DOCUMENT

A Statement on Scientific Tempern» hilv 19 1081 at the Nehru Centre in Bombay was released a document by P.N.Haksar, along

JhDrRapRammna ZdDrP. M. Bhargava, under the title, "A Statement on Scientific Temper".

<^//r/r^ »»r * « » mother, for tHe^e nation owes yep ueoj « ^ . ^ ^ technology in India, as viable

sustained f^hJ"f™ZrmaUon The'need of the time is the diffusion of science and technology intojnstmments of social °™a%£ J£ ^y be achieved by promotion of what Jawaharlal Nehru chose^ S ^ s S ^ T ^ - ^ ^ ««**• ihe ^portance of which he emphasized time andagalI tdfXlheS^Zfic Temper has to be fostered with care at the individual, instituUonal, socialand political levels."In his Foreword to the document, P.N. Haksar writes:

\ T J r\ • arr»n<,*A fnr some of us to assemble together in a quiet corner of our country to share our commonc o n ^ H h ^ C°O n O O r > S° ^ ^ B"" I 1" l d

full of promise as our entire land is. we discussed and debated what needed to be done to halt theprSoTdW^ ^ ^ deliberations. The end result of ,t allwas a Statement on S c i e n . t i f i c , ' I e m P^ t t h e r s I t w a s further refined. We now present this Statement as revised.w l K o f u n a w l ^ StatemeDt * " g - ^ t e a wider debateand discussion in our c0"^.-... ,_:.;-•;.,*<; an<j technologists in our country. In addition, we have a large number of

There are more than two' . ^ " ^ ^ X o p o l o g i s t s lawyers, doctors, administrators, management specialists and

^ K s w h o ! T o T ^ of their respectlve

professions and disciplines. a # ,n e r n t i n e a nation-wide discussion, it will also, hopefully, generate a movement for theI f the Statement. success m generating^a twnwiae c ^ ^ ^ forfreedom..The second

Z s ^ e c l s T p r o v i d e 3 the" n?cessa°y filff ^ re-structuring of our country embodying the aspirations of our

people. cllrv*«>d in installing Scientific Temper as the dominant ethos of our collective being, can weho^oface^r^ W e must understand that it is not going to be easy.W e

P s h a l l h a v e t o d o a g r e a ^ i s M h t h d o e s n o t s a t i s f y ^ritysI t is often argued^ with seeming|P™g2rt gja^uric, poetry and drama fall outside its ambit. In answer to such critics,

spiritual needs; thatthe ^tire realm of ar an a m u p< ^ N e h f u reso]ved ^ s e e m i n g c o n t r a d ictiOn between ourI can do not more t h * V ^ T A e Otoove ry o/ /«<fa, he defines in the following terms his own attitude:material and spintua I needs • J*™*»$™?Jf%Sal and social life, of harmonious living, of a proper balancing of

The real problems for me rente"Ylofan adjustment of the relations between individuals and between groups of a con-an individual s inner and outer W'W™ $* m dev£iopment, ofthe ceaseless adventure of man.tinuous becoming something be tar ana["•f%fjbs°rvationandprecise knowledge and deliberate reasoning, according to

in the solution of these problems the way of over j ^ applicable in eur quest of truth, for art and^ ^ • 2 ^ « ^ S T ? S S w ^ S « S ^ S ^ ^ to A»to»W *« « *«^™»» •"««*• *«r«tow- «"*/*» elude the objective methods ofscience. , i* n,,t intuition and other methods of sensing truth and reality. They are necessary even for,Letus,thereffe,mtruleouti^uUionond^ne m ^ anchJ of precise knowledge tested by reason ... we must

1Preamble

THE history of humanity bears witness to periodsof enlightenment as well as to periods of dark-

ness. It bears witness to the rise and fall of civiliza-tions. Through all the vicissitudes of time theknowledge gained by humanity has retained a qualityof indestructability. Viewing the entire panorama ofthe universal history of mankind, one becomes con-scious of a continuous but forward movement to-wards greater knowledge, and to an increasing capa-city of human bsings to exercise control over theirenvironment.

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While humanity as a whole accumulates know-ledge, there is no guarantee that the availability ofsuch knowledge will, by itself, enable every countryto use it successfully for its own advancement andthe well being of its people. There are examples inhistory where predominant social, political, culturaland value systems inhibited the absorption of know-ledge resulting in periods of stagnation, decay andretreat from reason, rationality and science. Thoughthe Renaissance began in Italy, and Galileo, theharbinger of modern science, was an Italian, adher-ence to obscurantism enforced by the Church ledItaly to losing the benefit of the Renaissance whichfertilized Northern parts of Europe. The Renaissance

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and the Reformation then combined together torevolutionise thought as well as society.

