Prime Minister should make a strong statement: T R Govindarajan

CHENNAI: T R Govindarajan, Emeritus Professor at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences was among the few scientists from Chennai, Pune and New Delhi who initiated the first online campaign against the rising intolerance and communal hatred in India. Govindarajan talks about the way forward.

Why have scientists chosen to speak out now? The issues about beef and the killing of human beings are the reasons. Even if you are against beef-eating, you don't go about killing people. Several incidents like (the killings of) Pansare, Kalburgi... they were all rationalists, people with scientific spirit. Almost everyday, we hear some extreme remark. That has been the position taken by some fringe groups which we don't worry about as there is police and government to keep them under control. Of late these fringe elements have been emboldened.

What do you think is missing in the government's reaction to these incidents and remarks? The government has to put out a firm statement that it will not tolerate such acts. If the fringe elements want to protest they should stop with remarks or meetings. It should not go to the levels of attacks and murders. Ministers who make extreme remarks should be warned, and this should be a strong signal from the government, particularly the Prime Minister.

Academics have spoken out against certain groups promoting a culture of obscurantism, superstitions and myths... Myth and obscurantism are definitely increasing. Education is one place where we can play - we should develop scientific, rational spirit which is what Nehru suggested. We must focus on scientific thinking, modernise our education and make it clear that irrational thought is not going to help.

PM Modi, in a speech, connected mythology with medicine, suggesting that knowledge of plastic surgery and genetic science existed in India thousands of years ago. Scientists will not go by that, there is no evidence of that. But it looks like an encouraging statement to the people who think along those lines. It is his freedom to make these statements. There are great works produced by our Mathematicians like Bhaskara and Aryabhatta in the past.

We should be proud of our great work and there is nothing wrong in projecting that. But it should be based on scientific background. Instead of that, mythological stories are being given too much credence, which is incorrect. Our work on history of science is very minimal, but that should be rational, not based on speculative ideas.