The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) linked Vijnana Bharati – an outfit for promotion of Swadehsi science – has expressed “rude shock” over the last minute denial of an award “by the PMO” at the inaugural session of the Indian Science Congress.
The outfit, which has eminent scientists like Anil Kakodkar and G Madhavan Nair as patrons, recently made to the Guinness Book of World Records by conducting “the largest practical science lesson” at IIT Delhi on December 7. The record was earlier held by The Royal Society of Chemistry.
VIBHA’s secretary general A Jayakumar told HT that the department of science and technology had confirmed the award for the achievement and had invited it to the ISC to receive it from the PM.
“We were communicated at the last minute that the PMO has not cleared the award to us. We were not given any reason for this. It is still not know who took the call to deny the award to us. But it came as a rude shock to office-bearers of the organization and the scientific community at large,” Jayakumar added. Science and Technology Minister Dr Harsh vardhan did not respond to phone calls and text message for a comment.
The office-bearer found “serious fault” with the PMO in the denial of the award to a Guinness Book World Record holder from India and said it again highlighted the “urgent need” to constitute a Scientific Advisory Committee to PM. He sought a “serious intervention” from the PM on this matter.
{{/usCountry}}The office-bearer found “serious fault” with the PMO in the denial of the award to a Guinness Book World Record holder from India and said it again highlighted the “urgent need” to constitute a Scientific Advisory Committee to PM. He sought a “serious intervention” from the PM on this matter.
{{/usCountry}}Headed by Vijay P Bhatkar, a Padma awardee who is known for leading the development of Param supercomputers, VIBHA works for several objectives including spreading awareness of the unique contributions of ancient Bharat in the development of modern science.