Simple truth
A spade is a spade. It requires a wise and learned man to pronounce the truth in its simplicity, especially in times in which people find it to their advantage to applaud lies. The Indian-born Nobel laureate, Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, refused to attend the just-concluded session of the Indian Science Congress, calling it a "circus". Mr Ramakrishnan's plain-speaking has outraged many, but a glance at some of the papers discussed at the congress would lend credence to his view of this annual event.
One of the papers extolled the virtues of blowing a conch, claiming that this would turn white hair black.
:biggrin2:
Another paper, which, thankfully, was not read ultimately, described the god, Shiv, as a proto-environmentalist who, in his divine wisdom, had realized the value of living close to nature long before mortals arrived at the necessity of conservation.
All this should not be dismissed as madness - there is a discernible method to it. Last year, when cows and sadhus were in the ascendant, a paper at the congress had enumerated the achievements of Vedic rishis in the field of aviation. This was in tune with the expressed opinions of certain leaders of a particular political hue who had gone overboard in singing the praises of India's Vedic, Hindu culture. In their enthusiasm, they had dressed up supposition as fact, myth as science.
:biggrin2::bounce::biggrin2:
While
politicians can still be pardoned for this - arguably, lies are the tools of their trade - there can be no apology for the people, who, professing to be scientists, deliver hokum.
However, the Indian Science Congress has little relation with serious scientists. This is a pity, since the science congress is a forum in which such greats as Jagadish Chandra Bose and Prafulla Chandra Ray had spoken once. That the standards of the congress have fallen to such abysmal levels now is a comment not just on the spirit of the times but also on what is passed off as scientific research in India. Speaking on the sidelines of the congress, another Nobel-winning scientist, David J. Gross, has shown how hollow the boast of "Make in India" is when there has been no noticeable increase in the budgetary allocation for research and development in science. If there is little money for scientific innovation, is the "make" supposed to refer only to handicrafts? Mr Ramakrishnan is right - the Indian Science Congress
is a circus. And in this it is like several other programmes, which are meant to boost the image of India.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160108/jsp/opinion/story_62659.jsp#.Vo9G4xV97IU
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