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Year-long statewide campaign for democracy

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Nov 7 - The year-long Statewide campaign as part of a countrywide campaign named National Campaign for Democracy, Diversity, Development and Social Justice, started here today.

The campaign, launched by the All India People�s Science Network (AIPSN), a conglomeration of 38 groups working for popularising science, started all over the country today, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Nobel Laureate physicist Sir CV Raman.

The Statewide campaign has been organised jointly by the Assam Science Society, Gyan Vigyan Samiti, Assam, Ellora Vigyan Mancha, Commercial Representative Union and Jana Syastha Abhijan, Assam.

The launching function was held at Pragjyotish College this morning. Marking the launch, Director of the Institute of Advanced Studies in Science and Technology (IASST), Dr Narayan Ch Talukdar, said the major scientific discoveries were based on the observations made on natural phenomena. However, to earn the abilities to make such observations in a scientific manner, scientific temperament needs to be ingrained in one�s outlook. This outlook could be cultivated among children by elders, he said, referring to the Nobel Laureate physicist Richard Feynman, who said his father had cultivated scientific temperament in him.

At the function, a presentation on the life and deeds of Sir CV Raman was made by Dr Mahananda Pathak, while former Gauhati University Professor Dr Soneswar Sarma made a presentation on the main theme of the campaign.

In his presidential address, Dr Mahanta Kalita, a former Director of the IASST, regretted that majority of the people in the country lack scientific temperament. This is at the root of all the maladies afflicting the social life in the country, he said and lamented that even the rulers of the country are patronising superstition.

Kalita laid emphasis on questioning every phenomenon, referring to the fact that by questioning the assertions of Newton, Einstein could find the variation of a matter�s weight and the bending of ray.

The function was also addressed by Pragjyotish College Principal Dr Paramananda Rajbongshi, Assam Science Society general secretary Prof BP Duorah, joint secretary of AIPSN Tapan Kumar Sarma and Dr Parama Majumdar.

Earlier, the flag of the campaign was hoisted by Dr Mahanta Kalita and a science exhibition was inaugurated by Dr Balen Das, president of the Assam College Principals� Council. Artistes of the Sipajhar-based cultural troupe �Kala Jatha� performed songs and a streetplay on the occasion.

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