Science Day 2014 Article in English by Santosh Takale

1. Fostering Scientific Temper
……… Santosh Takale
Scientific Officer, BARC
Ph - 0-9967584554.
santoshatbarc@gmail.com
“Fostering Scientific Temper” that’s the theme of this year’s ‘National Science Day’ celebration. Today that
means, 28th of February is “National Science Day’ for every Indian Citizen. Before 86 years since today, on
same day Dr. C. V. Raman published his world famous discovery called “Raman Effect’, associated with
scattering of light by molecules of material. For this finding Dr. Raman was awarded with ‘Noble Prize in
Physics’ for year 1930. National Science Day is celebrated in India on 28 February each year to mark this
great discovery by Dr. C. V. Raman. Dr. Raman was first Asian to receive ‘Nobel Prize’ in the field of
science as well as first non white to receive this award in science category. This invention was so important
and application oriented that today many industry and scientific applications use this principle. Today’s date
Raman effect is a backbone of billion dollar industrial market. Understanding it’s importance, the American
Chemical Society designated the 'Raman Effect' as an International Historic Chemical Landmark in 2013.
According to Raman effect, change in the wavelength of light occurs when a light beam is deflected by
molecules. The Raman effect is feeble; for a liquid compound, the intensity of the affected light may be only
1/100,000 of that incident beam. It’s the inelastic scattering of a photon and interaction leads to two possible
outcomes, the material absorbs energy and the emitted photon has a lower energy than the absorbed photon.
This outcome is labeled Stokes Raman scattering or the material loses energy and the emitted photon has a
higher energy than the absorbed photon. This outcome is labeled anti-Stokes Raman scattering. The energy
difference between the absorbed and emitted photon corresponds to the energy difference between two
resonant states of the material and is independent of the absolute energy of the photon but characteristics
representation of material identity. The known examples of this effect happening around us are blue sky &
deep blue colour of sea. Raman Spectroscopy & Hand held Raman Scanner are the common equipment
which use this effect as its first principle. After crossing numerous difficulties and lacuna of system and
resources, today Raman Effect with advance technique in LASER can make unique identification of almost
each and every material, as if this technique has come up with fingerprints of Universe.
It’s really matter of great pride and honour that such remarkable discovery has been made in India, by Indian
person in pre independence era. But what’s situation today, though we are having such glorious past in
science, though we use science and technology every moment, then also we neither inculcate scientific
temper in our life style nor in our thinking and attitude. In such crisis situation importance of celebrating
‘National Science Day’ becomes vital. On occasion of this day, Science loving NGO’s & individual organize
science exhibition, Essay, elocution & Poster Competition. This helps in inculcating scientific temper among
student’s and teachers. Additionally, National Science Day is being celebrated every year to widely spread a
message about the significance of scientific applications in the daily life of the people. To display all the
activities, efforts and achievements in the field of science for human welfare. To discuss all the issues and
implement new technologies for the development of the science. To give an opportunity to the scientific
minded citizens in the country. To encourage the people as well as popularize the Science and Technology.
The objective is to make every citizen develop the attitude of questioning and reasoning.
As the domain of Science & Technology is quite vast each year, theme is set for National Science day
Celebration, Year 1999 is was “Our Changing Earth”, Year 2000 it was “Recreating Interest in Basic
Science”, Year 2001 it was “Information Technology for Science Education”, Year 2002 it was “Wealth
from Waste”, Year 2003 it was “50 years of DNA & 25 years of IVF - The blue print of Life”, Year 2004 it
was “Encouraging Scientific Awareness in Community”, Year 2005 it was “Celebrating Physics”, Year 2006
it was “Nurture Nature for our future”, Year 2007 it was “More Crop Per Drop”, Year 2008 it was

2. “Understanding the Planet Earth”, Year 2009 it was “Expanding Horizons of Science”, Year 2010 it was
“Gender Equity, Science & Tech for Sustainable Develop”, Year 2011 it was “Chemistry in Daily Life”,
Year 2012 it was “Clean Energy Options and Nuclear Safety”, Year 2013 it was “Genetically Modified
Crops and Food Security”.
This year, 2014 theme of Day is “Fostering Scientific temper”. Above background makes it clear that till
2013 the thrust was on science, technology and conservational efforts towards nature, mother earth & its eco
system. This year’s theme addresses more to attitude; science based thinking, reformative thought process
than to any application based technology. This theme is quiet unique, but very important, because such
questioning and reasoning attitude only has given birth to this scientific era. Scientific temper is just
reflection of human beings questioning and reasoning attitude. According to this thinking (ie. Scientific
temper), we shall believe only those facts, which are well supported by evidences based on observation;
experience based logical conclusion & experiments, which are repeatable under similar conditions.
Though this methodology looks to be totally scientific, it is mainly based on important human values like,
ethics, equity, freedom, courage, humanity etc. This is the only technique, which gives complete freedom to
every individual without interfering others freedom. Scientific temper has made it clear that, there is reason
behind every happening. That reason can be found out by human with use of proper technique and requisite
resources. Universe runs as per physical laws. Untiring efforts, questioning & reasoning attitude is surest
way to explore and acquire knowledge of unknown facts of universe.
Value education, which is part of our education system, supports fostering of scientific temper. Also our
Indian Constitution in its article 51-A, Para-h mentions that, ‘Promotion & Inculcation of Scientific temper’
is a fundamental duty of every Indian citizen.
We all, very well know that, our life in this 21st century is quiet safe, secure and hygienic, this has been made
possible by efforts of few stalwarts in past, mainly scientists & social reformers. Just to pay respect to those
genius and their efforts, we should banish & relinquish all blind faiths from our life and society, especially
all those dreading customs and rituals which affect nature, environment and our mother earth adversely.
Because all these misbehaviors are going to ruin our own eco system and finally to mankind and off course
to us.
Let’s resolve on this National science day to foster, inculcate scientific temper in individual and everybody’d
life.
Jai Jawan² Jai Kisan ² Jai Vidnyan ²
Jai Hind ²
Best wishes on National Science Day ²
Regards.
Santosh Takale,
Scientific Officer, BARC
Ph - 0-9967584554.
santoshatbarc@gmail.com
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