What is this Swadeshi Science Movement?

The Swadeshi Science Movement is essentially a Science Movement with the motto "Science and Technology for Social Harmony", with 100 per cent Swadeshi spirit in all its aspects of national renaissance and reconstruction. This does not mean that it preculdes a Movement of a possible preponderance for some forms of Swadeshi Sciences such as the sciences of Yoga, Ayurveda, etc. The Movement has no intention whatsoever to delink our present scientific setting from its international contexts, but the national interests would never be allowed to be swayed by the subtle conspiracy of internationalism. The Move­ment would attempt to adopt, adapt and assimilate the best from everywhere into its tradi­tions as has been the case for millennia before in the unbroken history of this nation, the only nation to preserve its age-old culture and philosophy of life.

'Science' would include both physical sciences and social sciences, encompassing the entire spectrum of human activity-physical, mental and spiritual. Social harmony is its ultimate objective, and every activity would be analysed critically and scientifically from this objective. The word "Science" is understood to mean a search for truth experimen­tally and / or experiencially - materially and / or spiritually: and "social harmony" has several dimensions - the harmony within oneself, one's family, one's society, the nation and finally the world at large.

Why this Swadeshi Science Movement?

The world is now divided into spheres of influence of Western ideologies: These economic and political theories and their developmental strategies are based on modern technologies, industrialism, consumerism and militarism. They have, of course made immense contributions to the human progress, especially the material progress. However, they are not based on sound principles of truth and social harmony; so much so, their heydays are over, and their affluence is leading to conflicts and disharmony in man, both internal and external. It is even feared that mankind is heading towards a total annihilation in these systems. Can Bharath offer an effective, more fundamental and permanent alter­native based on her own age-old wisdom of integrated human development, spiritually and materially, rejuvenated by Gandhism and Humanism? It can; but this would require a new approach to science and technology, and this is what the Swadeshi Science Move­ment attempts to formulate at the moment.

Some Aspects of its Basic Philosophy

The Western idea is that religion and spirituality on one side and intellectual (including scientific and industrial) activity and practical life on the other, are two en­tirely separate things and have each to be pursued on its own entirely separate lines and principles. There has been consistent efforts to denigrate the former and project the latter as the panacea for all ills of society. When we oppose this Western concept and present the Bharatiya view that these can coexist and are complementary (even in the West, there is a current wave of similar thinking), we are accused of inculcating some obscurantist reactionary principle of mystical or irrational religiosity and diverting from the paths of reason, modernity and progressive outlook which we must follow if we are to be an efficient and well organized nation able to survive in the shocks of the modern wold. We must, therefore, try to be clear about the role of Bharatiya spirituality and culture in all spheres of human activity and how they can be integrated with modern scientific and technological activity. Our concept of spirituality must not belittle the mind, intellect, life or body. They are of immense importance precisely because they are conditions and instruments of the life and the spirit in man. The ancient Bharatiya culture attached as much value to the soundness, growth and strength of the mind, life and body as the modern scientific thought. Therefore, to everything that serves the healthy fullness of these things it gave free play - to the activity of reason and philosophy; to science and technology; to health and strength of the body; to aesthetic and artistic satisfaction; to the physical and economic well-being; to the ease, opulence and harmony of the race; and to its general military, political and social strength and efficiency. We should be proud of this heritage and draw inspiration from that, rather than be swayed by the currently decaying Western ideologies. This spiritual formulation presents a very vast and wide canvas for the activities of the Swadeshi Science Movement - to build a future on the firm foundations of the past, strengthening it wherever necessary and fortifying it more than ever before for its own sake and for the sake of the world at large.

The Basic Elements of the Swadeshi Science Movement

(a)    The Swadeshi Science Movement notes the continuing dangers of blindly aping the West in the development programs of Independent India, ignoring the Swadeshi concepts initiated by Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda and Sree Narayana Guru. What we need is not really the Western forms and approaches to modern science and technology and an economic theory based on such an approach, but a wholly new approach to an appropriate form of science and technology and an economic theory evolved out of that approach. This reflects a shift of emphasises on the use of science and technology more for social than for profit - oriented economic development. Science and technology would thus be more closely interwoven with a spiritual form of social, economic and political ideology. This new approach would have its roots more in spiritual egalitarianism than in the dreams for a mere material equality alone.

(b)    The Swadeshi Science Movement would endeavor to inspire the youth towards the pursuit of good science in the hope that many more Nobel Laureates would emerge from this soil itself. It is in this context that the Swadeshi Science Movement started celebrating Dr. C.V. Raman Jayanthi every year as the Swadeshi Vignana Dina - the National Science Day. Dr. C.V. Raman is the first Asian to receive a Noble Prize in Science and the only Indian so far to receive it by remaining an Indian and working in the Indian soil itself. It is gratifying that the Nation has now chosen February 28 as the National Science Day since this happens to be the day when Raman announced his discovery.

(c)    The bedrock of modern science is experimental verifiability. Experimental learning of science has therefore a great role to play in developing good science, and this ought to begin right from the school stage itself. The Swadeshi Science Movement would initiate action plans on this front.

(d)    Popularization of science among the masses is essential for a better living, and in this venture great care would be taken to have a positive, constructive approach rather than a negative thrust. It is certainly necessary to develop faith in true science, but it does not behove on us to demolish all other faiths in the name of science. The Swadeshi Science Movement would give emphasis on social harmony than on blind progressivism projecting rationalistic materialism as the sole representative of the so-called "scientific temper". It is necessary to see that science is not allowed to become another "opium of the masses" and scientific temper, the amphetamine of the intellectuals. In the name of science and scientific temper, every attempt is being made to demolish everything that is Indian in faith and tradition, and establish anything that is Western. To the Swadeshi Science Movement, modernization is not Westernization nor de-Indianzation.

