Page 84 - Scientech 2014-15

Dr. Manoj Kumar Patairiya
Asst. Director General
Prasar Bharati India
Science communication in India:

An assessment and status

ABSTRACT The paper emphasizes on the pioneering and
The paper presents a critical study of science landmark developments in various aspects of
communication through diverse cultures and emergence of modern science communication
civilizations in pre and post independent India. India is in India as well. The paper discusses the very
known for her early scientific wisdom and a treasure of relevance of and need of science communication
scientific heritage. Several sages and scholars had been in India by pointing out the policy measures of the
working on medicinal, mathematical, astronomical, Government of India for the promotion of scientific
agricultural, psychological, physical and chemical temper and science communication. Subsequently
sciences in Indian subcontinent. Probably, they had having spelled out the various means and modes
composed books or volumes in their respective fields of science communications, the paper summarizes
based on their own self-earned experiences. They the role of various individuals and organizations in
have used various means of communication, like oral the context of the growth of science and technology
communication, Guru-Shishya-Parampara (teacher- communications in India.
pupil tradition of learning), and dissemination of
information by interacting people. Thus, for a long Keywords: Science Communication, Modes,
time, the tradition of oral communication continued, Networks, Scientific Temper, Science Popularization.
in addition to scientific books written by such
knowledge creators. Then the modern science and INTRODUCTION
technology communication emerged. Publication India has a rich tradition of communication,
of scientific books is believed to have started in especially when it comes to communicating to
1800 AD at Shreerampur Mission Press in English, masses. Folk plays, like Nautanki, and religious
Bengali and Hindi languages. Later, other media of plays like Ramlila, folk songs and folk dances
communication, such as print, folk and interactive are immensely effective as the means of mass
have also come into use for science communication. communication. Ramlila is one of the oldest of folk
The historical perspective of science communication arts, possibly, which has communicated to millions
has remained almost untouched by most of the of people over generations, the code of conduct
researchers, except a serious attempt on the history of and ideals of social life. More recently, Mahatma
scientific terminologies by Sharma (1964) and a little Gandhi was possibly the greatest communicator of
work on history of agricultural journalism by Parasar all times, who aroused people of India to participate
(1980), in addition to a few individual research papers in the freedom struggle with their might against the
and review articles. The author of this paper worked mightiest empire the world had ever seen, and all
thoroughly on the ‘Origin and evolution of science this was through his extraordinary communication
communication in India’ with comparative account skills, which was so natural to him.
in other parts of the world, and has published a
book ‘Hindi Vigyan Patrakarita’ (Hindi Science ‘... Every cultural pattern and every single act of
Journalism) in 1990. This is considered as the first social behaviors involve communication, in either an
book on science communication in India, translated explicit or implicit sense’. Sappier
in different Indian languages, and has paved and
shaped the way for further research and academics The might of mass communication, can be
in science communication in contemporary India. underlined as the root cause of any social change,
let alone development. This speaks volumes on

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