Like millions of Indians and others, I watched spellbound the graphical image depicting the touch down of Chandrayaan 3 on moon on Tv. It was a thrilling moment and a joyous one! It was also a huge relief, replacing the total sadness we felt when Chandrayaan 2 crashed! I think we watched with a feeling that it will be fine this time!
We spontaneously applauded the project leaders, the scientists and others who had worked on this project with a such total commitment.
Then it was the time to give and take credit for the success of our Indian science and the scientists involved.
(People who follow Indian cricket will understand the euphoria! Especially how a fan who watched the last few overs without even taking a toilet break will justifiably claim some of the credit for the success of our Indian team!
It was no different here. There was even a sly dig made at the graduates who went abroad. It is OK and we have learnt to take all this with a pinch of salt!)
There were many scientists involved, here is a link to them..
https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/scientists-behind-chandrayaan-3-success-1692796298-1
This makes us think of the role of science in India and how it began.
I feel I must quote from The Dance of Lights and Atoms, Ten narratives in Physical Sciences, by the author Gorur Govinda Raju, Ph.D Emeritus Professor, University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
"Contributions of Meghnad Saha to science and industrial development of India after independence cannot be summarized even in a single volume...
Saha and Nehru knew each other as early as 1938, nine years before independence.
In that year Subhash Chandra Bose, popularly called Netaji, a leader in the Indian National Congress was the president. Bose was convinced that far reaching cooperation between science and politics' (in free India) was necessary for progress and prosperity. He set up a national planning committee (NPC) for developing science policy for the anticipated free India, a few years into the future."
It is important to mention this for people to understand the need for long term plans and staying with it! There is no magic wand for discovery and inventions which change the world.
He (Bose) invited Saha to attend a NPC meeting in Delhi. Sir M.Visweswarayya who also a member was understood to be the most qualified to become its president. However Saha, arguably on dubious grounds insisted that a National leader is more appropriate. Nehru agreed to become the Chairman. The NPC had already become unwieldy with 29 subcommittees and a chairman who was burdened with enormous other duties. The alliance between science and politics had Nehru on the politics side and luminaries such as Sir M.Visveswarayya (Engineering), Meghnad Saha (Physics), Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (Mathematics) and P.C.Mahalanobis (Statistics). Nehru's preferences for the membership of the planning commission were Bhatnagar, Mahalanobis, and a much younger Bhabha.
Immediately after Independence a planning commision was formed with leading politicians and scientists. Saha was also a member of the committee. To be a member of the planning commision was a highly coveted honor.....
There is a lot more in the book to read and understand. We would be justifiably proud of the Indians for their contribution in the world of Physical Sciences.
About the book!
The Dance of Lights and Atoms,
Ten narratives in Physical Sciences. The back cover of the book explains:
'The ten narratives of the book in physical sciences, on various manifestations of energy including electricity, magnetism, nuclear interactions and light...The author has taken the challenge of explaining these difficult concepts in a easy to understand manner.The intention of author is clear! One of the ways to interest young people in science is through life stories of successful scientists. And follow the ancient tradition of India: the oftner one hears of the tales of achievements of our great ones and heroes, the more merit does one acquire.
He chose topics he dealt as a teacher, researcher, supervisor, referee for papers and grant applications.
The quote he ends his introduction says it all!
I have seen flowers come in stony places
And kind things done by men with ugly faces
And the gold cup won by the worst horse at races
So, I trust, too.
John Masefield (1878--1967)
(People of Karnataka will be happy to note that his father Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar was an eminent author, a freedom fighter who was jailed by the British.)
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There is no way I could abridge the book and give you quick feel of the book.
The narrative of S Chandrasekhar highlights there is no formula to create scientists. We can only nurture these gifted people and to get the best out of them.
S. Chandrasekhar was the son of a revenue officer working for British India. He inherited genes for hard work. His ability was inborn. Most of the scientists had average beginnings and grew in stature due to their innate abilities.
The Narrative below is to show how the science world viewed Indians who were devoted to research.
Narrative 1
S. Chandrasekhar.....What are stars made of ?
Born in Lahore, his father worked for the British India at the revenue department, Chandrasekhar was home schooled till the family moved to Chennai. Father took lessons in English and mother taught him tamil and gave him home work and tests. After high school in Madras, he was admitted to honours in physics course at the age of seventeen.
The author of the book he read; 'Atomic Structure and Special lines', Sommerfield was visiting India.
Very keen to meet him, he sought an appointment with him and was given!
The quote below is just to highlight how well Indian scientists of those days, were respected!
"He (Sommerfield) had respectful opinion of Indian Physicists, and wrote:
'The study shoots of modern physics have sprung in the recent years on this ancient and cultural soil and scientific research in India has suddenly begun to compete on equal terms with research in Europe". He expressed appreciation, 'no discovery in physics during last year has caused so much excitement and admiration during the last year has caused so much excitement and admiration in the entire world as the spectroscopic effect found by Professor C. V. Raman in Calcutta: and no discovery in astrophysics has been found to be as fruitful for our understanding of the stellar system as the theory formulated by Meghnad Saha at present professor in Allahabad. The international importance of these two men is emphasised by the fact that they have been chosen members of the Royal Society of London, that old and venerable Academy of Science
(One should feel proud that these three eminent Indian scientists found a place in a list of ten world class scientists! And they were highly regarded by others! It was the time Physics was still about Newton and very basic. However, significant progress in modern science and medicine filled the air during the time. Raman announcing 'Raman effect'. Sommerfield discovering electrons in solid behave as in gas...and there were many more.)
SC was thrilled and read the paper given by Sommerfield and other research material and wrote an article. This was accepted by the most prestigious journal 'proceedings of the Royal society..He completed his hon. degree as first of first class and got a scholarship to study in London.
On his voyage from Madras to Venice, a journey of 18 days, Chandrasekhar thought about the contraction of Sirius B. His conclusions and mathematics he used were incredible. It is worth reading about S Chandrasekar. The students he guided were awarded Noble prize years before he was awarded a Noble prize for his work .
Similarly we can see that the background of scientists vary. I have just listed the three out of ten eminent physicists!
Meghnad Saha was born in a village, his father was not keen to send him for higher studies. It is his teachers who saw he was good in maths advised his father to send him to high school.
C.V. Raman was born to a teacher and also a violin player. He was exposed to science and maths. He was a brilliant student.
Michel Faraday was born to a poor blacksmith and a country maid! He started as an apprentice to a book binder! So he read books which were around him!
It is also time to thank
Ramesh Venkateswaran, writer and Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Palakkad, for sharing his essay. He has outlined the impressions one had about India and can now take a oath to do better. I cannot link the PDF file but will share it with anyone interested!
FREEDOM AT SUNSET – INDIA’S SECOND TRYST WITH DESTINY
After our Freedom at midnight on 14/15 August 1947, our second freedom in many ways happened at 6.03 pm IST on 23 August 2023 with the Chandrayan 3 landing on the moon. August 23 2023 should be commemorated as India’s second Independence Day. For two reasons
1. We have in many ways gained a second independence / freedom.
2. This is a day when we all Indians should revisit and reset our tryst with destiny.
Comments
Keep it up
You have quoted from Prof Raju's excellent book on scientists. It is a worthwhile read for youngsters.
Look forward to many more blogs from you
Have added a link now.