In our own country too we have known of periodsof creativity when the spirit of enquiry led to theaccumulation of scientific knowledge; there wascreativity hi literature, music, arts and crafts. How-ever, we have also known of periods when the spiritof enquiry got extinguished. During those longstretches of time everything was reduced to un-questioning dogmas and to the performance of deadrituals. There was deadening of curiosity and ques-tioning. There was only passivity and acceptance.And finally, we were overtaken by the greatest ofdisasters—our complete colonisation and subjugationto British imperialism.

Contemplating our decline, decay and subjugation,some of our best minds began asking themselves whyand how it all happened. This spirit of enquiry andquestioning gave birth to a wide social cultural move-ment which we call the Indian renaissance. The best

^\disin minds in the pre independence times in-stently propagated the need for the people to think

independently and fearlessly, and to question tradi-tional beliefs. This effort, in time, produced a critiqueof the colonial system. Out of this critique was borna powerful national movement for our liberation.The British imperial system, aligning itself with thevested interests, endeavoured to counter the broadstream of nationalism by encouraging revivalism andobscurantism. And though Indian renaissance neverelaborated a critique of our entire ancient societyand unfortunately made compromises, the urge toacquire knowledge and the scientific outlook remain-ed strong. The spirit of questioning ultimately over-whelmed an imperial system which seemed sopowerful and even immutable.

There is a wide awareness in our times that we areliving in a scientific age of great discoveries in science,affecting and moulding both our material and socialexistence. It is indeed remarkable how a compara-tively small number of physical laws seem sufficientto explain a great part of behaviour of matter, right

^ o m the huge and massive heavenly objects locatedthe very edges of outer universe to the minute

regions of atoms and atomic nucleus. In life sciences,we are in the midst of far reaching, even revolu-tionary, changes. The entire history of humanityshows that it is the scientific temper which not onlycreated and promoted science, but also gave huma-nity the means to affect the natural and social environ-ment. It is, therefore, the scientific temper which isthe most precious heritage of humanity. It is theresult of incessant human labour, search and struggle.

Jawaharlal Nehru gave an impetus to ScientificTemper by setting before the people the target ofcatching up with the rest of the world with the helpof science and technology. He unfolded the pers-pective of leapfrogging the centuries. Implicit insuch a vision was a vast change in the intellectualclimate of our people. Our Constitution and thesubsequent Resolution on Science Policy were predi-cated upon the assumption that our ancient societyneeded basic changes. However, there was notenough appreciation of the relationship between theobjectives to be achieved and the methods as well as

JULY 25, 1981

the instrumentalities appropriate for bringing aboutthe desired changes. No systematic and sustainedeffort was made to work out, specifically and con-cretely, what needed to be done to build a societywhich is animated by a spirit of enquiry rather thanpassivity and acceptance. The result of this lack ofdirected efforts was accommodation, even compro-mise, with the forces of obscurantism and with theexisting inegalitarian social and economic structures.Failure to give mass dimensions and appropriateinstitutional forms to Scientific Temper, more speci-ally to our educational system, led to the erosion ofconfidence in our capacity to mould our destiny.

In such an environment, Scientific Temper isbeleaguered and besieged by deep rooted structuresof an ancient society with superimposed colonialstructures. Consequently, there has been frustrationof our hopes of optimising the results of the applica-tion of science and technology for our national re-construction. Inevitably, such frustration has encour-aged a search for and reliance upon authority.Inevitably too, there has been a growth of tendenciesto escape into magical beliefs and instant solutions.Even science and technology are being offered not asmethods of enquiry or value systems but as magicalcures for our ills, reminding one of the time whenRoman intellectuals sought refuge in Levantine magic.There is inadequate appreciation of the close inter-action between science and technology and societyand of the fact that the benefits of science and tech-nology can reach the people only if the socio-econo-mic conditions are conducive. I f the cultural environ-ment, socio economic conditions and institutionalstructures inhibit the spirit of enquiry, the desiredresults can never be achieved.

