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Report of India March for Science – August 9, 2019
Report of India March for Science – August 9, 2019
This year, the global March for Science took place on May 4, 2019. However in India due to the general elections, we could participate only in a limited way on that day. Hence the Indian science community called for the INDIA MARCH FOR SCIENCE on August 9, 2019, with the following demands:
1. Stop propagation of unscientific ideas, and develop scientific temper, human values, and spirit of inquiry in conformity with Article 51A of the Constitution.
2. Allocate at least 10% of the Central Budget and 30% of the State Budgets to Education.
3. Ensure that at least 3% of the country's GDP is used to support scientific and technological research.
4. Ensure that the education system does not impart ideas that are not based on or contradict scientific evidence.
5. Ensure that public policies are enacted based on scientific evidence.
The March took place in nearly 60 cities and towns across India. Nearly 10,000 people participated in the marches across the country. In the run-up to the March Indian students and researchers studying abroad, organized solidarity demonstrations in nearly 65 places across 23 countries. More than 350 research scholars participated in these programs.
Solidarity from Indian Students Abroad
Solidarity from Indian Students Abroad
Indian students and researchers studying abroad organized solidarity demonstrations in nearly 65 places across 23 countries. More than 350 research scholars participated in these programs. The list of the countries (city/place) follows.
Australia (Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Uni Queensland), Belgium (Brussels), Brazil (Santa Maria), Canada (Alberta, Montreal, Waterloo), Denmark (Copenhagen), Finland (Aalto), France (Paris), Germany (Achen, Berlin, Dresden, Jena, Munich, Potsdam, Rostock, Siegen, Stuttgart, Ulm), Hungary (Szeged), Israel (Ariel Uni, Bar Ilan Uni, Ben Gurian Uni, Haifa, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv), Italy (Cagliari, Trieste), Japan (Tokyo, Yokosuka),
Netherlands (Nijmegen), Norway (Trondheim), Poland (Warsaw), Shanghai (Fudan Uni), South Korea (Seoul), Spain (Barcelona, Tarragona, Valencia), Sweden (Gothenburg),Switzerland (Basel), Taiwan (Hsinchu, Kaohsiung, Taipei), UK (Durham, Egham, London, Sheffield), USA (Arizona State University, Buffalo, Bloomington, Iowa State University, University of California-Irvine, John Hopkins University, University of Rochester, San Diego, Tallahassee, Texas A&M University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Pittsburgh, Yale University, University of California Berkeley, University North Carolina).
March for Science in Indian cities
March for Science in Indian cities
For a detailed city-wise science march, see http://www.breakthrough-india.org/imfs2019/
New Delhi
The March organised by the India March for Science Delhi Organizing Committee began from Vishwavidyalaya Metro Station and culminated at Arts Faculty Gate, North Campus, Delhi University via different colleges. Nearly 400 people including scientists, teachers, scholars and students of different institutions participated. Prof Soumitro Banerjee, IISER, Kolkata; Dr Amitabha Basu, former Principal Scientist, National Physical Laboratory; Dr Gargiya, Jansastha Aviyan and Dr Vinay Kumar, Coordinator of IMFS Delhi Organising Committee addressed the gathering.
Mumbai
On 9th August 2019, Mumbai academia decided to march along with other cities and towns around the country. About 250 marchers assembled at D G Ruparel College and proceeded to Shivaji Park at Dadar. Participants of the march were across the spectrum. Scientists from HBCSE, faculty of CEBS, Mumbai University, Sophia College, PhD scholars from TIFR, IIT Bombay, TISS, students from Ruia College, ICT joined the march. School students from Navmirmiti, Asha education trust also joined.
Kolkata
On 9th August at 3.30 pm the Calcutta University Rajabazar Campus was full of scientists, professors, research scholars and science - loving people to join the India March for Science at the call of the Kolkata Organising Committee. Prof Amitava Dutta, Chairman Advisory Committee briefed the gathering about the aims and objective of the India March for Science. Prof Nilesh Maiti read out the solidarity message from the Global March for Science. Mr Chandan Santra read out the memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister of India. At the end of the meeting, renowned scientist of TIFR Prof Prabir Roy flagged off the rally and the marchers proceeded towards Esplanade.
Chennai
The March began at 5 pm from the North end of Elliot's beach, Besant Nagar. The March was flagged off by Prof Ramu Manivannan (Madras University). The rally proceeded to the South end before it turned back to the central point at the beach where a meeting was held. Prof Ramanujam (IMSc), Prof V Sunder (IMSc), Dr Suresh Govindarajan (IIT-M), Mr Ilango Subramanian (Newton Science Club), Malarvathi (TNSF), Prof. Gandhi Raj (Vivekananda college), Prof Joseph Prabagar (Loyola college) and Dr Uma Ramachandran (Convener, IMFS Chennai Organising Committee) addressed the gathering.
Hyderbad
The IMFS Organising committee of Hyderabad organized a huge rally and a seminar. The March began from Basheerbagh and moved via Liberty cross roads and culminated at the Press club Hall. The IMFS Hyderabad Convener Dr.K.Babu Rao flagged off the March. At the end of the March, a meeting was held at the Press club Hall. Prof Purushotham Reddy (Renowned Environmentalist, Retd. Professor Osmania University), was the chief guest. Jana Vignana Vedika state secretary Mr.R.Varaprasad and O.Y.S.T.E.R State president Mr. Rakesh also spoke.
Bengaluru
The March was flagged off at 10 am by Prof V Shivram (Registrar, Bengaluru Central University) from Banappa Park. At the culmination of the march Prof. S Japhet (VC, Bengaluru Central University) inaugurated a Convention at the Senate Hall. A panel discussion on water crisis in Bengaluru followed. The panelists were Prof T.V.Ramachandra (Energy and Wetlands Research group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, IISc), Prof Bhakti Devi (Visiting Professor, Bengaluru Central University) and Shri Vishwanath S (Water Conservation Expert). Shri Anil Jagalur moderated the discussion.
Chandigarh
In Chandigarh, the March was organized by the March for Science, Chandigarh chapter. Researchers and students from IISER Mohali, Punjub University and NIPER participated in a silent march in Sector-17 Market Plaza, Chandigarh at 6 pm. Nishat Fiza a Ph.D student of IISER Mohali and convener spoke about the objectives of the March. Other speakers were Aman from Punjab University, Kala Pradeep an MS student of IISER Mohali and Subhadip Ghosh a postdoctoral fellow of IISER Mohali. The program was coordinated by Amartyajyoti Basu a PG student from Ambedkar University, Delhi.
March in various towns spread across the states
Kerala (Extensive campaign and preparations were done in 12 districts. But the March programs had to be cancelled due to the flood.), Andhra Pradesh (Visakhapatnam, Anantapur, Hindupur, Kurnool, Nellore, Tirupati), Assam (Guwahati, Silchar), Chattisgarh ( Bilaspur, Dhamtari, Durg, Korea, Raipur, Rajim), Gujarat (Ahmedabad), Jharkhand (Jamshedpur, Bokaro, Godda, Hazaribag), Madhya Pradesh (Bhopal, Sagar), Maharastra (Mumbai, Nagpur, Yavatmal), Rajasthan (Jaipur), Sikkim (Gangtok), Tripura (Agartala), Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow), Uthrakhand (Dehradun), Bihar (Patna, Darbhanga), Karnataka (Davanagere, Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Koppala, Mysore, Raichur), Tamilnadu (Madurai, Pondicherry), Odisha (Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Balasore, Dhenkanal, Jagatsinghpur, Karanjia).
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