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Journalism of Courage
It is unlikely that BJP leaders who branded scientist P M Bhargava as a member of “Hate Modi brigade” and Sonia Gandhi’s “cheerleader” have read an essay he wrote in 1981 along with nuclear physicist Raja Ramanna and Indira Gandhi’s long-time aide P N Haksar.
Titled “A Statement on Scientific Temper”, the essay had this to say about the country’s situation then. “…we are witnessing a phenomenal growth of superstitious beliefs and obscurantist practices. The influence of a variety of godmen and miracle makers is increasing alarmingly. The modern tools of propaganda and communication are being used to give an impression that there exist instant and magical solutions for the problems that confront our people. Myths are created about our past. The origin and role of the caste system is explained in a way that would justify it and imply that some castes are inherently superior. The ancient period of our history is interpreted to inculcate chauvinism which is false pride; the medieval period is misinterpreted in a way that would fan communalism; and the struggle of our people for freedom is over-simplified as if it was the handiwork of a few great leaders and the masses of our people did not matter.”
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Bhargava was then director of the Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology he had helped set up a few years ago. Three-and-a-half-decades later, he would probably have a similar assessment of the country’s situation today.
It was no surprise that the soft-spoken Bhargava did not stop at signing a statement issued by over 100-scientists Wednesday, denouncing the existing “climate of intolerance” and “a rash of bigoted acts”. He announced that he would return the Padma Bhushan he received in 1986.
Bhargava, who has become frail with old age and is now mostly confined to a wheelchair, has been a perennial dissenter and never bowed to authority. He almost single-handedly blocked the previous UPA government’s plan to introduce genetically-modified food crops because he thought all concerns on the risks of GM crops have not been addressed satisfactorily.
He had also taken on the UPA government on the Kudankulam nuclear power station issue.
Earlier, when the previous NDA government sought to introduce astrology as a subject in universities, Bhargava challenged the decision in the Supreme Court. His petition was rejected but he continued to speak against it.
Often hailed as the architect of modern Indian biology and biotechnology, Bhargava obtained his Masters in organic Chemistry and a PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry. He shifted to biology after working at a laboratory in the US.
He started out with biochemistry, then dug into molecular biology and cell biology. He had started publishing research papers on genetic engineering in the early 1970s. He has more than 125 research papers to his credit and has won several awards.
Bhargava’s efforts to promote scientific temper distinguishes him from other scientists. He has persistently tried to ensure that the “methods of science” are applied in all kinds of human interactions and become the basis of all rules governing society.
Bhargava has also been extremely critical of the scientific community for “bowing down” to political authority.
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