The gravity of our predicament is increasing dayby day. While we rank high among the industrialisedcountries in the world and are the third largest coun-try in the world in regard to the stock of manpowertrained in science and technology, we are close at thebottom of the list in terms of per capita food con-sumption, longevity, health care and general qualityof life. We have all the technology available rightnow within the country to give water, food, shelter,and basic health care to our millions. And yet wedo not. Something has gone wrong. The logic ofplanning and the logic of our socio-economic struc-ture are at variance. Hence, our failures and dis-appointments.

In such an environment, there is an erosion ofbelief in the capacity of human faculties to solvenational problems through a systematic critique of theexisting social situation. There is a cancerous growthof superstition at all levels. Rituals of the mostbizarre kind are frequently performed often withofficial patronage. Obscurantist social customs arefollowed even by those whose profession is thepursuit of scientific enquiry. Our entire educationalsystem works in an atmosphere of conformity, non-questioning and obedience to authority. Quotingauthority of one kind or another substitutes enquiry,questioning and thought.

Obscurantism and irrationalism practised by ahierarchy of authorities, has the predictable effect ofreinforcing retreat from reason. Voices raised against

such a state of affairs get silenced. The decision-making processes are increasingly being divorcedfrom any rational purpose or design. There is nolong-term perspective based on ascertained facts andscientific analysis. Adhocism, whims and the nar-rowest of considerations take the place of well-plannedprogrammes. Priorities, i f any, are fixed withoutsufficient data-base and without any attempt atscientific evaluation of national needs, potentialitiesand feasibility of implementation. Mere slogans tendto be used as a substitute for action and for creatingan illusion of achievement. Dramatic crash pro-grammes are launched. These, inevitably, crash.There are no prespective plans. Even Five YearPlans have been reduced to annual exercises ofallocating funds.

As our country enters the last two decades of the20th century, the need to move forward is becomingever more insistent. We either overcome the obsta-cles or we shall be overcome by unreason and darkreaction. We must understand the meaning as wellas the imperatives of Scientific Temper, representingas it does, humanity's assertion of being in charge ofits destiny and not a passive victim of malevolence orbenevolence of stars. To do so, we need to activelycombat beliefs which erode Scientific Temper andundermine its growth. Only then shall we illumineour darkening national horizon and provide ourpeople, once again, with a vision and a method fortranslating that vision into reality. Such a visionmust have a Scientific Temper as its integrating bond.

Attributes of Scientific Temper

CPREAD of Scientific Temper in society is much more^ than the spread of science or technology. Scienti-fic Temper is neither a collection of knowledge orfacts, although it promotes such knowledge; nor is itrationalism although it promotes rational thinking.It is something more. It is .an attitude of mind whichcalls for a particular outlook and pattern of beha-viour. It is of universal applicability and has topermeate through our society as the dominant valuesystem powerfully influencing the way we think andapproach our problems—political, social, economic,cultural and educational.

Scientific Temper involves the acceptance, amongstothers, of the following premises:

(a) that the method of science provides a viablemethod of acquiring knowledge;

(b) that human problems can be understood andsolved in terms of knowledge gained through theapplication of the method of science;

(c) that the fullest use of the method of science ineveryday life and in every aspect of human endeavourfrom ethics to politics and economics — is essentialfor ensuring human survival and progress; and

(d) that one should accept knowledge gainedthrough the application of the method of science asthe closest approximation to truth at that time, andquestion what is incompatible with such knowledge;and that one should from time to time re-examine thebasic foundations of contemporary knowledge.

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The method of science, therefore, constitutes aregenerative process for collecting information andprocessing the collected information to createmeaningful patterns leading to an ordered understand-ing of nature of man himself, his natural and socialenvironment. In this sense, the method of scienceencompasses all aspects of communicable humanknowledge and cuts across all artificial compart-mentalisation like natural science, social science,applied science, etc.

The spirit of inquiry and the acceptance of theright to question and be questioned are fundamentalto Scientific Temper. I t calls upon one to ask the'how', the 'what', and the 'why' of an object, eventor phenomenon. It further calls upon one to exercisethe right to question, provided of course, the ques-tioning of an existing theory, hypothesis or statementor social situation is done in accordance with thescientific method and is not merely a bare assertionof one's belief. Scientific Temper is, therefore, incom-patible with the acceptance of authorities of all kin^1

or of 'high priests' who may not be questioned. -leads to the realisation that events occur as a resultof interplay of understandable and describable naturaland social forces and not because someone, howevergreat, so ordained them. These forces are often com-plex and intertwined and have to be analyticallydisentangled.

