PODANUR, 5th March 2009 — B. Premanand, the founder of the Committee for the Investigation of the Paranormal of India, Patron of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations, and the editor of the Indian Skeptic, has finally realized his life’s ambition of opening the museum for the method of science. This is being thrown open to the public without any ceremonies or formalities on 5th March 2009 at the premises situated at 11/7, Chettipalayam Road, Podanur.

His long-cherished dream has been realized at a time when he does not have very long to live. He had been suffering from cancer of the stomach, which was operated upon in December 2006. The doctors had given up hope then because of the postoperative complications. But he survived due to his tough nature and then set about realizing his lifelong ambition of building up this museum. Braving heavy odds like weakness due to his illness, a contractor who absconded with his money, and many such problems, he finally has got the exhibition ready. In June 2008, he had to face one more problem—the development of secondaries all over the abdomen. The doctors tried chemotherapy, which did not have any effect, so he was told that nothing more could be done for him. That strengthened his resolve to go on and complete the project in the short time that was left, or so it seemed.

This method of science project has a very long history—more than three decades. In 1975, the well-known molecular biologist and founder of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, was requested by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to prepare an exhibition by which the method of science could be communicated to children. After Herculean efforts by him and his team of dedicated workers, by March 1977 it was set up in Delhi, but could not be formally opened as the then Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, lost the elections. Her successor, Morarji Desai, was against an exhibition which taught the people to question popularly held dogmatic beliefs. Hence, the same could not be inaugurated—that was also partially due to the hidden Hindutva agenda which was being followed by this first non-Congress government at the Center. The material suddenly disappeared, only to be discovered later in a damaged condition. At this juncture, the Andhra Pradesh government decided to put it up; space was allotted, and it was set up.

By this time, Mrs. Indira Gandhi had come back to power and was willing to inaugurate it. However, that was not to be. She was soon assassinated, and the task was done by an eminent scientist, Prof. M.G.K. Menon, FRS. A number of intellectuals and scientists attended the function, which was also graced by the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Sri N. T. Rama Rao. At this stage, it was located in the State Central Library of the government. The explanations for the exhibition were to be done by volunteers. Subsequently, there were complications introduced due to the lack of staff to maintain it, the demand from the library to return the premises, etc. So, it was decided to hand it over to the Birla Science Centre at Hyderabad in September 1992. However, this center never took proper interest in the organization of the exhibition. The panels were not even assembled properly.

After this, in 2000, Premanand took interest in the same and promised to get it set up in Kerala. When they went to the Birla Science Centre to check on that, it was discovered that all the exhibits were damaged, the working models discarded, and the material had been thrown away as junk. This was the second time when the exhibition was sabotaged by vested interests who had taken objection to the method by which scientific temper was being propagated. The objections were to the picturization of certain so-called godmen, so-called religious beliefs, and such by which many deep-rooted superstitions were questioned. Some of the well-known pseudo- and non-sciences like astrology and homeopathy were also examined, and the analysis of these affected the practitioners of such. Anyway, all these vested interests had entered into a conspiracy to destroy something which could create a bent of mind in the people to question. In the meantime, the Films Division had produced a documentary, and many popular science magazines had run features on it. This exhibition had also received good write-ups in many popular newspapers. But none of these could save it. By this time, it was in a state in which it had to be made anew.

Premanand, having taken on the task of reviving it, has, after considerable expenditure and effort, finally managed to get it ready for display. He could not manage to get the working models prepared, as it takes a longer time and technical know-how. But the written material along with the pictures gives us an idea of what it had been and how it could have influenced the thinking of a whole generation of our country. If non-science and pseudoscience are causing havoc in our country today, it is only because of the lack of scientific temper. In 19 sections on the various methodologies of science, the exhibition takes the visitor through the history of science, its development, various personalities, etc. The stepwise presentation with clear illustrations makes it easy for a layperson to develop scientific temper after a single visit.

We do hope that members of the public, particularly school children, make use of this to further their interest in science. It is to be made clear that science is not just technology—it is a way of life!