Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Is studying Science a sin?

A Radical Change of topic from my last blog. Thanks for all who replied. Since I have exposure to Science in India and abroad, I thought of writing this blog. In my honest opinion, i don't think any parents want their child to study Science(By science I mean Pure Sciences like Chemistry, Physics and Biological Sciences) as a first choice. Taking an undergraduate course in Pure Science is meant for those who missed the Cut-off bracket in Entrance exams. The evergrowing number of Engineering colleges in Tamilnadu adds vitality to my views. Even parents who are educated do not like science as first option. Why Science which is omnipresent is considered as a kingdom of losers?. Is it because they see people with science degrees work as Management trainees or bank Clerks? If it is, why don't they see there are more people with Engineering degrees in Call center than Science Graduates? (Which in my view doesn't require 4 years of rigorous study in Engineering Discipline) Why don't they realize that more science graduates are working in non-science field because of our view towards science. When I joined my undergraduate degree in Science, the obvious notion everyone including my parents had was I am not an bright(leave alone brilliant) student. It is true that I didn't score good enough for a Engineering seat. But losing in a couple of exams or losing your sharpness for a couple of weeks will never alter one's self. It does not mean that I am belittling any engineering graduates (of course they are smart enough to keep their hold for extra two weeks than me). I am just saying that I am not bad. Is it all parent's mistake? When I probed this further,it was startling to see that they are not at all responsible. Who is the culprit then? Yes the same fourth pillar of Democracy. I never saw TV as a useful one except making you an Couch potato. But what the Papers and magazines are doing? It seems to me that for them, whether Sonia a Saint or not is more important then Science. It is imperative that we need to know more about our country. But politics alone is not a solution. The other themes they publish are Beauty pageants or Team India (Cricket) winning a local club in Pakistan. Most of the newspapers don't have any separate column for Science even those who have one publish once in a week. Is Vijayakanth a deciding factor in poll seems more appropriate for first page compared to whether nano biology can really cure Cancer. To sicken me further, I read a leading magazine just now which says the most happening thing in tamilnadu is the rumor about love between Simbu and Nayanthara. For whom it is important? Even it is important for other people it is because you publishers never allowed them the joy of other happenings. How many times you have seen CNR Rao on any Tamil magazines or newspapers (both Tamil and English) talking about emerging field of scientific research. Don't say language is a problem, if Reema sen can be interviewed why not CNR rao?. You have all the great people who can make a scientific interview more intresting(like Madan, Sujatha). Sometime ago most parents trained their daughter to say she wants to become Kalpana Chawla. The poor lady has to die to make us feel about science. Once in a while they will put a news box in the middle pages (they know most of us look at first and sports pages) about two students who are going to compete in a world class Robotics Competition. But Amitabh acting as a ambassador for IIFA awards will be on the first page. IIT Saarang will be given more importance than IIT-Chem fest. Why is this atrocity? One of my junior in Loyola (Hari) attended an conference in China to exhibit his new idea about Vanderwaals equation in Chemistry. Nobody knew except a few. But Sivaji shooting in Hyderabad is creating ripples. Please come out of this or go out of my India. For the following idea I fear that I will be blamed for westernising (like saffronising) education. Is it not a good idea that we call engineering studies as B.S in Engineering like most of the western countries and make sure science graduate has to do 4 yrs of learning to get his degree. Nobody is called a Engineerist when he do research in engineering field. So will you people reading this will give credit to students who learn pure science?

3 comments:

Jeyaram said...

Thank you all friends for taking time to read my blog and posting your comments. I think some of my friends did not get my point clearly.I never think Engineering is less than science.What i am saying is at higher levels they merge into same ocean of scientific research.Some of my insights are about how to improve the field of science in india. I am aware of the fact that job prospects are brighter for Engineering graduates. I am trying to figure out ways to have equal happening for Science graduates. Some of you even suggested Media is a business itself so there is no wrong in Crowd pullers like politics and cinema and sports. I fully agree with that.But though its a business it has a impact on our life unlike other normal business.so i am in a way requesting them to give science also important.(for publishing science alone they have Scientific journals)

Murali said...

Yes Studying Science is a Sin. It is the biggest Sin that people get educated in India and finally settle abroad.

Study Science and serve the country. I saw your blog and realised that you are from Houston.

Why did you leave India and go to US. What facilities did you not get in India that you have found in the US.

You have mentioned about publishing Scientific Journals. How many of them have you published so far? How many articles have you submitted so far.

How many people who have given you comments are people other than science?.

Jeyaram said...

It is Good that Someone is having alternate views. I think my friend murali has not read the blog well. I told exactly what is the current situation of studying science in India.Even after this some one asking why am i doing science in US is bordering on Ignorance. Just for the sake of answering his nonsensical questions, at no point of time i ever proclaimed myself as a scientist. i am still at a budding satge of science and by the time i graduate i will have more meaningful publication than my beloved friend could ask for. and all my friends i know who commented are non science graduates with knoweledge about Scientific research. Anyways thanks for taking time to read the blog.