Scientific Magnanimity
His Excellency Bharat Ratna Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam wrote, “I would like to narrate an incident which took place during a function conferring Nobel Laureate Professor Norman E Borlaug, a well-known agricultural scientist and a partner in India’s first Green Revolution, with Dr. M. S. Swaminathan Award, at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on March 15, 2005. Prof. Borlaug, at the age of 91, was in the midst of all the praise showered on him from everybody gathered there.
When his turn came, he got up and highlighted India’s advancement in the agricultural science and production and said that the political visionary Sri C. Subramaniam and Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, pioneer in agricultural science were the prime architects of first Green Revolution in India. Prof. Norman Borlaug was himself a partner and noteworthy figure in the first Green Revolution, but he did not make a point on this. He recalled with pride, Dr. V. Kurien who ushered White Revolution in India. Then the surprise came. He turned to scientists sitting in the third row, fifth row and eighth row of the audience. He identified Dr. Raja Ram, a wheat specialist, Dr. S. K. Vasal, a maize specialist, Dr. B. R. Barwale, a seed specialist. He said all these scientists have contributed to India’s and Asia’ agricultural science. Prof. Borlaug introduced them to the audience by asking them to stand and ensured that the audience greeted the scientists with great enthusiasm. This action of Prof. Norman Borlaug, I call it as ‘Scientific Magnanimity’.
Friends, if we aspire to achieve great things in life, we need Scientific Magnanimity to focus the young achievers. It is my experience that great mind and great heart go together. This Scientific Magnanimity will motivate the scientific community to soar to new heights and nurture team spirit.”
--- submitted by Subrato Ghosh
A Sad Story in Northern Hill Streams Subrato Ghosh makes out a poem in fifteen lines to narrate his concern towards the loss of biodiversity due to introduction of exotic species. The exotic common carp, Cyprinus carpio var communis, introduced in the Northern hill streams of India has now established its dominancy over the endemic and indigeous snow trout due to its more vigour and aggressiveness. A guest turned to an enemy.
“I welcome you my dear neighbour
Please do us a small favour:
Though place to live is quite vast
Here the food is very little
If you lessen your hunger a bit
Peacefully all of us can settle”.
Neighbours grasp all food and space
Word of request goes in vain
Native members started perishing
King prays to Lord in pain:
“Why are you ruining my dynasty
Have I commited any sin?”
Lord felt pity and replied:
“Neighbours have made you thin and lean
But it is humans who have brought them in”. | Friendship
Friendship is the one of the greatest blessings of god given to man. True friend is a pride and glory to us. The bond of friendship exists between two persons on mutual admiration and sympathy. A true friend will cling to us till the last. There is a important saying "A FRIEND IS NEED IN A FRIEND INDEED" True friendship is divine. It calls for an attitude of selfless interest and sacrifice. Everybody in the world has friends but all don't have true friends. A true friend is indeed one who stands by us in the time of both prosperity and adversity. It is possible to make friends with people in distant lands whom we may not see at all. Simple minded are dulious people often fall easy victims to their pretended friendship and suffer lot in life. So almost care is necessary while selecting friends. It has been said that a man is known by the company he keeps. If he is constantly seen with men who are considered frivolous and idle, others will look upon him as frivolous and idle. Similarly if he is continually in the society of evil companions, he is supposed to easily succumb to their evil influences. We should aim at making friends with the best possible men. The present times people are awafully selfish and self-centered. We should be cautious about such false friends and exercise great care to select friends who will be an asset to us and to the society we live in.
---submitted by Akaanshya Nayak
A noble deed
Sir Philip Sidney is one of the most illustrious figure in English and Irish history. As a distinguished hero, he is paid tribute and fondly remembered by administrative authorities and common people. Queen Elizabeth often used to say that Sir Sidney is a precious jewel. Besides being a great warrior, Sir Sidney was a tourist, singer, poet and an erudite person. People still pay reverence to this multi-faceted personality for a noble deed, which Sir Sidney performed just before leaving the world.
Sir Sidney died during the battle (The Swetfen war) between English and French armies. During the initial stage of the battle, his horse died; he fell on the ground and got injured. With a strong zeal, he got up and moved into the centre of the battlefield with another horse. After sometime, this horse also died. But Sir Sidney’s spirit and enthusiasm did not ended; he managed to collect a third horse, rode on it and continued fighting. During the course of the battle, a bullet fired by opponent armies struck him on the chest. Sir Sidney got unconscious, laid over his horse and the horse ran back to the English camp. English troops hopefully arranged medical care to save Sir Sidney but the physician opined: ‘Sir Sidney will not remain for long’.
Sir Sidney’s condition started getting from bad to worse. In the midst of great pain, fatigue and sickness, he got thirsty. He cried for drinking water and requested for favour. But drinking water was not readily available in that battlefield. English troops went on searching for it and after quite sometime, drinking water could be provided to Sir Sidney in a water-pot. Sir Sidney was about to drink, suddenly he noticed by his side that an injured soldier was being carried by his companions and the soldier was so earnestly looking at that water-pot as if drinking water may give back life to him. Sir Sidney felt that the soldier may save himself if he gets some water to drink. Sir Sidney had pity; he quickly handed over the pot to that soldier and said: ‘Your need for water is greater than mine’. Within a few minutes of this incident, Sir Sidney died. Owing to his valour and versatileness, Sir Sidney had been recognised as a great hero during all his lifetime and even at the moment of his death, by performing this heroic and noble deed, Sir Sidney showed to the world what a great mind and heart he had.
--- submitted by Subrato Ghosh |
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