(e)    Rural Bharath remains practically untouched by modern developments, and the Swadeshi Science Movement would have its thrust in rural reconstruction in its own cultural milieu with due attention being paid towards improved agriculture, agro-industries, post-harvest technology and moderate modern amenities for healthy living and effective educa­tion, entertainment, transport and communications. In this endeavour, however, nothing would be allowed to distract us from the mighty ideal of Nationalism and Pan-Indianism.

(f)    The Swadeshi Science Movement would thus attempt at an integration of science and technology with man, nature and culture, leading to some harmony within man and between man and nature.

Operational Framework

technology for Social Harmony". The issues to be pursued would be: what pre­cisely can science and technology contribute towards social harmony; and how best can science and technology be used to solve them in the milieu of its own cultural heritage, both on the short-term and on the long-term basis; what has been the nature of problems which science itself has created especially through its tech­nology and the concomitant industrialism, militarism, consumerism and a myriad of its own dogmas.

The best way to preserve economic equilibrium and national independence seems to be to inculcate the spirit of Swadeshi in production and consumption, and establish self-sufficiency and self-reliance in all spheres. There is need for more science, technology and industry; but they would be based on national resources. requirements and ecoequilibrium.

Consumerism is not a culture to be overencouraged, nor is a mad competition for international markets desirable. The Swadeshi Science Movement is a movement that values people more than technology and profits, economic theories and politi­cal ideologies. The Western development strategies and industrial growth pro­cesses based on energy-intensive, labour-saving and capital-intensive technology so central to the economic and social life of the West lare bound to be forced to slow down, in all likelihood within this generation itself, if they are to survive as normal human beings. In any case, these models and strategies are as such unsuit­able to Indian conditions. Mahatma Gandhi was able to forsee this, and provide, instead, a fully Swadeshi approach to our problems. The Swadeshi Science Move­ment would attempt to perfect this approach in its totality on a scientific footing.

(b)   The Languages and Communications

The media of instruction and communication have a great role to play in cementing the national solidarity. The Swadeshi Science Movement would there­fore strive for the development of all Indian languages as effective vehicles of scientific knowledge, and popularize science and technology through Indian lan­guages at all levels of education and research. English would continue to be valu­able and inevitable at higher levels of learning and research, and special attention would be paid to develop Tamil, Sanskrit and Hindi as link languages and standard setters. An honest attempt would be made to popularize a national Script common for all languages of Bharat. What we envisage is to develop a simple, scientific technique of language teaching with a multilingual objective for the country.

(c)    Economic Planning

Many of the current problems are rooted in the tussle between growing demands and depleting resources. The Swadeshi Science Movement would try to foster an increasing aware­ness about the relationship between developmental economics and natural resources - forests and fisheries, grasslands and croplands, minerals and water resources, and shift the emphasis of [he policy of developmental economics from Growth to Su stainability- More than anything else, human resources developments which have been neglected so tar, is to be taken up with utmost care and seriousness.

There is a feeling that our developmental plans have notso far produced much of the desired results; perhaps, its reliance on Western models has aggravated our problems. The entire blame for this failure of planning is often being attributed to the population increase. The Swadeshi Science Movement would like 1:0 question this conclusion and suggest alternate strategies of planning for the increasing population in the following panorama: (i)

There is a need to plan for a 1000 million population in terms of their requirements of food, clothing, shelter, education, employment, recreations, transport, communication, and other wel­fare facilities (ii)    Special attention would be paid to the 120 million "underfives" in terms of their protein - calorie and vitamin-mineral requirements in order to have a healthy and intelligent stock of future citizens, (iii)     The whole educational pattern needs a thorough overhauling in terms of duration and quality, inculcating a sense of patriotism and national purpose and pride in the 300 million school-going children (and the 444 million illiterates), (iv) A new developmental strategy is required to give employment to the large labour force of about 400 million, and it is here that we have to listen to Mahatma Gandhi much more intensely and honestly than ever before, (v) It is equally important to think of and plan for the 200 million retired and aged people, and in this context, the Swadeshi Science Movement would enlighten people on the need to examine the whole question of social organization in ancient Indian vis-a-vis the fashions of modern life, especially with respect to our attitude towards cultural and religious festivals and functions engaging a large section of people in such social activities.

(d)   The Options

The Swadeshi Science Movement would critically and objectively analyse and evaluate the whole series of questions concerned with (a) major irrigation vs minor irrigation, (b) Chemical fertilizers vs bio-fertilizers, (c) high yielding varieties vs local strains, (d) polluting pesticides vs pest-resistant crops, (e) cash crops vs food crops, etc. In our tropical agriculture, and every process is mechanized amongst our employment-starved population. Westemism is also taking us towards chemicalization of the body, disregarding biological principles as in Ayurveda, thus causing irreparable or irretrievable damage to our system. The situation calls for utmost vigilance by the Swadeshi Science Movement in all matters connected with medical practices, food and food-products, fungicides and pesticides, and even family planning devices. At the same time, utmost caution is required to ensure__that_the movement does not fall itself trapped unwittingly Jntoan anti-science or even in anti-development movement.

(e)    Military Science

Science India

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