Indian Science Congress was an initiation of two British chemists named Professor The
J. L. Simonsen and Professor P. S. MacMahon. They thought that scientific research in
India can be conducted with the help of British Association for the Advancement of
Science. Its main objective is to promote and advance the cause of science in India.
The first meeting of Indian Science Congress was conducted on January 15-17, 1914 at
Asiatic Society, Calcutta and Honourable Justice Sir Asutosh Mukherjee the then Vice-
Chancellor of the Calcutta University as the President. It was attended by 105 scientists
from different parts of the India and world with 35 papers discussing under six sections
namely Botany, Zoology, Chemistry, Physics, Ethnography, Geology under their
sectional Presidents.
On March 16, 2018 the 105 th Indian Science Congress at Manipur University was
inaugurated by Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi which was attended by
more than 3-4 Nobel laureates, many science and engineering colleges, Ministers
promoting Science and Technology (DST, DBT, CSIR, UGC, ICAR etc) represented by
Minister, Secretary, Advisor. It was also attended by many national science academies
of the world (USA, UK, Germany, South Korea etc). It showcased bilateral programs on
science and technology such as Indo-US, Indo-German, Indo-Israel, Indo-Australia etc
and industry partnership promoting Institute-industry collaboration (Medical devices,
Biotech Industries, Mining, IT, Chemical). The event focused on the theme: Reaching
the unreached through science and technology.
Despite the progress, ISCA has lot of issues within it. One of them is that sections of the
scientific community felt that low quality and pseudo-science was being discussed at the
events. Some of them felt that its strengths are being diluted because of the entry of the
government into the affairs. According to the Indian-origin Nobel Laureate Venkatraman
Ramakrishnan, he felt that the event is being held as big jamboree and mela rather than
any useful science.
The next problem is that the India International Science Festival was held from the last
few years which is almost the same as the Indian Science Congress which has
unspoken support from the Centre. Some scientists felt that there are many chances for
the support of IIFS at the cost of ISC. They felt that if any problems arise with the ISC
substitution cannot be a solution rather it should be restructured. And corruption even
has become a big problem to the Indian Science in the recent days.
The third problem is that why the Indian Science Congress has been deferred. The ISC
was to be held at Hyderabad, Osmania University on January 3, 2018 but it was then
shifted to Manipur. It was not taken that serious by the Telangana Chief Minister when
compared to the World Telugu Conference and GES Summit 2017. At the central level
Prime Minister was already preoccupied with Winter session of the parliament and the
INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS
upcoming Gujarat elections. But sections of the scientific community felt that it was not
conducive to the Prime Minister, the Telangana Chief Minister and Nobel Laureates
taking part and also that the Telangana Chief Minister’s hatred towards OU because it
has been his political rival.
In my view apart from these issues, the annual meetings of INSA should be made more
often so that issues related can be discussed and changes if required can be made. As
the digital space dominating there is an urgent need to take steps in restructuring the
ISC and a need to elect their President so that they can be able to discuss the aspects
needed to be restructured so that the event become meaningful. As RA Mashelkar, a
noted scientist stated: “It’s time to relook at the relevance of the Science Congress now
and in future. The way Science is done, communicated and practiced has dramatically
changed”. The ICSA need to be more transparent so that corruption can be ended and
much progress can be achieved.