00:00welcome to truth and trends sonia today i want to discuss something that i think is very important
00:13for our country's future cultivating scientific temper and free thinking among our students
00:18but for many this feels like a dangerous path what exactly is scientific temper and why is
00:25it so crucial for young minds in india deepak scientific temper is about more than just knowing
00:30science it's about developing a spirit of inquiry and rational thought it means teaching our children
00:36to observe ask questions test ideas and base their conclusions on evidence not just blind faith or
00:44what they've always been told in india where tradition runs deep this is paramount it empowers
00:50them to think critically much like our ancient rishis who were not just spiritual guides but
00:56also pioneers in science and mathematics i see so it's about a logical approach but many parents in
01:02our society fear that if their child develops scientific temper they might start questioning
01:07our family's pujas our rituals or even our gods won't this make them an atheist it's a very common
01:14worry as if logic automatically leads to rejecting everything spiritual but to be honest that is how
01:19many people think but it's not fully correct deepak scientific temper is not about making someone an
01:25atheist it is about fostering rationalism it means approaching any claim whether it's scientific
01:32religious or traditional with a critical and evidence-based mind it's about understanding why
01:38something works or if it works rather than just accepting it because it's always been done this way
01:45we as a society have overcome deeply ingrained cultural practices like sati where widows were
01:51forced to die on their husband's funeral pyres precisely by questioning and applying a rational
01:56humanitarian lens this shows that cultural practices however old can and must be examined
02:03that's a strong point the sati example really drives it home so you're saying that we can appreciate
02:10our cultural heritage our epics festivals our spirituality while still applying a rational
02:16outlook it feels like a very delicate balance for parents and teachers it is a delicate balance
02:23but one we must master the idea is to teach the scientific method as a universal tool for understanding
02:29children can still enjoy and appreciate the cultural significance of diwali for example
02:34while also understanding the physics of fireworks spirituality and a rational outlook are not
02:40mutually exclusive in fact many great thinkers like our own dr kalam were deeply spiritual yet fierce
02:46proponents of science that's true dr kalam always emphasized the spirit of inquiry but practically how can
02:54we really instill this scientific temper in children in schools and at home beyond just reading science
03:00textbooks what are the actual steps first and foremost deepak we must encourage questions at home
03:06don't dismiss a child who asks why do we do this puja or how does this plant grow instead explore the
03:14answers together or admit when you don't know and look it up secondly schools need to shift from
03:20rote learning to hands-on experiments and project-based learning when a child does an experiment they directly
03:28experience the scientific method thirdly we must promote reading widely not just textbooks but books that
03:35spark curiosity about how the world works from the smallest atom to the vast universe
03:40so a culture of questioning and exploration is key what about the larger impact if we succeed in instilling
03:47the scientific temper across generations how does it benefit india as a nation not just individuals
03:54the impact would be monumental deepak a generation grounded in scientific temper is inherently less
04:01susceptible to misinformation to superstitions that lead to exploitation and even to societal prejudices
04:07they become informed citizens better equipped to solve our nation's complex challenges from climate
04:13change to public health crisis it fosters genuine innovation critical thinking and a progressive mindset
04:20that can truly drive india towards being a global leader building a stronger more resilient and more
04:26equitable nation that's a powerful vision so it's not just about creating scientists but about creating
04:32better citizens precisely fostering scientific temper and free thinking is an investment in our future
04:38empowering every indian student to become a thinking contributing citizen capable of separating fact from
04:45fiction and leading us towards genuine progress i hope our viewers take this to heart if you believe in the
04:51power of rational thinking for our future generations please hit the like button share this video with parents and
04:57educators and subscribe to truth and trends for more insightful discussions thank you for watching until next time keep thinking and keep questioning
Comments