GUWAHATI, May 16 - The spirituality of a scientist lies in his pursuing scientific process to discover the truth and to acquire knowledge through experimentation. Scientific temperament and endless desire to acquire knowledge help one know life and the world in a correct manner. The efforts made to enrich the knowledge earned so far through experimentations for understanding the universe more accurately may be described as the spirituality of the scientists.
This was the observation made by renowned scientist and popular science writer Dr Dinesh Chandra Goswami. He was delivering a speech on scientific temperament and the spirituality of the scientists on the occasion of the 16th foundation day of the city-based Ellora Vigyan Mancha (EVM), an organisation engaged in spreading scientific temperament in the State, here on Wednesday, said a press release today.
It needs mention here that the EVM was set up on the occasion of the first death anniversary of Ellora Raichoudhury on May 15, 2004. Ellora Raichoudhury was the first person in the State to donate her cadaver for the enrichment of medical research.
Dr Goswami cited the examples of the renowned scientists like Albert Einstein in his speech to drive home his point. He described these scientists as the spiritualists to the true sense of the term. But, at the same time, he said these scientists never believed in the soul or the metaphysical concept of the realm of the dead.
Referring to the Article 51 A (h) of the Indian Constitution, which is connected with the duties of the citizens, in the context of spreading scientific temperament, Dr Goswami recalled the unique contributions made by the first Prime Minister of the country Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in this connection. He stressed the need to spread scientific temperament.
The function presided over by EVM president Dr Chandra Mohan Sarma, was also addressed by EVM secretary Kamalesh Gupta, its founder secretary and present vice-principal of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, Dr Jaydev Sarma. At the function, the second edition of the book Assamat Vigyan Manaskatar Batkotia Hemchandra Baruah, published by the EVM and edited by Dr Sivanath Barman and the booklet Vigyan Manaskata, which contains two anti-superstition articles penned by Dr Narendra Davolkar and published by the EVM, were released respectively by scientist Dr Barindra Kumar Sarma and educationist Dr Indrani Dutta.
Dr Chandra Mohan Sarma regretted that at present incidence of superstition and evil practices are growing in the country under the tutelage of the present Central government. Only through the spread of scientific temperament, a positive change in the society could be brought about, he asserted.
The 16th foundation day of the EVM was also celebrated at many places of the State, including Nagaon, Sivasagar, North Lakhimpur, Tezpur, Biswanath Chariali, Doomdooma, Mangaldoi, Barpeta Road and Pathsala.
