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Science Journalism in India

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Science Journalism in India Science Journalism in India Manoj Patairiya ABSTRACT Man could well have originated science communication with the early discoveries, the most important being the discovery of fire and dissemination of its knowledge. In India, sage Atharvan is credited for the discovery of fire churning technology and its dissemination during ancient period. A whole host of scientific literature was created in India during ancient, Vedic, post Vedic and classical periods. Medieval period saw emergence of newer trends in science communication when commentaries on earlier scientific texts were written and structures like Jantar Mantar (observatory) were built, but these were accessible to a few elites in the society. The real shift in science communication in favour of the common man became evident in modem times when it was now possible to bring out publications in large numbers. Science journalism started in India in 1818 with the publication of monthly Digdarshan published in Hindi, Bengali and English, carrying a few articles on science and technology. Science communication proliferated in independent India. This paper discusses the trends now emerging in India given the efforts, the slackness in quality and moves to improve it, the plurality of mass media, and a sound science and technology base of the country; arrived at through an in-depth study intended at furthering the cause of science communication and scientific attitude. The study indicates that science coverage attributed to mass media is abysmally poor, i.e. around 3 percent, which is far below the desired level of 10-15 percent. The present work is an attempt to find out the extent of demand and supply of S&T coverage in various mass media and presenting an emerging scenario of science and technology journalism in the country. INTRODUCTION Science journalism is the key to the real treasure of the scientific knowledge, by virtue of which scientific knowledge and concepts could be carried to the common man. Thus the common man is benefited with the new advancements in science and technology and is able to fight against hunger, drought, diseases, and social evils, like superstitions, etc., with self-confidence, courage and faith. Being aware of this fact, science journalism in India has yet to come out of its present stage of infancy. Undoubtedly, science and technology journalism has progressively developed in India, in terms of quality and quantity, but still there are many miles to go to achieve the desired level. Science journalism, during its almost two century long journey thence has crossed several milestones. There has been a considerable progress in science journalism over the years and as a result several science magazines, feature services, programmes on radio and television, etc, emerged, despite the fact that they came into existence much later. The plight of science journalism in India may not be too deplorable at the moment, however, a good deal still remains to be done in this field. HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE During early days, there was no science communication or journalism, as such. But as we understand it today, the technology, science and communication existed from the very beginning. There had been a number of turning points during the cultural evolution of man in Indian subcontinent, from where we can mark the beginning of science communication, but it is very difficult to pin point a single incident being origin of science communication in the country. The earliest origin point of science communication can be marked, when early man had made primitive stone tools and disseminated them, some time during 1,50,000 years ago or earlier in the Shivalik region of the subcontinent. Then came the use and control of fire and dissemination of fire kindling technology. Preparation of cave sketches/ drawings was the next step. Cro- Magnon man lived in the Indian sub-continent, who prepared cave sketches, did experiments and prepared records some 40,000 years ago (Exhibition on History of Science and Technology in India, 1998, NCSTC). These can be considered as the early modes of science dissemination. Sage Atharvan did the invention of fire churning technology in India and the technology was disseminated throughout the known areas of human population just like a jungle fire. The fire churners were in great demand at that time and everybody was keen to have the information on fire churning technology. Sage Atharvan’s pupils, including families, were the resource persons for information on fire churning technology (Satyaprakash, 1967). The communication of the technology of producing fire during early days can be correlated to the beginning of the rudiments of science communication. The evolutionary trends of science communication could be worked out through the minute observation of the evolution of man and civilization. As the civilization progressed, new modes of communication emerged, which were adopted for disseminating scientific information from time to time. The early man might have communicated with each other through body language. Subsequently, oral language, phonetic and written language evolved, which were followed by well-developed Prakrat language and then various regional languages found their ways to flourish. Indus valley civilization flourished in Indian subcontinent, besides its well-developed Indus script. Agricultural communication started through public relations around 10000 years ago, when man started exchanging information about various agricultural practices, like sowing, irrigation and harvesting, etc. India has a rich tradition of communication, especially when it comes to masses. Folk arts, like Nautanki, Ramlila, folk songs and folk dances are immensely effective as the means of mass communication. India has a great tradition and a treasure of scientific heritage. During Vedic, post Vedic and classical periods, a whole host of ancient scientific literature was created, although such information was not available to the public, and was limited to most privileged class only. The medieval period has been important for the preparation of a large number of commentaries on earlier and contemporary scientific works. This can be considered a great milestone on the road to communication, as the information about most of the ancient and classical works mainly reaches us only through these commentaries. The scientific temper has always been in India, in the form of logic, reasoning and method of acquiring knowledge, throughout the cultural evolution of man. The science communication in its real term had begun with publication of a scientific journal, Asiatick Researches, quarterly from the Asiatick Society, Calcutta in 1788. Thereafter, the science communication in India has evolved in many facets. Following this, there has been a continuing development in the formation of scientific institutions and publication of scientific literature. Subsequently, scientific publications also started appearing in Indian languages by the end of eighteenth century. The publication of ancient scientific literature and textbooks at mass scale started in the beginning of nineteenth century. The scientific and technical terms, however, had been a great difficulty for a long time for popular science writing. The beginnings of science journalism in Indian languages could be traced back to the articles published in the monthly Digdarshan from Srirampur (Hooghly), West Bengal in April 1888 in Hindi, Bengali and English. These articles dealt with topics like flying in a balloon, steam boat, etc. Other newspapers also started giving scientific information. Science communication activities could not develop sufficiently during nineteenth century; however, a number of publications were brought out in different Indian languages and on various scientific subjects. The science communication was mainly limited to publication of books and scientific journals, except a few popular science articles on latest developments. In the beginning of the twentieth century, new trends emerged. Science congresses, scientific and industrial exhibitions, seminars, industrial and technological museums, public lectures, popular science magazines, etc. were few among the newer developments towards science communication. But the pace of these activities remained low and no significant effort was done to popularise science among the people and inculcate a scientific temper amongst them. The same pattern more or less continued till independence. PRESENT PERSPECTIVE After Independence, science popularization was being taken up at various levels. The Scientific Policy Resolution of March 4, 1958 has been a guiding factor for development of science and technology in the country. It was the first Prime Minister of India, Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, who gave an impetus to scientific pursuits and development of scientific outlook. The independent India witnessed a rapid growth in the efforts of science communication and popularization. With a view to integrate, coordinate, catalyse and support the efforts of science communication and science popularization in the country, the Government of India established the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) in 1982 as an apex body, which puts more concerted efforts in this direction. A number of programmes and activities have started in public and private sectors to spread scientific knowledge and scientific outlook among masses, especially in vernaculars, but science journalism in its real form could not evolve and remained an inner page affair
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