Ensuring the role of science & tech in nation building and global wellbeing

Events like National Science Day organized by the Department of Science and Technology and its subsidiary units are now not just a celebration, but also an attempt to ensure the role of science and technology in nation building and global wellbeing. This will make India self-reliant in view of future challenges and realize the dream of Vasudhaiv Kutumbkam

India celebrates National Science Day today (on February 28) to commemorate the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’, by one of the greatest physicists of the 20th Century and Bharat Ratna Sir Chandrashekhar Venkata Raman.

The purpose of celebrating the day is to create awareness and interest in the field of science, especially among the young generation. This day has now become a platform to celebrate the scientific achievements of Indians and set a direction for the future. India’s many scientific achievements during the Coronavirus pandemic further increased the importance of this day for us.

As a marker of India’s emerging global role and rising visibility in the international arena, the theme for this year's “National Science Day”, is “Global Science for Global Wellbeing.”

Let us have a look on how we have been dealing with science and technology for global wellbeing? And, what all can be done in improving the quality of human life, living and wellbeing of the common man.

Necessity, the adage goes, is the mother of invention. Technology arises because of scientific knowledge, which often arises out of curiosity about the natural world, can be employed to service some individual or group need. However, the relationship between society, science and technology is not one-sided but reciprocal: in the process of technological evolution, new human and social needs get created.

India has always been playing a major role in the field of science and technology during ancient to contemporary times. Contemporary science in India started with Scientists like Sir Jagdish Chandra Bose, who did his research in the university system. And that too under the colonial system. Geniuses like Jagdish Chandra Bose, Prafull Chandra Ray, Satyendra Nath Bose, Meghnad Saha, Homi Jehangir Bhabha, Srinivasa Ramanujan, Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, Birbal Sahni are some of the famous scientists of India who contributed to the global wellbeing.

These great scientists not only did quality science, but also, they started institutions, which have been serving the society at large. It is important to note here that brilliant scientists starting institutions and scientists working in these institutes in India are not only working for the wellbeing of Indian people but for the global wellbeing. Dr Homi Jahangir Bhabha once said, "A brilliant person can do science anywhere but scientific institutions are places which allow ordinary people to do brilliant science.’’

In the modern era, as science is institution-driven, we need to give much emphasis on the quality of science education and research culture in the scientific institutes in various universities.

Post-Independence, India invested in a big way for the phenomenal growth of quality science and technology. However, this investment in science by India had faced much criticism from the western countries. Today, we can see any major decision taken by any government in any part of the world is essentially based on scientific innovations, scientific developments and research. It clearly indicates that scientists have become closer and closer to the power centres. Therefore, there is this risk of widening the gap between mass and the class of the society.

The Science &Technology ecosystem has made rapid strides in the past decades. Developing innovative medical devices to nurture mother and child health to ensure a quality environment (air, water, soil and biodiversity) by synergising development and environmental enrichment - Science has been playing a major role and will continue to build a roadmap for a better future, a future where we can assure everyone on this planet earth the basic necessities of life.

Events like National Science Day organized by the Department of Science and Technology and its subsidiary units are now not just a celebration, but also an attempt to ensure the role of science and technology in nation building and global wellbeing. This will make India self-reliant in view of future challenges and realize the dream of Vasudhaiv Kutumbkam, which means "The world is one family".