An interview published in NCSTC communication july 2008

National Award Winner for commendable efforts in

Science & Technology Communication -2007

Dr Dinesh Mishra

Nayapara, Phool Chowk, Raipur, Chattishgarh

E-mail: dr.dineshmishra@gmail.com

Dr Asit Chakrabarti: Congratulations Dr Mishra for your recent decoration with the National Award for Commendable effort in Science & Technology Communication -2007. Professionally you are a doctor and a Senior Eye Specialist. But, since 1995 you are working for science popularization through out the country. May we know what inspired you for science popularization?

Ans.           I born in Raipur & got education here.  I read many instances like witchcraft, Human sacrifice & other superstitions prevailed in society villagers many people don’t learn science & they don’t have basic knowledge about diseases/ illness. They believe in various myths, miracles & superstitions. After completing my education I worked in different places i.e. in Gujrat, Mumbai, Chhattisgarh & attended many health camps in periphery & realized the problem. Many patients came to doctor at last when diseases become chronic & complicated. Some Astrologers & so called Tantric visited in rural and urban area & published advertisement for miraculous treatment & success. General Public becomes confused & so I decided to start work of communication of science to aware General public.

                                                                                                     We have successive in stopping the visiting fake astrologers &so called tantriks with help of administration who were looting the public

AC:             You are engaged with a nationwide campaign entitled ‘No Woman is a Dyne’ (Witch) against incidents of harassment of woman alleged to be witches. Can you suggest us some of the most effective means of science communication for eradication of such type of superstitions.

Ans.            The incidents of castigating innocent women on allegation of witch spell in the country are happening day to day. Many of the incidents do not come into light of common people. Those incidents in which castigation has gone beyond limit, fatal injuries and murder of the women reach to police or press or social organization. In some cases people do not reveal the incident due to infamy. In some cases castigating group is so power full that due to its influence the case is hushes up or settled.The incidents of lashing of women on the name of witchcraft which became headline in the newspapers are not confined to one region and province but information about such incidents come from every part of the country. However most of the cases are found in undeveloped & developing region. Declaring a woman witch and lashing her physically, beating her, due to mental torture she has to either leave house and go out of village or she herself commit suicide or in many cases she is declared guilty and in murdered. Such incident of woman lashing happens mostly in villages and towns.

                    The women declared witch are belongs to generally poor family’s old, widow. Some times they are issueless (infertile) woman. There are few members in the so called witch women’s house.  Poor and solitary woman are not capable to oppose collective planned conspiracy. First of that entire woman in said to remove the ill which she brought on that family. Actually it is not possible for her because she has not done any thing and witch craft, slowly ill treatment in meted out to that woman she in lashed, beaten and than society boycotted and efforts are being made to her away from village. The news about such type of incident do not reach to our civilized society. Illiteracy, lake of medical facilities & lack of scientific temperament are responsible for these. Communication of science & awareness about diseases & health can help to eradicate superstition & social evil.

                                                                                                     I started a voluntary movement “Koi Nari Tonhi Nahi”(No Women Is Dyne/Witch)

                 In 1995 .We organized public awareness programmes against superstitions, social evils & try to develop scientific temperament. We also visited in village & meet tortured women & relatives provide medical help them. I also try to rehabilitate them.  

                    There are some effective ways through which so called witch and witch lashing problem can a solved let us discuss on these ways. Since these cases mostly happen in villages, town and small towns, so there can be effective and active role of police, doctors, teachers village panchayat, social organization. If a case come into light solution of that case in possible. Kotwar, Sarpanch should take local citizen the moment they get the news about witch lashing and by to solve the problem. If a man or a child fells ill in the village the patient should be treated by doctor because micro harmful germs causes illness or disease. If the disease is treated in early stage it can be completely cured. Villagers should not take help of exorcist for treatment of disease. There are other causes animal diseases. Similarly there are natural causes for famine, less rainfall, flood, extreme hot and earthquake. All those are not due to miracle and evil spirit and power of a man or a woman. So to say a woman witch is wrong because the woman who herself in not able to profit her family, how can she be capable to harm others. Social activities should go to Panchayat, Town and they should tell the people truth. Media can also play effective role in it. No one can harm others by so called miracle power. It such incidents come into light in inception then any woman of the society can be saved from the curse of being a witch. In this way blind faith can be uprooted from the society.

