Karnataka - Mysore   

‘Dream of Indian women scientists winning Nobel yet to be realised’

MYSORE: Saroj Chooramani Gopal, Vice-Chancellor of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Medical University, Lucknow, said on Saturday that the dream of Indian women scientists winning Nobel prizes was yet to be realised despite the country being a leader in providing higher education to women. It was time that women scientists worked hard and made the country proud by winning the coveted prize.

Speaking after inaugurating the second National Women’s Science Congress (NWSC) organised by Matru Vedike (Women Scientists’ Forum) of Swadeshi Vijnana Andolana-Karnataka and the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) at AIISH here, she stressed the need for nurturing girl children in rural areas with good schooling and education as they had talent in them.

Observing that gender bias hindered women’s achievement, Prof. Saroj said that women were forced to work more than men to achieve something. Without expecting men’s help, women should come up on their own and excel in their chosen fields, she added.

Stating that the doors of education were open to all during the Vedic period and there was no discrimination against women, Prof. Saroj said equal opportunities had been given to men and women.

Thereafter, society started exploiting women, taking advantage of her self-restraining and giving nature though women were biologically stronger than men. This led to loss of economic power of women, and thereby, the doors of education were closed to girl children. At the same time, men should make efforts to liberate women sharing her responsibilities. This would ensure better parenthood and help them achieve excellence together in their fields, she said.

In her presidential address, K. Sudha Rao, Professor and Head of the Department of Educational Policy, National University of Educational Planning and Administration, New Delhi, said women were not empowered by way of attaining positions in society. If women scientists wanted to become role model to others, they must be empowered first. Just being qualified and employed, women would not become empowered, she said.

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