'Science in danger of regressing'

Rajya Sabha member and Chairman, Ananda Bazar Patrika Pvt. Ltd., Ashok Ganguly on Friday warned that science in India was in the danger of regressing due to lack of recognition to scientific achievements by society and inadequate investment in Research & Development.

Delivering the ‘A.V. Rama Rao Technology Award Lecture' to mark National Technology Day at the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) here, he said a scientist in China would be paid a cash reward U.S. $ 100,000 if his work gets published in the prestigious journal,‘ Nature'. He lamented that society in India accorded greater recognition to cricket, Bollywood, politics and public disturbances than scientific research.

He also faulted the Indian industry for not investing in R & D and described it a ‘shame'. Stating that Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) as an exception, Dr. Ganguly said it was hard to name an India company which made significant investment in research. He said the Indian IT industry too gradually forgot to invest in R & D.

He said that there should be a public celebration of science and discoveries on occasions like National Technology Days. Expressing his concern over society losing its ability to be curious, he said knowledge was the soul of society. He said while the number of scientific institutions had grown enormously and there was no shortage of money or bright young people, the fact remained that the facilities were disproportionate.

Donates cash prize

Later Dr, Ganguly was presented the ‘A.V. Rama Rao Technology Award'. He, however, donated the cash prize for using towards the education of the employees of IICT.