                     

AC:             Dr Mishra you also organized a national level survey for study of impact of TV serials based on ghosts and supernatural forces being telecast on different TV channels and there are negative impacts on the society of such entertainments. What were the highlights of the survey and how are you using this to alter context of people & TV channels?

Ans.           When I started movement against superstitions, people called us in various places where natural events declared as miracles, one Govt. Hostel, declared as Ghostly, one Govt. Mortuary defame as Ghost House. I went there along with my team we stayed in night & explain the students & teachers; we also demolish that Govt. Mortuary on invitation of Collector Rajnandgaon. So people's confusion & fear of Ghost spirit went away. We know some TV channels, telecasting TV serial based on Ghost, spirit, so called Black magic. Those serials leave negative impact of rural people. We decided to launch National Survey to study negative impact of these serials. A proforma prepared with 12 questions which includes existence of ghost, Bad impact on children seeing these serials & invite suggestions. These proforma sent to every part of nation with request to return after completing the form. We also request to public they can photocopy the form & send to others. These form completed by person of different age group, different Profession, like Villagers, students, teachers, doctors, scientists, females . We got very good response from public. After some days we received full filled form with photocopies also then we conclude result in survey: - Nobody accepted that he has seen Ghost anywhere but many of them believed in Ghost & spirit due to traditional thought. Many persons said they seen Ghost in T.V.Serial & film only not in real life. 70% person accepts they feel fear &confusion after watching these T.V. serial. 78% of School student changed their behavior after seeing these serials. They don’t dare to go alone in night even in Toilet. 81% person accepted that these T.V. serials leaves negative impact on children and rural public. Children invite accident & thought they will save by some miraculous Powers.

Famous scientist Jayant Narlikar,social activists,advocates are also against these serials. Majority of person 76% suggested that these serial should be stopped. Other suggestions were, sensor board should be efficient to take action,janhit yachika in supreme court ,memorandum to sensor board, social activist and scientist should be member of sensor board and regulating authority.

AC:             You have delivered lectures in various schools and colleges on subject like science popularization and superstition eradication, ill effects of superstition, necessity of scientific approach, etc. In your opinion what should be our strategy to free our society from such taboos?

Ans.           In my opinion we have to contact different cross section of society. Students are our hope & future. So we must involve & activate in this movement. So I deliver lectures in schools, colleges, N.C.C.& N.S.S.Camps & Training programmes of teachers.  After completing the speech I invite questions & doubts from audience & try to satisfy them. I also inquired the specific superstition/ event in their locality & some unsolved cases. Interesting cases like Reason of drinking Milk by Idol/ weeping Goddesses/miraculous light/wonderful chapati etc.

                                                                                                                           Our society must be free from such taboos because due to superstition the incident of women lashing is a matter of shame for our society.We have to create public awareness in national level with involvement of every citizen whether he may be any individual , govt. agency or NGOs working in the field

AC:             Considering the poor knowledge of Science in our society do you suggest to include Science Communication as subject in our school teacher education system?

Ans.           Yes, off course, I have already suggested State Government & Central Govt. to add Communication of science as a subject for student and also for teachers education system. I have written letters to education department. Refresher Course should also be prepared for teachers to they provide new information & technique to students.

AC:             Being a Medical Doctor and an able science communicator, how would you raise awareness on issues of woman’s health in rural and urban settings?

