Commemoration and culmination of the 150th Birth Anniversary of the Mahatma : Gandhi and Science

 Commemoration and culmination of the 150th Birth Anniversary of the Mahatma : Gandhi and Science.

Gandhi ji is perhaps the most prominent leaders of the world on whom unending essays, books, films and documentaries have been written and produced the world over, yet, strangely, not much has been written or documented on Gandhi and his interest in Science and Technology and even lesser, his interest in Astronomy. Therefore we made an attempt to connect Gandhi with science during this years Gandhi Jayanti celebrations. Among other events programmes and activities that we organised, as a tribute to the Mahatma there were two webinar lectures, which were delivered by Dr. Ratnashree, Director Nehru Planetarium, Delhi on ‘Gandhi and Khagolshastra’ and Mr. Sudheendra Kulkarni, Author and Columnist, on ‘Gandhi and Science and Technology’, which were organised on 29th September and 1st October. respectively. Dr. Ratnashree, shed light on Gandhi ji’s interest in Astronomy - star gazing. In fact, his liking for astronomy became so intense that for some time it became an obsession for him. Sudheendra Kulkarni ji, based on his extensive research and monumental study and his publication of a book ‘Music of the Spinning Wheel - Mahatma Gandhi’s Manifesto for the Internet Age’, delivered an inspirational lecture on Gandhi and Science. He unravelled the enigmatic Gandhi ji and his association and interest in science, with his well reasoned articulations of Mahatma Gandhi’s Life and Work.  His lecture was so very insightful that it is bound to dispel the myth, which we all have that Gandhi ji was anti science and anti-modern, which is based on our apocryphal beliefs. Here is a brief summary of Gandhiji’s association with astronomy and science based on the two lectures.

Gandhi ji had an unprecedented influence on people and that influence perpetuates even todaय। His principles, for which he is known globally - सत्या और अहिमसा ( Truth and Non Violence), are relevant, rather more relevant, even today. It was his strength of character and of practice, as distinguished from precept, that enabled Gandhi to influence so deeply his thought on millions of his followers, not just in India but globally. Therefore, for us, the science communicators, Gandhi’s interest in science and technology and stargazing is an interesting new attribute of the Mahatma, which must mandatorily be communicated to the people, particularly the youngsters, to kindle their interest in sky observation and science and technology.  Mahatma always believed that science and technology must be used for larger social good of human society.

 

Notwithstanding the fact that so much has been written and documented about the Mahatma, yet, Gandhi ji, in a way continues to be an enigma, with so much more to know about him and his extraordinary life that touched the lives of tens of millions of people. Interestingly enough even though so much is known of the Mahatma, and that there is hardly any private life for Gandhi ji, yet there is that much more, which we can learn and be inspired from him. During the two years celebrations of the sesquicentennial birth anniversary of the Mahatma, which started on 2nd October 2018 and will be ending today, the Government has initiated many projects to bring Gandhi ji closer to the people. One such project, which was announced in the budget speech of the honorable Finance Minister was the Gandhipedia project, which I had the honour to prepare the detailed project report and get it approved from the Ministry of Culture. Incidentally this artificial intelligence based web portal that has been developed by IIT Kharagpur and IIT Gandhinagar, is likely to be launched very soon and it is hoped that this will provide a much needed platform for the Gandhian researchers to dive into understanding Gandhi ji better with AI based search that the web portal will provide to the people, when launched. There is also another exhibition ‘A Digital Tribute to the Mahatma’, which too will be opened at the Nehru Science Centre very soon. Speaking of Gandhi ji, I am reminded of a famous Poet, Bhavabhuti who had said, “Who, indeed, can claim to know the mind of the Great?" Mahatma Gandhi, in that sense, fits into the Poets classification. Although Gandhi had laid bare his life and mind in its fullness before his people and had permitted no secrecy or personal life of his own, yet there is much of an enigma that remains attached to the Mahatma, particularly when it comes to knowing him from the stand point of science.

 

Gandhi and science perhaps have not been much talked about and therefore in my limited language understanding and inability to use better words, I would say Gandhi and Science were considered  as an oxymoron.  Fortunately post the two lectures of Dr Ratnashree and Sudheendra Kulkarni, which we organised, there will be a better understanding of the Mahatma when it comes to his association with science and technology and these lectures may inspire younger generations to research more on this subject. Gandhi continues to be a role model for the nation and particularly for the students who wish to become political and social scientists but then lack of our understanding of Gandhiji’s feelings for science have not helped the scientific community in making Mahatma a role model for those who aspire to be scientist and technocrats. Hopefully  this will change with better understanding of his views in science and help us use the name of Mahatma to influence the interest of our audience in science and technology and how it can bring about transformational changes in society, which was what Gandhi ji aspired all his life.

