National Science Day Celebrations at Sangam University Bhilwara Rajasthan
In the words of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore "In Science, we go through the discipline of eliminating the personal limitations of our minds and thus reach the comprehension of truth which is in the minds of the universal man."
- (1888PressRelease) March 01, 2013 - To popularize the benefits of scientific knowledge, every year 28th February is celebrated all over India as National Science Day - NSD to mark the discovery of Nobel Prize winning Raman Effect by the great Indian Physicist Sir C. V. Raman in 1928 on same day. Raman Effect is a phenomenon in spectroscopy discovered by the eminent physicist while working in the laboratory of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of science - IACS, Kolkata. It's indeed a matter of Pride that Chandrasekara Venkata Raman popularly known as CV Raman was the first Asian and non white and Indian to win the coveted Nobel Prize.
Sangam University Bhilwara has established a rich tradition of celebrating various events of national and international significance. The National Science Day celebrations started with Prof JPN Ojah and Prof NK Mathur offering floral tributes to Sir CV Raman. Dr Rajiv Mehta highlighting the Raman Effect gave an overview of the biography of Sir C V Raman. Dr Rakhi Goel with her talk laced with poetry on Serendipity in Science enlightened the audience on accidental but path breaking discoveries.
While the present world population is about seven billion, it is expected to grow to nine billion by 2050. Despite the severe drought in USA and Australia where wheat production is anticipated to fall by 40%, as per the recent US Department of Agriculture - USDA, the world still had harvested 2239.4 million metric tonnes, enough to feed 13 billion people at one pound per day which means that food being globally produced today can feed roughly twice the existing population. Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development - IAASTD, against the average requirement of about 2,400 calories per capita, what is presently available is 4,600 calories thus implying that there is no crisis on food production front. Prof BR Natarajan President Sangam University shared the above details in his key note address on "Genetically Modified Crops and Food Security" which is the theme for 2013 National Science Day celebrations.
Prof Natarajan's talk covered various issues ranging from Insect / Virus Resistance and Herbicidal tolerance features of GM food; assessment criteria involving allergenicity, gene transfer and outcrossing; Codex; Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety - CPB; statistics on Global Biotech / GM Crop Plantings Increasing 100-fold from 1996 along with highlights from the recent report released by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications - ISAAA; Bt Cotton cultivation in India; opposing views by Green Peace; and clarion call for Green Revolution 2.0 by Dr Prabhu Pingali Deputy Director, Agriculture Development at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation who had been Past Director, Agricultural and Development Economics Division at FAO.
The highlight of the celebrations included a thought provoking message from Mr Naveen MV, Managing Director, First Agro Mysore which has done pioneering work in producing fresh fruits and vegetables of the best possible quality which went as "Congratulations to Sangam University for the National Science Day Proceedings. Food Security is vital for the development of India and sustainable agriculture focus is critical to ensure that. We at First Agro are major proponent of Zero Pesticide and non GMO cultivation using modern horticulture practices to help India significantly improve the food safety. We look forward to work with Sangam University and propagate the benefits of food safety and security for a better future for coming generations."
Dr Preeti Mehta anchored the proceedings and Prof JPN Ojah proposed vote of thanks. While GM crops have a claim to increase yields, it emerges that the problem in India has more to do with access and distribution and not production. It is for sure that Biotech crops are important but are not a panacea and adherence to good farming practices, such as rotations and resistance management, are a must for biotech crops as they are for conventional crops.
About Sangam University Bhilwara: The Institution supported by Sangam Group of Industries which is one among the top ranking corporates in India today with business interests spanning textiles, steel, infrastructure, power and energy has been established by Govt. of Rajasthan Act No. 14 of 2012 incorporated u/s 2(f) of UGC Act 1956.
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