Ans.           My knowledge of medical science & clinical experience help to communicate Medical Science, awareness for woman health, maternal & child health, We suggest the villagers for vaccination of Tetanus toxoid, Polio, nutritional deficiencies & try to give message about sanitation & prevention of disease. Through science communication way of living will be scientific & systematic scientific temper allow them to think about their problem & thair solution by Scientific method. "Battle against superstition can be won by the weapon/ miracle of science.

AC:             Dr Mishra, kindly elaborates your career as science communicator and your areas of interest for readers of NCSTC Communication.

Ans.           I have been involved in Science communication since1995. I attended workshops in different places & delivered speech in Rashtriya Pt. Jawahar lal Nehru Bal Vigyan Mela, Science communication Congress , Confferences of Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti, M.P.Vigyan Sabha, Science Centre Bhopal, Indian Medical Association, Orissa Rationalist Society. Akhil Bhartiya Andh Shradha Nirmulan Samiti M.P. voluntary health organization. I had got training for exposure of called miracles. So in our awareness Programmes we show tricks exposing miracles. Readers of NCST Communication should get knowledge about science including Medical knowledge. It helps to propagate in each & every rural part of country. Some people learn the science in school & college education but in their practical life they don't follow science. They got faith on their so called luck & gradually becomes superstitious.

AC:             You worked as a grass root level worker in science communication in rural India. In your opinion which media- Print (Books/Magazine), Electronic (TV/Radio), Folk (Puppetry/Theatre) is most suited for our rural community?

Ans. T        Total Scientific awareness in rural India should be our aim . Print/Electronic/Folk/puppeting/Theatre all means are very important we have use every mean. Now a day news papers/ magazines are under approach of villages/ Gram Panchayat, Library. So many information can communicate through print media. Villagers can read the news paper/magazine in their free time. Electronic media/ Radio is very popular among common man. Means of Folk / Puppeting. Theatre can be used time to time like village festivals, Holidays Print & Electric media can communicate the message to million of people in short time.

Q. AC:        In such a busy schedule of Medical work how do you find the time for science communication?

Ans.           I have to look after my patient regularly so I manage my time table accordingly every Saturday & Sunday I visit in villages where we arrange awareness meeting for rural public. In working days in afternoon/ noon lectures & demonstration arranged in school/ colleges. I have to operate my patients in early morning after that start O.P.D. I write articles & column for news papers & magazines in Night.

AC:             Among the students, teachers, social activists, politicians and common masses which group have you selected as in your priority for science communication?

Ans.           As I discussed as earlier science communication should be conducted as national programme like Pulse Polio & Literacy programme, we should involved maximum population whether he is student, teacher, social activist, politician, players, film stars too. Students are our future so they must be developed with scientific thinking & temper. Some politician & film starts publicly exhibit their superstition they should known their responsibility. Media should take care & not spread superstitions.

  

AC:             What are your future plans after receiving the national award for science communication and how you will spend the money you received as award?

Ans.           After receiving this National award, I feel more responsible for communicating science among people. I will work hard for scientific temper for common public to develop awareness about health & Social issues, I don't take any funding from any Government or Non-Govt. agencies, so I utilize the money for publishing the books pamphlets distributing in rural area & educational institutes.

AC:             Dr Mishra what are your suggestions for common people of our country regarding awareness about everyday science?

Ans.           A spark of science can only eradicate the darkness of superstitions common people should try to understand science. Every national & technical problem can be explained by related science. News Papers & T.V. Channels should include science communication in their daily Programmes. Address & phone no. of science communicator should be under reach of common public so anybody can approach to them.

AC:             In your experience shall we give priority to NGOs/ Government Institutions/ or Individuals who can make significant contributions in S & T communication?

Ans.           Science communication & popularization of science among common man is very important task of our Nation. It should be in our priority. It will help to solve many problems. like unscientific trends, Myths deep rooted superstition any individual person, NGO or Govt. agency take interest & involve in this noble work. There should not be any restriction or bar.

AC:             Thank you Sir for your kind cooperation and spending valuable times with our readers.

********

Photographs enclosed.