Shed ego, experiment with thoughts, scientist tells students

The foremost factor is the egoistic claims made by Indians to have owned the discoveries and technologies that are taking place across the globe, opined senior computer technology scientist Prof K P Rao.

Speaking after inaugurating the science conference jointly organised by Karnataka State Vijnana Parishath, Udupi district, in association with Public Instruction Department, Udupi district and Manipal Junior College, here on Tuesday, he said Indians always believe that India is the root cause for most of the novel scientific innovations that are taking place in the world. The very truth is that India has no substantive scientific knowledge and whatever assertions made by Indians so far are baseless.

Indian mathematics is not the real maths. “The self centered attitude of Indians is creating barriers to learn something new from others,” he added.

Unless any human being imbibes the thirst to acquire the scientific temper, it is impossible for him and also for his country to progress. Secondly, Indians have surrendered themselves for the concept of God and supernatural powers. This once again has proved costly in terms of acquiring some innovative scientific power.

“We tend to believe that everything is cured and solved by God,” he added.
Finally, the sentiment attached to the mother tongue has made people here not to accept concepts and ideologies from outside. This has paralyzed the development of science in India, he opined.

Stating that these days one does not find the urge among students to question themselves as well as to others, Prof Rao said children should come up with questions to gain knowledge.

Without doubts there cannot be any questions and without questions one cannot acquire additional knowledge. Students should shed the ego of knowing everything. Besides, they should experiment with thought experiment that needs no equipment and no investment.

They should create problems within their mind and try finding solutions for the same. This helps them to come out with something innovative thoughts. He said nowadays the educational atmosphere supports the idea of learning more unlike earlier days. Teachers should go beyond syllabus, he added.

As many as 10 teams will be chosen in the conference to take part in the state-level science conference to be held from November 25 to 27 at Gulburga University. The national-level science conference is being held from December 27 to