Hyderabad: Unscientific claims, changes in theoretical physics and renaming of gravitational waves as Narendra Modi Waves and gravitational lensing effect as Harshvardhan Effect have been strongly opposed by scientists.
The recently concluded Indian Science Congress in Punjab saw the mixing of mythology with science and this affected the scientific temperament and also led to false claims and views, scientists who have come together to strongly oppose it, stated. R. Gangadhar, Telangana state convenor of Break Through Science Society said, “Scientists are not going to spare any words in condemning this unpardonable attempt to dilute the integrity of the scientific process in the country.”
He pointed out that the Indian Science Congress in 2015 had made false claims of existence of aircraft in ancient India and this was rebuffed with an online petition of 1,000 science academics and communicators. The following year, he said, again false claims were made about Lord Shiva being the first environmentalist and that tiger skin was used to reverse the aeging process. This, he pointed out, was roundly condemned. “No wonder noble laureate Venki Ramakirshnan has termed the ISC “circus”. Every year they are coming up with unpardonable statements that tarnish the genuine contributions of ancient India and the rich heritage of ISC. The scientific community has come forward to strongly oppose these statements.”
The former director of CCMB Dr Mohan Rao and scientist Chandana Chakroborty and science promoter Dr Krishna Kumar also condemned these “unscientific statements as it is sending a wrong signal about our scientific temperament to the world community”. The scientists said that it was an unpardonable attempt to dilute the integrity of the scientific process and tarnish the image of genuine contributions to science by Indians.
Dr Mohan Rao said, “A hallowed assembly of scientists has misused the Congress to make false and chauvinistic claims which have no universal verification, experimental evidence or any material contribution.”
