scientific research and to promote the cause of science in India. Another important task of the association is to secure and manage the funds for the promotion of science. Indian Science Congress is considered as one of the most important scientific events of the country. This event is considered as a platform where eminent scientists, reputed researchers, new research scholars, policy makers, industry leaders gather and share their successes and also failures. The event is organized to have fruitful discussions, deliberations, debates, interactions, to chalk out a clear vision for the growth and development of science. The expectations are that Indian Science Congress (ISC) through its brainstorming sessions would come out with valuable suggestions and recommendations that would serve as a guiding light to the policy makers, industry leaders to work out policies and schemes so that quality of life of our people could be improved. The venue of ISC-2014 was University of Jammu. It was having Children Science Congress, Women Science Congress, Science Exhibition and Rural Innovators Meet besides almost all branches of science in its schedule. In spite of earlier hiccups the Jammu University deserves all praise for the smooth conduct of ISC-2014. It took almost complete one year to make all the arrangements for ISC-2014.
It is very difficult rather impossible to sum up such a mega event in few lines but I want to explore whether ISC-2014 has been able to keep up the spirit alive for which ISC has been incepted. I know it is easy to criticize and difficult to provide suggestions but I want to share my views about the ISC-2014. I was a participant in one of the sections of ISC-2014 and attended almost all the lectures given by invited speakers in that section. Honestly speaking it was like a one-sided match as only slide shows were done by speakers and no interaction and discussion have been witnessed. One of the reasons for this one sided affair was due to super-specialization in every branch of science. It becomes very difficult to absorb even an iota from other branches of the same field in Science. The attendance was very thin in every session and majority of the delegates were not interested in attending their respective sessions. They were busy in visiting places of religious and historical places of Jammu. It seems the only motive of the delegates was to obtain certificates of participation and presentation. I am in no way underestimating the innovations and contributions of scientists and delegates who participated in ISC-2014, but to what extent the young research scholars and other delegates have benefited, is a million dollar question? Regarding ISC-2014, if an opinion poll will be held among the delegates about the exchange of knowledge and ideas, I am afraid the results will be very discouraging. Before the onset of information technology revolution such events have served as a boon to the researchers with face to face interactions at such platforms. Now-a-days every piece of information and research work is available on-line and people can talk and interact with each other just at the click of the mouse. If such type of events are not doing the justice to the cause for which they have been incepted or they are irrelevant in the present times of information technology era, then better would be to do away with such events. It should not become mere a formality to organize ISC every year and waste taxpayers money. The money could be diverted towards building infrastructure, provide quality education and excellence in scientific research in Indian Universities, so that Indian Universities may also find their name in the world’s best. Some time back the Prime Minister of India himself confessed that two-third of our universities and ninety percent of our colleges are rated as below average on quality parameters. Such mega events must contribute to the development of new ideas and explore the new frontiers of science. Further, there must be some austerity measures also in organizing such mega events
There was also a silver-lining about ISC-2014 and that was the visit of one and only APJ Abdul Kalam, a scientist of high repute and former president of India who is always a source of inspiration. He thrilled the children at ISC-2014 with his message that “education gives you wings to fly that will lead you to knowledge which in turn will lead you to fly as a doctor, or an engineer, or a scientist, a teacher or anything you want.” He also administered an oath to the youth with a pledge to be a good member of family, society, nation and the world. He forecasts “India Transforming” and identifies action areas to make India a developed nation in the true sense. Another interesting event of this Science Congress was ‘Rural Innovators Meet’ in which the participants displayed their inventions. Their inventions were directly linked to the challenges that they faced in their environment. They provide the solutions to their local problems in terms of their inventions and more importantly without any formal training.
At last, I would like to point out that in present times there should be greater collaboration among the universities throughout the country. There must be free access to libraries, laboratories and research tools for research scholars and students. In this regard the Chief Minister of J&K in ISC-2014 called for open science and liberal dissemination of knowledge as open science is more conducive to the rate of growth of societies stock of knowledge. He also stressed that there should be no monopoly on science. All innovations should have universal implications and consequences that would lead to amelioration of human conditions.
(The author is Assistant Professor of Physics at GDC- Bhaderwah)
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