It was also generally believed that Gandhi ji was against use of technology, which is evidenced from his sayings like Industrialise and Perish and his advocacy against industrialisation,much to the consternation of people like Sir M Visvesvaraya, whose thoughts were diametrically opposite to the Mahatma. Visvesvaraya used the slogan Industrialise or Perish to oppose the views of Gandhi ji. Despite such diametrically opposing views of Gandhi and Sir MV, both of them had the highest respect for each other’s position and often Sir MV cited his seniority in age to drive home his position but not with much success. Gandhi ji is perceived as a saintly person who had always valued faith more than reason. However, Sudheendra ji reveals that Gandhijis opposition to the ways of modern western civilisation did not imply his lack of interest in science and scientists. Sudheendra ji highlighted that the Mahatma was not anti-science and that he was always appreciative of the great scientists and how science benefits society. Incidentally it was Gandhi ji on whose instance Pandit Nehru requested Sir M V to inspect Odisha and study the floods and  suggest technological measures to combat Orissa floods. The reservoir across Mahanadi – The Hirakud dam, is an outcome of Sir Visvesvaraya’s recommendation for the construction of the reservoir, to Pandit Nehru who called such works temples of modern India.

Gandhiji’s opposition to industrialisation or over reliance on science and technology is legendary and therefore it is no wonder that little is known about Gandhiji’s interest, albeit-short-lived, in star gazing and astronomy. Mahatma Gandhi ji, during his jail term in Yerwada jail, Pune, took sudden and keen interest in astronomy. He likened the observation of unending expanse of stars and the celestial bodies to a spiritual experience, which humbled him and made him feel how insignificant he is in comparison with the vast and unending expanse of the universe, about which he seemed-to have some basic understanding. His interest in astronomy was created by the company of Dattatreya Balkrishna Kalelkar popularly called Kaka Kalelkar, a graduate in Philosophy-from the Fergusson college. Kaka Kalelkar too was a political thinker who used to write for a nationalistic Marathi paper -‘Rashtramat’, and is believed to have walked on foot to the Himalayas. He became a follower of Gandhi and was one of the residents of the Sabarmati Ashram. Gandhiji, while incarcerated in the Yerwada Pune Jail, briefly had the company of Kaka Kalelkar, who was deeply interested in astronomy, which he rubbed on to the Mahatma. Kaka urged Gandhi to use the telescope to observe, closely, the celestial objects and this use of optical technology - Telescope, mesmerised Gandhiji and kindled his interest in astronomy. In the brief period that he spent in Pune jail, during February to May 1932, Gandhiji acquainted himself with sky charts and maps and also ended up reading quite a number of essays and books on astronomy. Gandhiji used to often sleep in the open air with his fellow jail mates Mr Desai and Sardar Patel and looked at the night sky and engaged his associates with his new found hobby of sky observations. There is also an anecdotal reference of the jailor not permitting technical persons to visit Yerwada Jail for the assembly of the new telescope, which Gandhiji wanted in the Jail. Fortunately Gandhiji appealed against the decision and managed to get the telescope commissioned.

 

Gandhiji prepared articles on his new found hobby of sky observation and titled them “Watching the Heavens I and II”, and distributed his writings to the inmates of the Sabarmati Ashram, urging his followers to observe the twinkling stars and other planets in the night sky. Mahatma, believed that a look at the unending expanse of the sky, with hundreds and thousands of twinkling stars, made him experience that humbling feeling, which was a ‘spiritual' experience for him. He even prepared some sketches of the group of constellations like the Orion constellation. Gandhi jis liking for star gazing can be appreciated in one of his statements where he says ‘My room may have blank walls; and I may even dispense with the roof, so that I may gaze out at the starry heavens overhead that stretch in an unending expanse. What conscious Art of a man can give me the panoramic scenes that open out before me, when I look up to the sky above with all its shining stars? He adds, ‘These beauties of a sunset or a crescent moon that shines amid the stars at night’ are truthful, in as much as they make me think of the creator at the back of them. How else could these be beautiful, but for the Truth that is in the center of creation? Dr. Nandivada Rathnasree, Director of Nehru Planetarium, has done fair amount of research on the interest that Gandhi ji developed during his stay at the Yerwada Jail and has managed to dig out some rare archival material from the NMML library records, which she has used to develop a new full dome planetarium show that she has tilted ‘ Gandhi and Khagolashastra’.

