RTMNU & Indian Science Congress: Tale of tokenism in action

Staff Reporter

WITH only a week left for the inaugural session of the 108th Indian Science Congress (ISC) at Nagpur on January 3, 2023, the host Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU) appears to be groping in dark about the finer parts of local participation. The university authorities appear to have resorted to a face-saving tokenism that promises only a cosmetic lip service to cause of science.

RTMNU Vice-Chancellor Dr Subhash Chaudhari, Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr Sanjay Dudhe, ISC Local Secretary Dr Goverdhan Khandekar spent much of their energies giving evasive or tentative replies on Tuesday when Editors of media houses asked straight questions about local component of the 108th Indian Science Congress. Most replies revealed that the varsity authorities had not given even a scant thought to attaining full local participation in the main events or the Children’s Science Congress. Their replies also did not demonstrate much thoughtfulness in eliciting proper participation of women scientists or youths or tribals from the region. They briefed about the 108th ISC, and preparations done so far. However, when the Editors sought details about active community engagement in the region, the replies were either “Thanks for pointing this out, we had not thought about it,” or “Hmm, no!” or unsatisfactory to say the least.

For instance, despite being the host, RTMNU has not pledged to take up at least some (if not many) research projects with the resolve to present the results in the next edition of the Indian Science Congress. The prestigious ‘Pride of India’ exhibition will showcase the major developments, achievements, and contributions by leading scientific institutions. After the suggestion of Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister, in a recent meeting it was decided to have a ‘separate’ Maharashtra Pavilion, too, showcasing scientific achievements of State institutions.

Children’s Science Congress is a part of the larger Indian Science Congress. Asked why did not the host-university approach the schools in Nagpur in particular and Vidarbha region in general, to ensure that children from this part of the country also got an opportunity to present their papers or ideas at the national forum, Dr Chaudhari replied, “The children are selected through competitions at national level by the Indian Science Congress Association. RTMNU is not the decision maker in this regard.” Still, he added, 25 science models selected through models competition conducted in RTMNU jurisdiction will be exhibited in a dome ‘beside’ the main dome of Children’s Science Congress. According to the RTMNU authorities, more than 7,000 students from different Government and private schools of Nagpur district and Vidarbha and nearby areas will ‘participate’ in the inaugural function. Here, the word ‘participate’ means ‘listen’ to speeches.

As far as Women’s Science Congress is concerned, there appears to be some solace for the region. According to Dr Chaudhari, 11 women from this region will present their papers. For the Women’s Science Congress, former actor and businesswoman Tina Anil Ambani will be the guest. Noted philanthropist and author Sudha Murthy also has been invited and the hosts expect her confirmation soon. But, the RTMNU had still not compiled the list of women

scientists and researchers from Vidarbha region or Nagpur who would be presenting their research.

Same was the case with Tribal Science Congress. “It is also intended to present traditional tribal culture through the local tribal groups for the attendees,” is the statement of the RTMNU in this regard. Again, no specific research or innovation or name of researcher from the region was given when asked about the same being showcased in the big event. Interestingly, the tribal-dominated district of Gadchiroli district or Melghat in Amravati district of Vidarbha have several projects that have attracted global attention. In Gadchiroli district, SEARCH has trained women ‘Arogyadoots’, an initiative that has been acclaimed by World Health Organisation. But, it seems that the hosts have not found it worth to highlight at the national science event.

To create awareness, some local token events like rally with ‘Vigyan Jyot’ have been planned on Wednesday (December 28, 2022) in RTMNU jurisdiction areas. Besides, to mark the centenary of RTMNU, the host-university has planned a Centenary Gallery on the upper floor of the University Library in Ramdaspeth. All these activities are nothing more than tokenism.

Previously, the 108th Indian Science Congress was to be held in Udaipur. According to RTMNU authorities, they got confirmation in July-August 2022 about hosting the Indian Science Congress. As such, they pleaded that they got ‘little time’ for preparations especially for outreach for meaningful engagement of local community. However, the time of five months was good enough to organise things and mobilise the community to submit papers and come up with something substantial before the deadline in November.

Surprisingly, the local unit of the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) was nowhere visible in public sphere in the entire process of outreach to people, especially the students, youths, women, farmers, and tribals. No run-up events like lectures of eminent scientists of national repute were organised in the city. No NGOs or social organisations were roped in to organise such lectures with facilitation by the ISCA national or local unit. These things leave scope for suspicion that the entire event is being organised to please some political masters, with grandeur and not science forming the core of the entire exercise.

To sum up, the 108th Indian Science Congress may have the grandeur with big domes etc but it may not leave a lasting impact on developing scientific temperament locally or inspiring the local community to give a boost to science and technology from research point of view. Also, merely ‘grand’ organisation of the event will not place the burden of moral obligation on various scientific institutions in the region to increase their contribution for the benefit of the locals. The tokenism, and not the event, may be historic! For, an opportunity lost results in more damage to the cause than lack of resources.