Thiruvananthapuram: Pseudo-science is gaining popularity threatening scientific temper among the young generation and others. As Science Day was observed on Wednesday, many experts have expressed concern over the grip of superstitions among the people. The country’s Constitution stipulated among the duties of citizens [Article 51 A (h)] the need “to develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of enquiry and reform”. However, even policy- makers issue statements contrary to the essence of this principle.
The question is how these comments would influence children and prevent the development of scientific temper among them. Dr P.S. Jinesh, a forensic surgeon and administrator of Info Clinic, a Facebook page aimed at countering misinformation in the name of medical science, told Deccan Chronicle that even in the state the people were misled by unscientific practices followed by people like Mohanan Viadyar or Jacob Vadakumcherry. “I have seen even doctors sharing false treatment testimonies of Mohanan Vaidyar curing cancer. They are even endorsed by politicians like M.A. Baby and K.B. Ganeshkumar. Mr Rajath Kumar, who has been notorious for his unscientific view and misogynist comments, was felicitated at a function attended by Governor P. Sathasivam and Education Minister C. Raveendranath. Even the media, including social media, are misused for propagating pseudo-science,” said Dr Jinesh.
Recently, there was a WhatsApp message saying that paracetamol tablets contained machupo virus. Machupo virus caused Bolivian haemorrhagic fever which is reported to have 25 percent to 35 percent mortality rate. However, this fever has not been reported in the country. Paracetamol tablets are not living things. A virus cannot survive in non-living things for long. Moreover, such medicines are produced using scientific techniques. Hence, there are no chances for such virus to survive in paracetamol tablets. The acceptability for the propaganda against vaccination and modern medicine has raised questions about the scientific temper in society, said Dr Jinesh.
Mr R.S. Praveen Raj, senior scientist, convenor, research and development - Industry meet, CSIR-NIIST, told Deccan Chronicle that science in the 21st century was facing an awkward situation of encountering religious paradigms. “While science’s encounter with religious paradigms is an accident, the paradigm traps are not accidental. This is the result of a planned agenda from religious organisations having unholy nexus with political power centres. Science is being attacked because scientific temper is opposed to religious practices. Scientific temper teaches to question everything and everyone,” said Mr Raj. “The very existence of religions and religious leaders will be questioned if science is allowed to flourish. That is why science has to encounter religious paradigms. Shockingly it is a global phenomenon, though its ramifications are better visible in India. Commercialisation of divine affairs is quite rampant in India. In the 19th century and 20th centuries, there was a warm welcome for facts proved by science. Society was willing to accept the scientific findings, though the process was a bit slow. However, there is a global trend in the 21st century to stop the growth of science,” said Mr Raj.
Mr Sunil Thomas Thonikuzhiyil, principal, College of Engineering, Attingal, said that when people who do not have proper understanding of science take up the task of propagating science, it causes more harm than good. A large section of people believes that whatever the celebrities say is true. Such people are able to create false concepts in young minds. The development of science is ensured only when the existing concepts are questioned. However, celebrities and false propagandist use the label of science to establish false beliefs and hearsays that do not have any scientific base. These people are really a challenge to scientific vision and attitude. Science teachers in schools should take ensure that such false beliefs do not take roots in children, said Mr Thonikuzhiyil.
The irony is that people at the helm of education like Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Satyapal Singh make unscientific statements that Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution of man was “scientifically wrong.” They want it to be changed in school and college curriculum as our ancestors have nowhere mentioned that they saw an ape turning into a man.
Retired Rajasthan High Court judge Mahesh Chandra Sharma made a statement that peahen gives birth after it gets impregnated with the tears of the peacock.
Earlier, Rajasthan Education Minister Vasudev Devnani had raised several eyebrows when he said that the cow was the only animal that not only inhaled, but also exhaled oxygen and that cow dung had “anti-radioactive” properties. Being near a cow was enough to cure one of cough and cold, he said. In fact, the 102nd edition of the Indian Science Congress in 2015, inaugurated by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was more keen on “mythical” aeroplanes and cosmetic surgery than actual science.
Even Mr Modi in a speech referred to Karna who was not born of his mother’s womb to support his view that genetic science was present at the time of Mahabharata. Similarly, by referring to Lord Ganesha, he said there must have been some plastic surgeon who could fit elephant’s head on the body of a human being.