This new planetarium show extensively quotes Gandhiji and one such quote of Gandhi says  “Astronomy has always interested me. Now it has become a passion with me. Every free minute I get, I devote myself to it. It is a wonderful subject…”. There are records which suggest that there were two large-sized telescopes, which were placed in the open yard of the Yerwada central prison, which were used by the Mahatma for star gazing, while he was incarcerated at the Yerwada Jail. While sending the articles Gandhi wrote on astronomy ‘Watching the Heavens I and II’ to his ashram inmates in 1932, Gandhiji advised them to take up regular observations of the night sky. According to Rathnasree, Gandhiji “combines his view of the celestial objects… with practical instructions for sky observations and even sketches of the Orion constellation. Following the sketch, he goes on to say that none of the sketches he has seen in print show all the stars which he can see in the constellation and advises ashram inmates to make their own sketches, one reason being…that the constellation as seen from different locations on Earth would have differing orientations. He exhibits his understanding that sky charts vary from place to place. The “possibility of a measurement of time by looking at the changing position of the Saptarshi asterism” was also raised by the Mahatma in his article. Gandhiji also desired that lucid books be written on the life of great astronomers and their discoveries. Nehru Planetarium along with NCSM have taken initiatives to highlight Gandhiji’s writings on astronomy and his wonderment at observing stars, through Bapu Khagol Mela, which was spearheaded by Dr Ratnashree.  

As a lifelong seeker of truth, Gandhiji’s interest in astronomy was genuine and to him sky observation was a deeply spiritual experience. But the same sky observation for Meghnad Saha, was different. Saha’s observation was quest for the hidden laws of nature using the methods of modern science, which resulted in the development of the Saha Ionisation equation.  Although Gandhi ji is known to have been adversarial to use and implementation of technology for national progress, yet Sudheendra ji in his evocative lecture highlights how receptive Gandhiji was for new technology that would change the lives of the common people. Sudheendra ji even highlights a technology challenge or a competition that Gandhi ji announced and allocated a hefty prize amount of Rs 1 Lacs ( equivalents to present day 4 Crores of Rupees) for any one who could develop a improved spinning wheel that would help improved efficiency and productivity for the people. This, Sudheendra ji says, conclusively proves that Gandhi ji was not ‘per say’ opposed to the technology. All he wanted was that technology must and should serve the people in the bottom of the pyramid.

He argued that Gandhiji has often admitted that there have been contradictions in his life. Gandhiji far from excusing himself for them, he has stated, ‘I have never made a fetish of consistency. I am a votary of truth and I must say what I feel and think at a given moment on the question, without regard to what I may have said before on it’.  So one can’t summarise that he was a compulsive opponent of science or technology, rather Gandhi was a prime follower of the principles of science - ability to question and reason. 

Ratnashree briefly talked about the new planetarium show - ‘Bapu and  khagol shastra’ which is based on Gandhis interest in sky. The program uses Gandhi’s quotes, which  were curated after months of research into Gandhi jis collected works. Volume 90 of the collected works of Gandhi (CWG), which are now in public domain, says Gandhi asked his ashram inmates to observe the skies regularly as a “peace and health-giving exercise”. The works also reveal that Gandhi ji arranged for the telescope in Yerwada Jail and this was was facilitated by the Poona observatory. The archival records of the CWG show that Gandhi ji lamented about not having enough time or the wherewithal to observe the magnificence of the heavens, as much as he would have wanted. Dr. Rathshree in her illustrated lecture also showed a letter of Gandhi written to Kelkar in August 1932, where he advises Kaka Kalelkar that his book on astronomy "should give the names and short lives of Western astronomers, some of whom, were men of great courage and spirit and of noble character".  He went on to add that the book on astronomy, which he wishes to publish, should be as perfect as possible and should give an account of all discoveries to date in the field. Gandhi ji also mentioned that the book should give some knowledge about physics. All this clearly and unambiguously establish the fact that Bapu was well aware, not just about the positional astronomy aspects of watching the stars, but also his reading had allowed him to realise that physics underlay an understanding of stars. In a letter to Mathuradas Trikumji, Bapu lamented that he came rather late to this appreciation - astronomy. He says “I myself have been watching the stars every night and enjoy the experience immensely. I have woken up in old age. But what harm can there be in waking up even on death-bed if watching the stars helps one to have a glimpse of the soul?"

Sudheendra Kulkarni recalled an incident, when Bapu was at the Yerwada Jail, when reporters from the Associated Press set foot inside the Yerawada Jail premises to interview Gandhi. The reporters have quoted that they saw two large-sized telescopes placed in the open yard occupied by Gandhi in the Yerawada Jail and this sight presented an unusual spectacle amidst the severe simplicity of the Jail surroundings. This is also chronicled in the Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi - CWG. Gandhi told the reporters. "Astronomy has always interested me. Now it-has become a passion with me. Every free minute I get, I devote myself to it. It is a-wonderful subject, and more than anything else impresses upon me the mystery of god-and the majesty of the universe. To be lying on your back in the open air on a starry night and regarding universe after universe in the immeasurable expanse, you cannot help becoming a worshipper of God. My mind leaps with joy as I do so. Oh, it is marvellous, this incident has been quoted in a report in The Hindu, published on April 3, 1933.

