MAPS HONOURS MANIPURI SCIENTISTS TODAY

Guwahati 2 December,2008
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As much as Assam Science society- an NGO- reaching out nearly every assamese home- promotes science for decades,a modest Manipuri sci-org.MAPS-Manipur ASSOCIATION FOR PROMOTION OF SCIENCE honours at Manipur University senate hall, two Manipuri scientists- one a neurologist Dr. Motilal and another a physicist based in the USA- Dr.Suryalal for their outstanding contribution to science culture and science in their respective fields.

Earlier,MAPS had facilitated a number of Manipuri scientists, although the political media kept the news down unlike Assam Tribune and Sentinel which make headlines of their scientists and university intellectuals with reasonable pride.

The PSN journal of the MAPS, published in January,1994 discontinued publication for a long time.Some of the members could have been busy in research and some might have forgotten their own social commitments for frivolous personal reasons.In Manipur, private reasons normally subdue public reasons and the CSOs are fighting this malaise out tooth and nail.

However, the PSN volume I Number 1,January,1994 ,with 12 pieces in the contents is a pathbreaker in its own right.A few science journals published by university people survived one or two years at most with no funding problem,unlike the PSN, an ailing sci-journal survives even today like a terminal patient on death bed.Some of the members would love to justify with strong,formidable private reasons, its mortality and fatality; public would not consume such absurd reasons.

The 4-page editorial of PSN vol.I issue I had already promised to the people with strong commitments from which only diehard politicians would retract.A physics professor, a chemistry professor and aBio-chem professor had scripted the MAPS in my presence at Guwahati and, later on three four scientists joined the hard core. A few excerpts:

" We want to work for transition from from a gossiping society to a critical society, from a culture of science to a culture of enquiry".So far so good,now a dignified retreat to gossiping society? ."You cannot do pure science with an impure mind.You cannot have applied science without applying yourself first." Now, days of judgement from the public: impure mind prevails upon everything and, they have to apply the judgement to themselves before teaching others to do so.

"From the experiences recorded through practical interactions with the situation in this region,MAPS wishes to contribute to the reshaping of the "Science Policy" in Manipur...".This being a difficult job, the public holds up from passing any quick judgement whatever.

Manipuris hailing from half the size of aUP district lead the world in culture, a few disciplines in sports, HIV/AIDS, prolonged insurgency, ethnic unrest and extrajudicial executions, which even the CNN and BBC fail to report for decades, because of the western values that consider third world lives as just animal lives.If jew or a Briton is done to death,BBC shouts for 24 hours a day.Discrimination by the ex colonisers.

Manipur scientists all over the world owe humanity a lot, and they have to record their breakthroughs.A couple of them had already made their mark in genetics which NATURE reported often, theoretical physics,so on.One or two Nobel laureates may suddenly emerge from cool darkness .

In Manipur, a science culture is yet to be built up; the insurgents may and should not interefere to the scientists and intellectuals who are busy for 24 hours a day, without doing justice to even their family, and loved ones and private concern.Cast- outs, flomboyants and glossy mongers would be aplenty even in Africa,let alone Manipur or,Assam.Yet there are a few hard workers.Their number may be very small,yet the figure would rise.MAPS and PSN could continue rendering better,substantial service to the nation and the nations around.Congratulation to the MAPS revival after a long slumber like uncle RIP Van Winkle.When you woke up, the world had changed.