Tagore’s science essays to be translated into English

Rabindranath Tagore’s collection of essays on science, Visva Parichay, is set to be translated into English and some other languages. First published in 1937, Visva Parichay expresses the poet’s views on and respect for scientific laws governing the human civilisation.
The task has been taken up by The Tagore Centre for Natural Science and Philosophy (TCNSP) that will translate the poetphilosopher’s powerful essays from Bengali to English and other languages for academic benefit and also for the world to learn the Nobel Laureate’s regard for scientific laws. TCNSP aims to study the integration of natural science and philosophy in Tagore’s text. Supported by the West Bengal government, it is hosted at the staterun organisation, Rabindra Tirtha.
Nuclear physicist Bikas Sinha, chairman of TCNSP, said, ‘Our first task would be to translate Visva Parichay in English and other languages to bring this to the world. This excellently written book gives an idea of non-scientific science but is still pure science’. He added that the organisation’s endeavour would involve experts from India and abroad. ‘Sir Roger Penrose, the renowned Oxford physicist, will most likely write something about Tagore, his writings and his relationship with science and interactions with scientists’, said Sinha while addressing the inaugural programme of the centre on 12 June.
Rabindranath’s interest in science can be traced to his early teens. He loved astronomy, and when in England many years later, visited the Greenwich Observatory. Eminent astrophysicist, Meghnad Saha, persuaded him to write a book-rather a bookletin Bengali (VISHVAPARICHAYA-Introducing the Universe, 1937) which he dedicated to Satyaendra Nath Bose, Father of Boson and of Bose-Einstein Statistics-Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC) fame. He collaborated with one of his very close family friends-Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, Professor of Physics and Statistics, Presidency College, Calcutta, who became General Secretary of Vishva Bharati University in 1921. He had encounters with European scientists and scientifically minded philosophers such as Bertrand Russell (1872-1970), Nobel Laureate in Literature, 1950. The German physicist, Arnold Johannes Wilhelm Sommerfeld (1868-1951), met him in Calcutta in 1928. The famous German physicist and philosopher, Werner Karl Heisenberg (1901-1976), Nobel Laureate in Physics 1932 (for his Uncertainty Principle) met him in Calcutta at his Jorasanko house in 1928. He is reported to have said in 1972 that Rabindranath’s philosophical ideas had been of help to him as a physicist. Heisenberg (the young scientist of 27 then) had several conversations with the mature poet (then 67) about relativity, incommensurability, inter-connectedness and impermanence as fundamental aspects of physical reality. After the conversations he said: ‘Some of the ideas that had seemed so crazy, suddenly made much sense. That was of great help for me.’

NBT joins hands with Snapdeal for a noble cause

Snapdeal Sunshine, a CSR initiative run by Snapdeal, announced the launch of ‘HarHaathEkKitaab’ campaign, in partnership with the National Book Trust (NBT). The campaign is a nationwide online books donation drive especially targeting underprivileged children, and aims at inculcating a reading habit among them. Snapdeal’s partnership with the NBT is the first time the latter has come on-board an e-commerce platform.
As a part of the campaign, Snapdeal will encourage its customers to buy and donate books published by the National Book Trust India. People can choose to donate anywhere between 10 to 2000 books by simply visiting https://www. snapdeal.com/offers/har-haath-ekkitaab and clicking on the donation plan one prefers. The average price of the books available is approximately Rs 25. Books in Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and English are available for the first phase of the campaign.

"Flipkart’s acquisition of Snapdeal could come through in July, at a valuation that is being pegged at $400 million."

NBT will dispatch books to NGOs across India working towards educating India’s underprivileged children including Teach for India, Goonj, Bhumi, Aarti, Idea, Impact, 17000 ft, Books For All, Turnstone Global, Guzarish, Educate Girls, PYDS, Pratham, Vimukti Sansthan, Deepalaya, Shikshanandan and the Indian Dreams Foundation.
Rajnish Wahi, Sr VP Corporate Affairs and Communications said, ‘We are proud to partner with National Book Trust for #HarHaathEkKitaab and are confident that the books donated via the campaign will enrich the lives of many young children. Snapdeal Sunshine is committed to making a difference to the Indian society and this partnership is just another step in the same direction.’
Baldeo Bhai Sharma, Chairman, National Book Trust, India said, ‘On the occasion of 60 years’ celebration of promoting reading culture in the country, we have joined hands with Snapdeal for a noble cause. We are confident that this programme will inspire people to donate books to enhance the knowledge of children and shape their future in a better way.’