Science communication in Assam

Title: Science communication in Assam

Authors: Ankuran Dutta & Anamika Ray

Publisher: DVS Publishers

Number of page: 288

Price: Rs 695

Science for the common man

Science communication is the art of communicating knowledge and developments related to science to the common man in a language that he understands.

The book, Science communication in Assam , gives a fair amount of information on this concept and its history and how well science has been conveyed to general masses using the mass media in ancient and modern times.

However, the researchers have narrowed down their study to only Assam probably because the domain is very wide and it would be difficult to bring in all aspects in 250-odd pages.

The book begins by quoting former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, “In a world dominated by science and technology, science communication and popularisation is of utmost importance, especially for our country where a large population needs to be told about the impact of science and technology in their daily lives.”

The first chapter starts with an introduction of the concept of science communication in general where the authors try to provide an overview of science as a subject and how it fails to reach common masses, as it remains unexploited by the various mediums.

Following the first chapter, the researchers shift their focus to only Assam and anyone seeking some knowledge on the concept of science communication in general will be disappointed.

The second chapter traces the growth of science communication in the region and then moves to Assam in the pre, during and the post Orunodoi -eras, the first Assamese newspaper published in 1846.

The authors also mention KnowHow, the science supplement that The Telegraph publishes.

The book also highlights the status of articles on science and technology during the post-Independence period.

The researchers refer to the sayings of Daka, (Dakar Bachan) in the third chapter. They quote another author, Dinesh Chandra Goswami, who wrote, “The sayings of Daka Purusha who flourished in Assam during the 4 th or the 6 th century very well depicted the practice of science and its acceptance and influence on the society.” The book brings out the various proverbs that are intertwined with Assamese culture. The authors conclude that his sayings are the best examples of science communication in the ancient period which lay emphasis on the common man. Again, this chapter will interest only those who have some idea about the history of Assam or want to learn about it.

After this, the authors take the subsequent chapters to elaborate on the topics that they had provided a preview in the second chapter itself.

They put forth the presence of science-related writings in Assamese literature, media coverage on science in Assam and again another chapter on science fiction in Assamese literature.

The book tends to get repetitive from here on and would interest only those who are associated with media studies, policy makers and scientists, especially those who have special papers on the region or just Assam.

The researches also highlight how folk culture and cartoons, or science toons (term coined by Indian scientist Pradeep Srivastava), could be utilised to popularise science among the masses. In the chapter Science Communication for Tribals, they discuss the indigenous communities of Assam and their cultures and practices, what challenges lies ahead to take science closer to them and the methods like folk performance, games and exhibitions to be used to communicate scientific developments among them.

The book gives an idea on the organisational initiatives both in public and private sectors and the role they play to bring science-based knowledge closer to the masses. Chapters 10 and 11 give a general overview, highlighting the National Council for Science and Technology, Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha and the Assam-specific groups and institutes but are too lengthy.

Once again the book reverts to Assam in the next chapter, where the authors provide an overview of the lives and works of well- known science communicators of Assam. They include Bijoy Krishna Dev Sarma, Dinesh Chandra Goswami and Khiradha Baruah.

The researchers, both mass communication teachers, give an in-depth account of the status of science communication education, distance courses and a career in this field.

This is a well-researched book, which brings forth a topic that has a long history in the country but is still evolving mainly because of lack of understanding on the effect of science on our lives.

SUMANA ROY

published on January 6, 2012