more-in People holding constitutional posts in the country are taking the lead in questioning scientific facts, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said. He was speaking after inaugurating the valedictory function of ‘Kerala Rally for Science’ initiative and Scientific Temper Week, here on Tuesday. Mr. Vijayan said the term scientific temper was coined by the late Jawaharlal Nehru, whose birth anniversary falls on November 14. “Development of scientific temper and its propagation are the goals mentioned in the Constitution. But, of late some people holding constitutional posts have been seen deliberately questioning scientific facts,” he said. In December 2014, a responsible person holding a constitutional post in the country claimed that the myth of Ganesha was an example of the prevalence of plastic surgery in ancient India. Another person took the example of the pushpaka vimana story in Ramayana to drive home the point that the discovery of aircraft had happened in India much before the Wright brothers invented it. “There is a tendency to present baseless things as scientific facts to serve some vested interests. At the Science Congress held in Pune, there was an effort to portray mythological stories as scientific facts.” Scientific research Mr. Vijayan alleged that at a time when the funds for scientific research were getting cut on flimsy grounds, the authorities were seen encouraging research into mrita sanjeevani. The Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru had been asked to hold a discussion on the advantages of astrology. “The other day, somebody was seen claiming that the kavacha kundala of Karna in Mahabharata was an example of advanced stent technology in ancient India. We need to counter such illogical arguments with rational acts,” said the Chief Minister. Mr. Vijayan also criticised the growing tendency among Malayalis to fall prey to superstition and blind beliefs. “At a time when the most modern medical treatments are available here, it is ironical to see our progressive Kerala society opting for black magic and such surreptitious practices. Women and children are mostly affected by it. The recent death of a women after black magic was performed on her is an example.” The Chief Minister also took a dig at anti-vaccine campaigners, saying diseases would not be cured by prayers. Earlier, students, teachers, scientists, researchers and others took out a rally carrying placards and banners upholding the need for a scientific consciousness among the masses.

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