New centre in Rajkot to study relation between modern, ancient Indian science

At a press conference on Saturday organised at OVSRCSC in Rajkot, IPS president Prof JJ Rawal, SEF managing trustee Kishor Hemani and OVSRCSC director Ramesh Bhayani announced the constitution of the three proposed institutes. They will be called PC Vaidya Astronomical, Astrophysical and Space Science Research Centre (PCVAASSRC), Neogen Solar and Stellar Observatory (NSSO) and Centre for Studies and Research of Science in Ancient India (ESRSAI).

The three will function out of the OVSRCSC campus in Race Course, Rajkot. Moraridas Hariyani alias Morari Bapu, the famous religious figure known for his rendition of the Ramayana through events called Ramkathas, will formally inaugurate the three institutes on October 2.

“We want to encourage students to study mathematics, physics etc at a young age. If someone teaches fundamentals of these subjects to students properly, they will get interested in these subjects and explore them further. PCVAASSRC and NSSO will go a long way in that direction. Secondly, we also want to encourage research about the sun and other stars and PCVAASSRC and NSSO will provide a platform to students and scholars for that,” Prof Rawal said.

“We are running an astronomy club called Big Bang Astronomy Club and we already have eight telescopes cumulatively worth Rs 28 lakh.,” Hemani said, adding, “The objective of the twin institutes is to bridge the gap in students’ learning of mathematics and science.”

“Morari Bapu suggested that we also promote study and research in science in ancient India and relations of that science with modern science…our objective is to highlight science in Hindu scriptures,…”