“To an observer situated on the moon or on one of the planets, the most noticeable feature on the surface of our globe would no doubt be the large areas covered by oceanic water. The sunlit face of the earth would appear to shine by the light diffused back into space from the land and water covered bodies.”
These are Nobel laureate Sir C V Raman’s words… His visualisation of our planet Earth from the moon was commendable. I have been trying to do vice versa for Years now.
When I was young, I was told that anyone who dies becomes a star. In my childhood, I used to gaze the stars whole night and try to understand how that happened. How a human being becomes a star. In my growing age I understood the myth behind this. Now, I am an astronomer. I understand the cosmic reality of our universe. Still I was gazing the sky last night to know if our beloved Nobel Laureate Sir C V Raman ji would have been looking down and blessing us.
Sounds stupid, but true. Every year we celebrate February 28 as National Science Day.
‘Science for the People and People for Science’
This is the theme for National Science day 2019. A day dedicated to remember Nobel Laureate Sir C V Raman’s contribution to the field of science, to seek inspiration from him.
C V Raman was the first non-white, Asian and Indian to receive the Nobel Prize in physics for his work on scattering of light and discovery of “Raman effect”. He also used to work on problems in the field of acoustics at the Indian association for the cultivation of science.
Raman Effect
Raman Effect is a phenomenon in which change in the wavelength of light occurs when a beam of light is deflected by molecules. When a beam of light travels from a dust free transparent sample of a chemical compound, then a small fraction of the light emerges in the direction other than that of the incident light. Most of the scattered light wavelength is unchanged and in small part if the wavelength is different from that of incident light it is due to Raman Effect.
Personality by Science
Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman was a Tamil Brahman who had worked from 1907 to 1933 at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, West Bengal. Here, he had researched various topics of physics of which one is the Raman Effect, which marked the greatest discovery in the field of science in Indian History.
Why National Science Day ?
In 1986, the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) asked the Government of India to designate 28 February as National Science Day. The government had accepted it and declared 28 February as National Science Day in 1986. The first National Science Day was celebrated on February 28, 1987.
Science and technology should be applied in daily life – that’s the message that National Science Day spreads every year. The day brings scientists and science lovers together as various programmes are organised to bring the scientific community closer. Educational institutes organise science fairs and researchers get a chance to showcase their latest discoveries.
Science and you
The world we live in, is so beautiful. Have you ever realised it. If not, try it today. Just keep your senses open. Also observe… You walk, you talk, you laugh or you do anything, science is a part of it. If I ask you to think about something that does not include science, you would keep thinking till infinity.
C V Raman believed that science must be taught in the mother tongue. Otherwise, science will become a highbrow activity. It will not be an activity in which all people can participate.
Let us inculcate scientific, rational temper in the minds of our young generation. Let our young ones imbibe the attitude to ask questions and reach new conclusions.
Sir C V Raman believed – “It is important to give young people the freedom to follow their ideas and pursue their interests.” This is what Astro-phile has been doing since its inception. So, follow your ideas and pursue your interests.