National Science Day

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National Science Day is all about enhancing understanding of the importance of science in the day-to-day life of the people, efforts and achievements in science for human welfare. It is to celebrate to discuss all the issues and implement new technologies for development in science. It is the initiative of the NCSTC in 1986 that led to the Government of India designating February 28 as National Science Day. National Science Day on February 28 is to commemorate the discovery of the Raman Effect by CV Raman in 1928. Naturally, National Science Day observation focusses more on CV Raman. Few aspects of the journey of CV Raman’s journey in research are very impactful. As a career in science did not appear to present the best possibilities (applicable even today!), Raman joined the Indian Finance Department. Raman found ways of carrying on research in the laboratory of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science at Calcutta. Medical advice that he is likely to be affected by TB which would be life-threatening if he goes to England made him stay back in India. CV Raman is so much associated with his wearing a turban. He attributed it to the recognition he received on his first visit to England. CV Raman said, “The only thing that is true is that a man is born, he lives, and he dies. Therefore, he should live his life properly”. The brilliance of people like CV Raman deserves more than celebrating his success; it motivates people to find solutions the societies face through the advancements of science and technology.

In the History of Science, We Often Find That the Study of Some Natural Phenomenon Has Been the Starting Point in the Development of a New Branch of Knowledge
CV Raman

The National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) initiative in 1986 led to the Government of India designating February 28 as National Science Day. NCSTC instituted National Science Popularization awards to recognise the outstanding efforts in science communication and popularisation. National Science Day on February 28 is to commemorate Raman Effect’s discovery by CV Raman in 1928. National Science Day is all about enhancing understanding of the importance of science in the day-to-day life of the people, efforts and achievements in science for human welfare. The celebration is also to discuss all the issues and implement new technologies for development in science.

Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman andhis students K. S. Krishnan and SC Sirkar discovered that when light traverses a transparent material, some of the deflected light changes wavelength and amplitude. This phenomenon was a new type of scattering of light and is referred to as the Raman effect. Raman won the 1930 Nobel Prize in Physics. The first Asian person to receive a Nobel Prize in any branch of science. One of Raman’s interests was understanding the physics of musical sounds. His analyses of the harmonic nature of the sound of tabla and mridangam were the first scientific studies on Indian percussion. Raman, along with Suri Bhagavantam, discovered quantum photon spin, further confirming light’s quantum nature.

Naturally, National Science Day observation focusses more on CV Raman. Few aspects of the journey of CV Raman’s journey in research are very impactful. Since at that time, a scientific career did not appear to present the best possibilities (applicable even today!), Raman joined the Indian Finance Department in 1907. Though his office’s duties took most of his time, Raman found opportunities for carrying on experimental research in the laboratory of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science at Calcutta. When India is reinventing the importance of transdisciplinary research, the life of CV Raman is an example of how people can pursue careers in multiple domains. Medical advice that if he were to go to England, he would likely be affected by TB, which would be life-threatening, made him stay back in India. Had he migrated to the UK, India would have missed the only Noble Laureate in Science. CV Raman is so much associated with his wearing a turban and attributed it to the recognition he received. There was a mention that it caught the attention of stalwarts like J. J. Thomson and Rutherford.

At a time of an unprecedented health crisis of the COVID pandemic, it is essential to bring science closer to society and bolster the critically needed international scientific collaborations. Public trust in science is vital for successful science-based policies. It also brings to the fore the role researchers play in broadening the understanding of mother earth and making the world a sustainable place to live. The brilliance of people like CV Raman deserves more than celebrating his success, motivating people to find solutions the societies are facing through science and technology advancements.