Bengaluru: Making a rallying cry against superstition and calling for a more scientific temper in all spheres of life, as many as 1,500 academics, scientists, researchers, students and concerned Bengalureans took part in the city edition of the India March for Science here on Wednesday.
They were also demanding more funding for scientific research and for governmental policies to be based on scientific evidence. A global event, March for Science took place in over 600 cities across the world in April this year before reaching India.
Flagging off the march at the Town Hall, Prof. S Japhet, Vice Chancellor of Bangalore Central University (BCU), strongly suggested that science and research should become a part of general discourse and public domain.
Prof. Dipankar Chatterji of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) , who presided over the function, called for adequate funding for research and resources for scientific development and measures to stop superstition from overpowering science. Prof T.V. Ramachandra, also of the IISc., asserted that the fruits of science should never be stopped from reaching their rightful destination. "Science is being manipulated and hijacked today and we need to act as soon as possible to stop this," he added.
Former Advocate General, Prof. Ravi Varma Kumar pointed out that the Constitution had made it mandatory for all bodies, including the government to develop a scientific temper. "According to Article 51 (A)(h) of the Indian Constitution, it is a fundamental duty of all citizens to stay away from superstition and it is high time we take this up as a life mission, " he said.
Trashing Vedic mathematics, renowned mathematician, Dr S. Balachandra Rao said it was neither Vedic nor mathematics. Director of Research at St Josephs Research Centr,e Dr Richard Rego said that no country could survive without critical thinking and true knowledge.
An IISc student, Anandita Brahma, said it was high time that science students came out on the streets more frequently to speak against the myths and alternative facts propagated in the name of science. Mr Rajani K.S, state secretary of Breakthrough Science Society, which spearheaded the event, said a memorandum demanding the development of a conducive environment for scientific studies along with the promotion of a scientific temper would be submitted to the Governor and the state government. Going by the organisers, Bengaluru saw the biggest turnout for the event, which was simultaneously held in different cities and state capitals across the country.
