Even after 74 years of independence, both leaders and citizens exhibit utter lack of critical thinking and society continues to be in the grip of superstitions and belief thinking. And, of late mythology and science have been concocted to strengthen belief thinking.
Two recent suicides by bright adolescent girl students with 'advice notes' to the leaders and parents testify, the suicides were attempted as a rejection the insensitive, intolerant and irrational society which is being built through brute control and conditioning.
It is also time for well-meaning people to think of the ways to bring children out the society which is rotting. Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Samiti, Rajasthan, has organized an e-discussion on the topic "Social Change with Scientific Temper" to observe National Scientific Temper Day and remember the founder of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti or Maharashtra Blind faith Eradication Committee, Dabholkar worked tirelessly to attempt to spread a scientific temper and the ideas of rationalism.
It may be recalled that Dabholkar was assassinated on August 20, 2013, by the fanatics and assailants who are still scot-free. However, to carry his ideas of rationality and scientific attitude forward, the All India Peoples Science Network was formed and August 20 was instituted as the National Scientific Temper Day. Dabholkar always stood for the precept of 'testing and verification are must before accepting anything.'
ABCs of scientific temper
A: Ability of applying rational inquiry and reasoning in everyday life
B: Backing right to question and opposing obscurantist and aggressive anti-science forces
C: Contradicting pseudo-scientific and mythology-science concocted claims
D: Deeming fostering and nurturing of scientific temper as constitutionally valid way of democratizing and reforming society as well as social institutions like education system
E: 'Everything is subject to inquiry, examination and verification' should be motto for development
Unfortunately, pseudo-scientific claims in, both the sciences and social sciences, are being officially endorsed currently. Many activists and reformists deeply feel that a climate of intimidation is being built as an attempt to suppress a scientific and critical thinking in our educational and social institutions.
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