Scientific Temper is compatible with observationand insight, reasoning and intuition, systematic workand creative impulse. It gives rise to an attitude ofmind which while being conscious of vast areas ofignorance, is nevertheless, optimistic about humanability to gradually unravel the mysteries that sur-round us. In this process, Scientific Temper becomesa part of the culture, a philosophy, and a way of lifewhich leads to pursuit of truth without prejudgement.

Scientific Temper implies the recognition thatknowledge often progresses* by disproving earlierideas, beliefs, theories and laws. It considers know-ledge as open ended and ever-evolving. It laysemphasis on verifiability and repeatability, whereverpossible, and on the fact that scientific theories, lav ~and facts allow one to make predictions which ctbe tested. It recognises that answers to many ques-tions that may be asked at any given time, may notbe available at that time. It, then, demands thecourage and humility to say, ' I do not know'.

Scientific Temper calls for recognition of the severalmajor differences between the scientific attitude andthe theological and metaphysical attitude specially inrespect of dogmas proclaimed in the name of reli-gion. There is in fact, essential incompatibility ofall dogmas with science. While science is universal,established religions and religious dogmas are divi-sive. Consider the divisions which exist betweenChristian, Islamic, Buddhistic and Hindu denomina-tions. Science, in contrast, transcends divisions and isuniversal.

Scientific Temper has deep emotional content andhas, within it, a sense of beauty. That is why consi-derations based on beauty and simplicity have beenoften invoked to choose between alternative theoriesJhat are otherwise equally tenable.

Inherent in Scientific Temper is a system of value

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judgements. The inculcation of Scientific Temper inour society would result in our people becomingrational and objective, thereby generating a climatefavouring an egalitarian, democratic, secular anduniversalist outlook. Consequently, Scientific Tempercannot flourish in a grossly inegalitarian societywhere 50 per cent of the population lives below thepoverty line and almost 70 per cent of oui people,especially females, are illiterate. Social justice, wide-spread education and unrestricted communicationare, therefore, pre-requisites for spread of ScientificTemper and for optimising the results of science andtechnology.

Role of Scientific Temper

L J A V I N G outlined the essential elements of Scientific•"• Temper, let us survey our national scene. DespiteJawaharlal Nehru's advocacy of Scientific Temper,we are witnessing a phenomenal growth of supers-titious beliefs and obscurantist practices. The influ-ence of a variety of godmen and miracle makers isincreasing alarmingly. The modern tools of propa-ganda and communication are being used to give animpression that there exist instant and magicalsolutions for the problems that confront our people.

In an age when man has travelled to the moonand returned safely, astrological predictions based onthe movements of planets or the lines of one's palmor the number of alphabets in one's name, are widelybelieved. Food fads, irrational health practices areon the increase. In a poor country where millionslive below the poverty line, vast amount of wealthis consigned in havanas and yagnas.

Myths are created about our past. The origin androle of the caste system is explained in a way thatwould justify it and imply that some castes areinherently superior. The ancient period of our historyis interpreted to inculcate chauvinism which is falsepride; the medieval period is misinterpreted in a waythat would fan communalism; and the struggle ofour people for freedom is over-simplified as if it wasthe handiwork of a few great leaders and the massesof our people did not matter.

While it is important to understand the origin ofthese unscientific beliefs, the more immediate andpressing problem is to understand the remarkablephenomenon of their persistence and the resultingsocial consequences.

The sustenance of such beliefs and superstitionsmust be recognised primarily as a historical andsocial process. Such beliefs continue, because theyhave ready relevance to the personal situations of themajority of our people. Vast uncertainties of ourdaily lives, frustration of hopes and aspirations ofmillions, denial of any vision which would sustainthe spirit drives millions to seek mental equilibriumin faith healing. Thus, when one believes that one'smiserable personal situation cannot be improved,acceptance of fatalism becomes natural. Beliefs thenrationalise the status quo and breed fatalistic

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doctrines. In such a situation of social and culturalmalaise, a major role of Scientific Temper is to reviveconfidence and hope and to dispel fatalistic outlook.The campaign to promote Scientific Temper mustinculcate values like equality and dignity of all humanbeings, distributive justice, dignity of labour andsocial accountability of one's actions. All these areessential for bringing about social, economic andcultural transformation of our country.

