CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication & Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR), New Delhi, in association with Vigyan Prasar (DST) and Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA), organised a two-day National Conference at CSIR-NPL (CSIR-National Physical Laboratory) auditorium, New Delhi, on the theme 'Indian Independence Movement & the Role of Science' on 29 and 30 November 2021 in hybrid mode. It was a part of the year-long celebrations organised to mark the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav (75th year of India’s Independence). Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of S&T was the chief guest at the National Conference.
The conference had three plenary sessions and six technical sessions. Experts, scientists, educationists, and science communicators shared their views. In various sessions, 41 presenters presented their papers which were related to the theme of particular technical sessions. These presentations were in various formats such as poetry, documentary, science cartoon, etc.
Addressing the gathering Dr Jitendra Singh said, “Science and scientists have not only played a vital role in the freedom struggle but have also enabled us to sustain it for the past 75 years. Their stand against the discriminatory attitude of the Britishers gave a new dimension to our freedom fight. The brainstorming sessions here will certainly inculcate new patriotic and scientific values in the society.”
During her welcome address, Prof. Ranjana Aggarwal, Director, CSIR-NIScPR, briefed about the objectives of the national conference in connecting the communicators and the teachers with the role of scientists and the scientific institutes during the time of India’s Independence. She emphasised the need for introducing the profile of such unsung heroes in the school textbooks.
Speaking on the event, Dr Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH asserted that Ayurveda was well practised by our ancestors in India. The treatment aims at addressing the root cause of the disease, rather than controlling the ailment. Further, he added that during the colonial rule, the Western scientific fraternity tried to suppress our scientists and the Ayurvedic mode of treatment, but could not succeed. We need to change the narratives around our indigenous knowledge.
In his presidential address, Dr Shekhar C. Mande, Director-General, CSIR & Secretary, Ministry of Science & Technology said, “We as a scientific community should celebrate science and express that Indian Scientists played an important role in the freedom movement. The World tried to suppress it in the past but now they are taking note of Indian science contribution. Some unsung heroes of science during Indian independence movement days also include Dr Sambhu Nath Dey and Dr Sankar Aabhajee”.
Dr Anil Kothari, DG, MPCST, chaired the first Plenary session wherein he emphasised upon the lack of knowledge about the contribution of science among common people in the independence movement.
Deliberating on the topic, Dr Nakul Parashar, Director, Vigyan Prasar deliberating said that the historical aspects need to be conveyed to the laymen through all means of media as common people have very little knowledge about the role of scientists in the independence movement. The background role played by scientists in coming out of colonial discrimination and setting up a scientific mindset is substantial and they have contributed majorly in science communication and shaping up of the nation post-independence.
Prof. B.N. Jagtap, Professor, Department of Physics, IIT Bombay mentioned that science was taken as an instrument for development, awakening and freedom during the independence movement. “We need to reflect on the contributions of our scientists,” added Prof. Jagtap. He said that it was a challenging job to do science during the colonial period. Our scientists have created many institutions during adverse times and they were very visionary as they could sense the future needs.
Prof. Jagadesh Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, delivered an insightful lecture in the valedictory session of the conference. He said that conducting a national programme on such a unique subject by the scientific institutions is highly commendable.
The programme had an outreach lecture on India International Science Festival 2021 (IISF 2021) by Shri Jayant Sahasrabudhe, National Organising Secretary, Vijnana Bharati who said that Indian scientists had faced discrimination and they did Satyagraha during the colonial period. Despite those unfavourable and adverse circumstances, they did not stop doing scientific research and encouraging fellow scientists. And on that foundation and legacy, our modern Indian science is flourishing. He added that the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav gives us an opportunity to remember those unsung heroes of Indian science.
Dr Mohammad Rais, Chief Scientist, CSIR-NIScPR, proposed the vote of thanks and said that the two-day conference was a tribute to the unsung scientists, who have been not frequently referred to or acknowledged.
