Swarnakumari Devi: the 34 Woman Who Led the Scientific Reawakening of India
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R.N. 70269/98 Postal Registration No.: DL-SW-1/4082/15-17 ISSN : 0972-169X Date of posting: 26-27 of advance month Date of publication: 24 of advance month November 2017 Vol. 20 No. 2 Rs. 5.00 Nobel Prizes Nobel Prize in Science 2017 in Science 2017 Editorial: Some priorities for 35 science communication management in India Swarnakumari Devi: The 34 woman who led the scientific reawakening of India Karl Schwarzschild and 31 his last gift Nobel prizes in science 2017 29 Dead zones: An increasing concern 27 Irritable bowel syndrome — 24 Causes, triggers, red flags and more Recent developments 21 in science and technology 36 Dream 2047, November 2017, Vol. 20 No. 2 36 EDITORIAL Some priorities for science communication management in India Dr. R. Gopichandran A compendium of good is conspicuous by its absence. communication has always been an practices in science communication The role of communication integral aspect of citizen engagement must be developed at the earliest. barriers in translating the intents in India. The fourth element with This is to bring to light the good of communication into benefits crosscutting relevance that will work that is happening, especially at and integrated information, decide the success of communication the grassroots level with implications education, and communication strategies, i.e., about the interplay for changes in the quality of life. This strategies to overcome them will of regulations, market mechanisms implies communication regarding be essential component of the and institutional mechanisms that natural resources management, proposed theorisation framework. brings stakeholders together. The energy, health and sanitation, Most importantly, the agenda impacts of science communication crop protection and eco-system- behind communication has to be cannot be interpreted in isolation. specific bio-resources management interpreted to establish that there We might end up trivialising in particular. I have deliberately was no ulterior with respect to an science communication if these chosen the entry point as reflected idea/philosophy and therefore, the three parameters are not taken into in the topics stated above. Science centrality of transparency within the account. My final call is about the communication in this context communication framework. urgent need to not trivialise science means understanding the feasibility Collection of audio-visual, communication. It is probably the of using alternatives and enabling print and other knowledge products most robust unifying platform for the implementation of measures for developed by communicators knowledge centered engagement timely delivery of solutions; through will help understand the richness with citizens. robust knowledge management of such interventions. The three practices. priorities stated have to be addressed Theorisation of science simultaneously. The larger objective Email: r.gopichandran@vigyanprasar. gov.in n communication practices in India is to demonstrate the fact that science Editor : R Gopichandran Vigyan Prasar is not responsible for the statements/opinions expressed and photographs used by the authors in their articles/write-ups published in Associate editor : Rintu Nath “Dream 2047” Production : Manish Mohan Gore and Pradeep Kumar Articles, excerpts from articles published in “Dream 2047” may be freely Expert member : Biman Basu reproduced with due acknowledgement/credit, provided periodicals in Address for Vigyan Prasar, C-24, which they are reproduced are distributed free. correspondence : Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi-110 016 Published and Printed by Manish Mohan Gore on behalf of Vigyan Tel : 011-26967532; Fax : 0120-2404437 Prasar, C-24, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi - 110 016 and Printed e-mail : [email protected] at Aravali Printers & Publishers Pvt. Ltd., W-30, Okhla Industrial Area, website : http://www.vigyanprasar.gov.in Phase-II, New Delhi-110 020 Phone: 011-26388830-32. 35 Dream 2047, November 2017, Vol. 20 No. 2 HISTORY OF SCIENCE Swarnakumari Devi: The woman who led the scientific reawakening of India Dr Rakesh Kumar Dubey In the annals of Indian society’s Swarnakumari Devi scientific reawakening, Swarnakumari Devi is a name written in golden letters. She was was the first Indian the first Indian woman to write effusively on subjects related to science. This was woman to write effusively in addition to Swarnakumari’s prowess as a prolific writer on social, political and on subjects related to cultural themes. She chose Bangla as the science. A perusal of language of her expression. This made her writings accessible to the common folks in her work makes it clear Bengal under the British Raj, including a