The emphasis on the method of science does notimply that science and technology have solutions toall human problems at any given time. Indeed,Scientific Temper warns one against the simplisticview that through the introduction and pursuit ofscience and technology, most social problems andcontradictions will automatically get resolved. Therole of reason is to apply scientific knowledge toproblems, to grapple with them through the methodof scientific inquiry and to work for social trans-formation inspired by Scientific Temper.

We must equally combat the tendency to treatscience and technology as a sort of magic. It shouldbe explained that it is unscientific to believe that ifscientific and technological solutions exist to a rangeof problems, these will be automatically adopted.The nature of social stratification and the powerstructure in a society prevents the acceptance of suchsolutions. Technologically, one may be able to growenough food for everyone, but the pattern of incomedistribution prevents the benefits of increased foodproduction reaching large segments of the population.When the social structure and stratification preventthe application of rational and scientifically provensolutions, the role of Scientific Temper is to lay barethe anatomy of such social barriers.

I f we have to regain our place in the world andare not to be relegated once again to the dustbin ofhistory; i f we wish to offer a life of fulfilment to ourdestitute millions; indeed, if the light of our civilisa-tion is not to be extinguished, we have to undertake,on a priority basis, the task of nurturing ScientificTemper. All of us scientists, technologists, socialscientists, educationists, teachers, media men have to

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join hands and undertake this task. We draw inspira-tion from the way our people in all walks of lifejoined hands and struggled against colonial domina-tion of our land and of our minds. We believe, itcan be done again i f only we have the will. And itmust be done without any loss of time. Our nation'ssurvival and its future depends on upholding Scienti-fic Temper. Superstition shall not pass and darkenour portals.

Participants in Group Meeting and Signatories toStatement are:Prof- Amit BhaduriJawaharlal Nehru University, New DelhiDr. P.M. BhargavaCentre for Cellular & Molecular Biology, Regional ResearchLaboratory, HyderabadProf. Blpin ChandraJawaharlal Nehru University, New DelhiProf. VK. DamodaranRegional Engineering College, CalicutP.N. HaksarNew DelhiVG. KulkarniTata Institute of Fundamental Research, BombayDr. Dinesh MohanIndian institute of Technology, New DelhiDr. M.N.V. NairIndian Institute of Management, BangaloreProf R. NarasimhaIndian Institute of Science, BangaloreProf. H. NarasimhaiahNationalEducation Society of Karnataka, BangaloreBakul PatelNehru Centre, BombayRajni PatelNehru Centre, BombayP.K. RavindranathNehru Centre, BombayMohit SenCommunist Party of India, New DelhiDr. B.V. SubbarayappaNehru Centre, BombayTara AH BaigInternational Union for Child Welfare, New DelhiShy am SenegalBombayDr. Satish DhawanIndian Institute of Science, BangaloreProf Y. NayudammaJawaharlal Nehru University, New DelhiAshok ParthasarathiElectronics Commission, New DelhiDr. K.N. RajCentre for Development Studies,TrivandrumDr. R. RamannaBhabha Atomic Research Centre, BombayDr. S. RamaseshanIndian Institute of Science, BangaloreProf. C.N.R. RaoIndian Institute of Science, BangaloreDr. A.K.N. ReddyASTRA Indian Institute of Science, BangaloreDr. Anand Sarabhai ,BIOCENTER, AhmedabadProf B.M. UdgaonkarTata Institute of Fundamental Research, BombaySurendra JhaEditor, Science Today, Bombay

At the function where the document was released, Dr. P.M.Bhargava, one of the convenors, announced that the followinghad signified their complete agreement with the Statement:Dr M . G . K. Mcnon; Dr Yash Pal; Dr Romila Thapar andDr Rais Ahmed.

BombayJuly 19,1981

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<title>A Statement on Scientific Temper</title><author>P.N. Haksar</author><keywords>SET1 Science Policy/Plans, Socialisation of STR Critiques of Modern Science</keywords><publication>Mainstream</publication><pubDate>25/07/1981</pubDate><description>The history of humanity bears witness to periods of enlightenment as well as to periods of darkness. It bears witness to the rise and fall of civilizations. Through all the vicissitudes of time the knowledge gained by humanity has retained a quality of indestructability. Viewing the entire panorama of the universal history of mankind, one becomes conscious of a continuous but forward movement towards greater knowledge, and to an increasing capacity of human bsings to exercise control over their environment.</description><entrydt>06/10/2008</entrydt><sd>BV</sd>