Basic sciences neglected in institutions form foundation for technological progress: Padmanabhan Balaram at ISI convocation
– Mita Mukherjee
Basic sciences often neglected at our institutions form the foundation for our technological progress, said Padmanabhan Balaram, former director of Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru during his address at the Indian Statistical Institute convocation in Kolkata on Tuesday.
“A question is often asked …What is basic science…The best answer is, science is study of nature… but what is nature?”
A biochemist, Balaram said, there is nothing we can separate from nature.
“Science has always been study of matter whether you are studying the universe or you are studying microorganism or the soil…” He pointed out that , yet basic sciences are neglected in institutions.
“Remember that the basic sciences often neglected in our institutions form the foundation of technological progress,… Technology arises from centuries of progress in physics, chemistry and biology,” he said.
He reminded students that politics and religion offer no protection against the force of nature.
He said the coronavirus that drove the Covid-19 pandemic which paralysed the world between 2020 and 2022 breached all politics and religion and ethnic boundaries.
“This must remind us that politics and religion, two favourite pastimes worldwide, offer no protection against the force of nature….Remember, also, arrogance most often a quality possessed in abundance by the very powerful and the very rich is no defiance against the forces of nature.”
He said that he drew the attention of the audience “to such a disparate group,” because of the “environmental, climatic, social and political environment” in which we live today.
“Reflection on the role of science and understanding the nature may allow us to introspect on the course of human history and attempt to rationalise why the world today is the way it is.”
The ISI has been at the centre of controversy over several months following continuous protests by students, teachers and academics against a bill proposed by the Union ministry of statistics and programme implementation, which the protestors alleged threatens the autonomy and academic freedom of the institute and also because the bill seeks to replace the existing democratic and autonomous structure.
On Tuesday too, many were seen wearing badges at the convocation gowns that read: “Reject the ISI Bill.” The agitators said they would continue the protests as the bill has been introduced without consulting the institute’s council and academic council.
ISI president Shankar Kumar Pal recalled the contribution of Prasanta Chandra Mahalanabish in establishing the pioneering Institute in 1931. Pal reminded that the institute was governed by an act passed in the Parliament under the leadership of then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. The proposed ISI bill seeks to repeal the 1959 Act.
As many as 568 students received their degrees at the convocation.
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