National Scientific Temper Day observed
Mangalore Today News Network
Mangaluru, Aug 21, 2023: The Dakshina Kannada Rationalists Association observed National Scientific Temper Day on Sunday, August 20, 2023, at the KBEA Auditorium in Bejai in the city to commemorate the rationalist and social activist Dr. Narendra Dabholkar, who was assassinated on August 20, 2013. The half-day programme comprised talks and presentations by eminent physician Dr. B. Srinivas Kakkilaya and Prof. Narendra Nayak, President of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations (FIRA). Dr. K. S. Madhav Rao presided over the function.
Speaking on scientific temper in healthcare, Dr. B. Srinivas Kakkilaya observed that modern science has found a cure for a lot of dangerous diseases and epidemics like small pox and tuberculosis. "During the time of Indian independence, infant mortality was as high as 200 deaths per thousand live births. Today, due to a scientific approach, the national infant mortality rate has been reduced to 28. In Karnataka, it stands at 20, while in Dakshina Kannada district, it is 11. This is commendable progress, but at the same time, we should know that infant mortality in Ernakulam district in Kerala is just 3, which is the same as infant mortality in a developed country like the USA. People in our district should ask themselves whether this is because they are focusing on communal issues rather than on scientific living," he said.
Dr. Kakkilaya warned that today modern medicine is facing an all-round onslaught from various quarters, such as societal regression towards superstition and the growing legitimization of alternative therapies and traditional medicine with government backing. "It may be true that modern medicine is plagued by commercialization, but going to alternative therapies is not the solution. We should identify the loopholes and rectify them so that the scientific temper is not lost," he said. "Having a scientific temper means questioning everything, even your doctor."
Speaking on the recent trends in public health, Dr. Kakkilaya said that in the last two decades there has been a steep rise in modern diseases like obesity, hypertension, diabetes, fatty liver, and cardiac issues. "In olden days, when poverty was high, diabetes was considered to be the disease of the rich, but today, with the growing income level of the people, these ‘rich’ diseases have become widespread among the higher-income population. This is mainly due to an unscientific food habits and the extreme consumption of sweets and processed sugar. The best way to keep away modern diseases is to avoid sugar, junk food and sweets, eat meat, fish, eggs and vegetables; and undertake a brisk walk for 30 minutes per day," he advised.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Narendra Nayak paid rich tributes to Dr. Narendra Dabholkar, who laid down his life for the sake of propagating scientific temper. "Dr. Narendra Dabholkar was responsible for the promulgation of the Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Act in Maharashtra, and it served as a model for passing a similar law in Karnataka. When he was informed of a threat to his life, he was brave enough to refuse police protection. After his assassination, three more rationalists have been killed."
Prof. Narendra Nayak opined that critical thinking was crucial to developing scientific temper. "Most recently, the COVID pandemic exposed that an unscientific mindset continues to be widespread among the general public, and people fell easy prey to all sorts of superstition and dubious claims."
Touching upon his favourite topic of myth busting, he said, "Gone are the days of charlatans, and miracle mongers. Today, there is a new generation of more sophisticated godmen who use scientific jargon to fool the public. They are able to convince even the brilliant IIT professors and students." He went on to give a series of live demonstrations of the common methods used by such people to impress the public and gain confidence. "Most of the techniques they use are old tricks borrowed from foreign evangelists," he concluded.
In his presidential address, Dr. K. S. Madhav Rao said that adults and grownups are rigid in their thinking and unwilling to change. "Our hope for the future lies only in the children. They absorb new information like sponges. Hence, we should adopt ‘each one-teach one’ as our mission to inculcate scientific temper in the next generation," he said.
Vasudev Uchil welcomed the gathering. Dr. Krishnappa Konchady gave a vote of thanks.