Message of National Scientific Temper Day: Encourage Questioning to Improve and Move Forward

In India, the National Scientific Temper Day is observed August 20 since 2018 to mark the death anniversary of Dr. Narendra Dabholkar, a rationalist who fought against blind faith and superstition. However, it is very subdued event and certain specific groups such as the All India People's Science Network use this day to promote critical thinking, logic, and evidence-based inquiry.

The core message is encourage asking "Why?" and "how" using reason in daily life. Indirectly, the current movements spearheaded by Gen Alpha and Gen Z are questioning the system be rational and and accountable since the life precept of 'scientific temper' has a lnk with the Indian Constitution Constitution that connects to Article 51A(h) which asks citizens to develop a scientific temper. This constitutional provision provides a vision for the education system to provide education to children that makes them rational thinkers with scientific temperament.

It is the constitutional duty of education system and the leaders to see to it that scientific temper is fostered and supported in the educational institutions. Meaningful educators and leaders deem scientific temper as a way of life that uses logic, reason, and evidence-based thinking to take decisions and act. It encourages constant questioning, careful observation, and open-minded analysis instead unanalytical thinking, bull-dodging, blind following, conditioning or superstition. This mindset helps people test ideas and accept proven facts to protect democratic setup.

The formula for scientific temper could be as follows.

• Scientific Temper = Curiosity + Logic + Solution

• Mindset = Why + How + Way Forward

The common formula for rationality is "3 Ws" which works as the main dialogic communication

The "3 Ws" as part life and learning framework to inculcate scientific temper are as follows

• First W: What (the core idea or task)

• Second W: Why (the purpose or importance)

• Third W: When/How (the timeline / roadmap or application)

Thus,Building a scientific temperament as constitutional mandate for education and the governing system requires replacing blind memorisation with active exploration and reasoning. So, encourage questioning and never dismiss anyone's "why," "how" or "when" queries to progress ethically and fairly' Unfortunately, the STEM education framework in our country was meant to promote scientific temper, but the new curricula are being taught conventionally in which rote learning dominates and some innovations tried by some groups and individuals are not being mainstreamed because of lack of system accountability.