large number of women. Swarnakumari that Swarnakumari not managed to usher in a new movement introducing masses to science, a significant only enriched common feat considering the odd circumstances of literature, but also the that era. The process of revitalisation of the Swarnakumari Devi scientific intelligentsia Indian society began from Bengal. The Renaissance originated in 14th century Swarnakumari Devi was born on 28 of her time. She was Europe, but it culminated in the land August 1855. She was the fourth amongst of Banga in 19th century India. The the daughters of Debendranath Tagore instrumental in bringing Bengali intelligentsia took up this baton (1817-1905) and Sharda Devi. Schools were the wonders of science to of knowledge and brought the cresset of still a taboo for girls in those days. However, modern scientific thought for the first time Debendranath Tagore appointed teachers at the masses, in a language to the sub-continent. The Bengalis had home. Swarnakumari learnt the polemics begun to take the lead in this respect from of Sanskrit, English, literature, painting, that they could relate to. the early 19th century. This part of India music, science, religion, political science had already taken early leads in religious and and academics. She made up for the lack Swarnakumari continues social reforms. Bengali was being enriched. of degrees through self-study and diligence. to hold her place as one Along with the idea of nationalism, scientific In 1868, Swarnakumari Devi was temper was also gaining ground. Among the married to Janakinath Ghoshal, a well- of the foremost reformers leading lights of this ushering change was educated landlord of Nadia district. The Swarnakumari Devi. Lack of high education couple had two daughters and a son. Sarala of the reawakening and formal training never stood in her way. Devi Chaudhurani, one of Swarnakumari’s Hard work and perseverance make her a daughters, matched her fame as author and period of India. distinguished leader of her era. editor. Janakinath Ghoshal was among the Dr. Rakesh Kumar Dubey is Post-Doctoral Fellow, UGC, Department Of History, Benares Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi.Correspondence Address: H.No-168, Nehia, Varanasi, UP, India-221202. Dream 2047, November 2017, Vol. 20 No. 2 34 magazine was in some ways a family venture. Jyotirindranath Tagore started it in 1877. Dwijendranath Tagore edited the magazine for first seven years. It was the ace journal of its time in Bangla literary world. In 1884, Swarnakumari Devi took charge as Bharati’s editor. For the next 11 years, the magazine reached new heights and her efforts played a key part in this journey. The daughter Sarala Devi Chaudhurani took the responsibility in 1895 and carried forward the good work for the next 12 years. Thereafter, the job was back to Swarnakumari for eight years. Besides regular writings of Swarnakumari, the magazine boasted of contributions from many leading female Kadambini Ganguly contemporary intellectuals in Bengali arena Debendranath Tagore founders of the Indian National Congress. including Girindra Mohini, Sharat Kumari She joined the party in 1890 and took active Chaudhurani and Anurupa Devi. most women, Swarnakumari’s intellectual participation in its sixth session held under Swarnakumari Devi was as good a prowess and grasp over scientific topics were the presidentship of Pherozeshah Mehta. It poet, novelist and social activist as a beacon unrivalled. was the first conglomerate of the nascent of scientific ideas in the country. Her first Swarnakumari Devi was among the party that was marked by women’s presence. essay on popular science, ‘Bhugarbha’, was earliest proponents of the movement to Kadambini Ganguly (18 July 1861-3 serially published in four installments in bring scientific knowledge to the masses October 1923), India’s first female graduate Bharati (1880). After taking over the reins of in their own language. Several other and physician, addressed this conference. the magazine in 1884, she gave prominence Bengali journals of her time shared the Swarnakumari’s scientific aptitude to articles related to science as part of her same purpose. Most notable of them were was a family legacy. Debendranath Tagore editorial policy. It was to introduce such Kaumudi (1860), Vigyan Rahasya (1871), was an ardent supporter of Western rational women to the world of science who could Vigyan Vikas (1873), Vigyan Darpan (1876), values. He had announced an annual grant not understand English. Swarnakumari Sachitra Vigyan Darpan (1882), and Chikitsa of Rs. 1,000 to promote higher education wrote 17 scientific essays inBharati from Darshan (1887). Scientific research was in Bengal. Four Indian medical students 1880-1889. In addition, she penned similar still an alien concept during this period in were sent to England for higher education