Nikhil Joshi
Radhakrishanan is a frequent visitor to the over 2000-year-old shrine before
every mission, temple sources said.
The mission, in which a 720-kg SPOT-6 remote sensing satellite from France
(built by ASTRIUM SAS) and a 15-kg Japanese spacecraft PROITERES would be
placed in orbit by ISRO’s PSLV-C21 on Sunday from Sriharikota, will be
witnessed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
A replica of PSLV-C21 carried in a bag by the ISRO Chief was placed at the feet
of the presiding deity for a while by temple priests, the sources said.
We reproduce an email Dr. Nikhil Joshi sent (on 17 September 2012) to the Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation
(ISRO) after witnessing the nauseating spectacle of none other than the ISRO
Chairman himself carrying a replica of PSLV-C21 (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
– C21) to a hill shrine at Tirupati and placing it in front of the presiding
deity of the temple praying for its successful launch! : carvaka4india
(ISRO) after witnessing the nauseating spectacle of none other than the ISRO
Chairman himself carrying a replica of PSLV-C21 (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
– C21) to a hill shrine at Tirupati and placing it in front of the presiding
deity of the temple praying for its successful launch! : carvaka4india
Sir,
I protest against ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan and Directer of Vikram Sarabhai
Space Center, S Veeraraghavan for their
actions against the constitutional duty of Article 51Ah according to which, every
Indian citizen is expected to promote scientific temper.
It is a petty matter when an ailing patient or a failing student prays god.
However, it is a grave national disgrace when persons of elite stature such as
yours stoop to the level of commoners to pray at Saibaba Temple or Lord Venkateswara Temple for professional success. I wonder
if you spent for the travel and worship expenses from your own pockets. I also
wonder if your absence from duty for a purpose that is against your fundamental
duty should be considered as ‘a break in service’ and those leaves of absence should
be considered as ‘un-paid leaves’ and all consequent dues should be recovered
from you. It is also disgrace to the global community of engineers and
scientists on whose behalf you (S Veeraraghavan)
have audaciously claimed that “We scientists and engineers do our best and
leave rest to the God”.
Scientific temper is a greater, more important and independent skill than tech
savviness or science literacy. God has no place in science. It is part of your
professional responsibility to guide India out of the superstitions,
gullibility and faiths that have riddled our country, especially with greater
penetration after 1990.
In these actions, you have caused more damage to India than the monetary benefits
from the success of PSLV-C21, by setting a wrong example to follow for people,
regarding desired attitude towards faith. I wish that you repent your actions
and strive to undo the damage done by you to the public psyche.
By the way, as an aside, have you ever considered blaming your gods (and
claiming damage recovery from the temple trust authorities) when some of the
earlier Indian rockets failed?
ISRO
chief offers worship at shrine ahead of PSLV-C21 launch
chief offers worship at shrine ahead of PSLV-C21 launch
Tirupati, Sept
7, 2012, (PTI):
7, 2012, (PTI):
 |
| PSLV Courtesy: Wikipedia |
Ahead of India’s
landmark 100th space mission, ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishanan today offered
worship at the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara near here praying for its
successful launch.
Radhakrishanan is a frequent visitor to the over 2000-year-old shrine before
every mission, temple sources said.
The mission, in which a 720-kg SPOT-6 remote sensing satellite from France
(built by ASTRIUM SAS) and a 15-kg Japanese spacecraft PROITERES would be
placed in orbit by ISRO’s PSLV-C21 on Sunday from Sriharikota, will be
witnessed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
A replica of PSLV-C21 carried in a bag by the ISRO Chief was placed at the feet
of the presiding deity for a while by temple priests, the sources said.
Accessed on September 18, 2012)
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