Sunday Special-Is Science Boring?
Is Science Boring?
Life
is full of turns and twists. I narrate here under the first turning
point in my life and role of father in shaping life of his children.
It
was the year 1953 and I had just entered the 'Teens'. In the eighth
standard we were required to choose two elective subjects. All my
friends and playmates in the 'Mohalla' (Neighbourhood) chose Art
subjects and I also wanted to go with the flow. My father was a
visionary and a strict person. Because of our agricultural background he
wanted me to become an Agricultural scientist. There was only one
school in the city of Patiala that offered agriculture as a subject. I
was forced to change my school. I protested but my father stood firmly
by his decision. Being first male child of next generation in the joint
family, I became arrogant by overindulgence no body dared to say no to
me. Entire family stood by me and I dug my heels in. Father was singled
out but he did not budge. My father then used his trump card-"Science or
Kheti"(Farming) in our village. During summer vacations I used to spend
a month or so at my 'nankey'(the home of one's mother's parents)
and used to do all sort of agricultural operation such as
tilling,sowing,harvesting thrashing,'Godi' of 'Makki'(Removing weeds
from standing corn crop) in sultry weather in month of July. Eyes used
to be red getting infection and, in the village 'Nani' used sea shell
for eye drops and back home 'Daadi' used dropper.
I
had to choose the lesser evil, the Science, having in mind that when I
fail in Science father would have no choice other than getting me Arts
subjects. So, I took no interest in science class, never read the
science book and never entered the science Laboratory and would sit
reclining on outer wall of science lab till lab period was over.
One
fine day when lab period was over, my class mates came out carrying
bent glass tubing, droppers, blowing through wash bottle etc boasting,
'Well we made it ourselves'. 'Dadi's dropper flashed through my mind and
I wanted to show her," Well! I could make the one for her.
From
that day I started entering Science lab, attending Science classes and
purchased Science book. I took so much interest in science that in final
exam I topped in the class as I was very good in other subjects. I was a
topper in class 9,10,FSc in merit list, Got scholarship of Rs.60/- per
month for further studies of engineering. At that time my Grandfather's
salary was Rs.45 and that of my father was Rs.35 p.m.Gold
was Rs.60 per tola. Urban land was Rs.3 per square yard. There were no
takers for Rural land. School fee was Rs.3, annas four per month. There
was no electricity in houses.
Is Science Boring?
No!
Unlike Art subjects it is not boring but scoring. It's a Fun too. Once
in in the Chemistry lab of the college, my group while carrying out
experiments successfully carried out an experiment of preparing and
drinking tea using lab equipment under the very nose of the professor
and lab assistant without being noticed rather than with their
blessings. We were allotted the last row in the lab .Tea was boiled in
the glass flask, strained using wire gauge and shown to the lab
assistant as O.S.(Original solution).he remarked, "Good one, carry on".
Another member of the group brought milk from the canteen in a beaker in
his pant's pocket along with one hand and approached the professor,
"Sir, the precipitate turned white." He said very good, carry on". The
third member ,a Hostler who used to get his tea in his room in a teapot
along with sugar pot and milk pot and after taking two spoons of sugar,
he would empty the sugar pot in an envelope and used to share with us
the updated status of his collection. He arranged for the sugar. Tea was
poured in bigger test tubes and enjoyed.
Some interesting and fascinating scientific phenomena
1) Reaction of mercury and aluminium:
2) Magnetic putty:
3) Human white blood cells hunting bacteria:
4) Candle relights with its trail of smoke:
5) Twists inside bubble:
6) The glass cracks in a stunning fractal pattern:
7) Octopus using his camouflage abilities:
8) Plant impatiens spreads its seeds:
9) Pinecone splitting open to release the seeds:
10) Plasma loop bubbling from the sun's surface:
11) The lunar cycle of a month:
12) A drop of snake venom when mixed with blood:
It is human nature to zoom, walk, see and understand. Exploration and experimentation are not really an option, it is an imperative.
-Tejinder Kamboj
(1940-20??)
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