Ratnashree also spoke of Gandhi jis inquisitiveness to observe a celestial object called  'Parijata', by Gandhi ji, which he was unable to do. However Dr Ratnashree was unable to connect whether the Parijata, which Gandhi ji was referring to was a star or constellation. May be researchers can throw more light on this with better study and understanding of Gandhi jis works. There are other interesting facts about Gandhi and his love with sky. Bapu has recorded practical instructions for sky observations and has even sketched the Orion constellation. Bapu writes that none of the sketches, which he has seen in sky maps and prints show all the stars that he could see through the telescope. He also says that the sky maps or sketches, vary from one region to other and cites the reason for it and says it is because the constellation as seen from different locations on earth would have differing orientations. Therefore Bapu advises the beginner stargazers to observe from a fixed place at a fixed time, and sketch the constellations. He further adds  that once they are familiar with the constellations, they would be able to identify these even if their locations and the constellation orientations change. Bapu also discusses the possibility of a measurement of time by looking at the changing positions of the 'Saptarshi', Ursa Major constellation. All this clearly shows that Gandhiji was in love with astronomy and advocated his followers to learn about it. Dr Ratnashree also said that Gandhiji refers to the constellations of Orion, Canis Major, Canis Minor,Lepus, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, the Pole star, as also the imaginary creatures that are seen in the mythologies, which are connected with these constellations. He also immediately clarifies that the mythological creatures of constellations are "beautiful fancies", and that there are no such real figures in the sky. 

Sudheendra Kulkarni discussed  many phases of Mahatma Gandhi’s Life and Work at various levels. Based on this he articulated that Gandhi ji was not anti-modern, as many still believe. He also addressed several questions which are normally raised when speaking about Gandhi and science and technology.  ‘Was his philosophy of self-sufficiency anti development? Has the Age of Information and Communication Technology altered the meaning of swadeshi?  Has it altered the meaning to the extent of making it meaningless? Based on his research he dispels each of these myths which are associated with Gandhi and argues that Gandhi was always in sync with reality and technology for him was a life enabler, what he argued was that it must be used to change the lives of the people at the bottom of the pyramid and not used to create a larger difference between the haves and the have nots. He argued that Gandhi his thoughts on technology are more relevant in the modern world when sustainable development goals are of primary concern for the world. He recalled the prophetic statement of Gandhi ji who had said ‘Nature provides everything to fulfil the needs of the people and not their greeds’, which is so very relevant even today when we are speaking of issues like climate change, which is primarily man made. He highlighted the support that Gandhi ji advocated for telegraph and juxtaposed it to modern times to say that Bapu would have been a great advocate of the Internet which has democratised information. He highlighted how this technology can be harvested by Indians in the fourth industrial revolution which he seems to be a great advocate of. 

Kulkarni said that Gandhi can under no circumstances be dismissed as an eccentric, stuck with the Spinning wheel. Rather he must be associated with progress but a progress which is beneficial to the last man in the developmental ladder. He shared his thoughts that in the course of his studies,  he had discovered that Gandhi was not against elaborate machinery. Indeed, Gandhi is quoted as saying that he would favour the use of such machinery if thereby India’s paupers could be thereby saved from poverty. Kulkarni said that the spinning wheel may have been symbolic in the early twentieth century but actually the Mahatma would have discarded it if someone had showed him a better way of making a person self reliant. Gandhi’s primary concern was the chronic unemployment of millions of people in India’s villages and therefore Gandhi ji used the spinning wheel as  a means, to gaining economic freedom. Sudheendra ji argued with reasons that If the Mahatma was alive today, he would have embraced the Internet. 

I was one of those who had gone by those here say opinion that Gandhi and science had no commonality but after the two lectures and my own study which was compelled based on the two lectures, I am fairly convinced that Gandhi ji was a man of science who believed in questioning and central to science is asking questions and considering none but reasons and logic to be canonical. Long live the ideals of the Mahatma. On this birth anniversary of the Mahatma it is also time to celebrate the birth anniversary of another greatest leaders of India Lal Bahadur Shastri, whose slogan Jai Jawan Jai Kissan continues to reverberate in the hearts and minds of people and it is this monumental saying which kick started the green revolution in India and helped India to be self reliant on food production.

Jai Hind.