India started pondering on notions such as 'scientific temper' in the 1940s, much before science communication became a buzzword, but has lost its zeal to fight the unscientific, reactionary and obsolete somewhere along the way. Strange, given that this was the first country to pass a science policy resolution and amend its constitution to include spreading of 'scientific temper' in the list of citizens' duties.
In recent times, the country has seen large-scale resurrection of anti-science or extra-science discourse in the public arena. This anti-science campaign is spearheaded by private television channels, though others are not far behind. Ironically, adcanced technology — television — has become a vehicle to propagate the most outdated ideas.
While there is an intense onslaught on scientific temper by TV happy gurus of all shades and colours, the forces that represent scientific thinking also thrive in the country.
Some promises kept
Recently, the scientific community witnessed reassertion of promises made in the scientific resolution. Three national level science events were organised within a fortnight — the National Children's Science Congress in Chennai (December 27-31, 2010), the All India People's Science Congress in Thrissur (December 27 to 30, 2010) and the annual 'science bang' Indian Science congress in Chennai (January 3-7, 2011).
The children's science congress was the culmination of a series of district and state level conferences. In the process, more than 500,000 school children discussed scientific issues over a period of three months. The people's science congress, at the behest of science-mass-organisations, saw about 600 delegates from all over the country representing over a 100,000 activists. The five-day Indian Science Congress attended by more than 5000 scientists saw intense discussions on various scientific, educational and technological issues.
Science film festival
Film maker Adoor Gopalakrishnan (right) and Gauhar Raza (centre) felicitating science film makers at the film festival. 
Despite its long history, not much has been done by the Indian film industry to bolster scientific temper in this country. The reason is obvious — science communication does not generate big bucks. However, when the small screen came to India, conditions for producing science films with much smaller budgets were created. A few diehard science communicators, working against all odds, took the plunge and started using this new medium for making documentaries on science subjects.
Government organisations such as National Council for Science Technology Communication (DST), Development and Communication Unit (ISRO), National Council of Educational Research and Training, Centre For Imaging Technology and later Vigyan Prasar either came forward to provide financial help for making science documentaries and serials or took upon themselves the responsibility to produce science programmes. Some of these programmes were telecast on government channel Doordarshan. Despite the overwhelming popularity of weekly science programmes like Turning Point and Kasauti (in Hindi) private channels were not interested in science.
It was the dedication of a few individuals and collectives that kept the lamp oiled. Over the last three decades, the community of science documentary producers has gradually increased. One of the major hurdles that these creative individuals and institutions face is that, barring Doordarshan and Lok Sabha Channel, they have no platform to showcase their work.
In this backdrop, the National Science Film Festival was a significant initiative.
A new beginning
The idea took shape in late 2010 in a small committee room of Vigyan Prasar. Time was short and the dream almost unrealistic. The film festival had to be announced and publicised to ensure sufficient number of entries. The terms and conditions were to be finalised, jury had to be constituted, screening organised and details of award ceremony worked out. The Jahangirabad Media Institute, came forward with its expertise in organising documentary film festivals. The Indian Science Congress Association and the Tamil Nadu Science Forum also extended support.
The festival invited entries in two categories — competitive and non-competitive. Only Indian producers and production houses were invited to send entries in the competitive section. The non-competitive section was open to international entries as well. The Royal Society of New Zealand, Royal Institute of Australia, SCINEMA Festival of Science Film and EuroStemCell responded to the call and sent 24 award winning films. This section was important because it introduced the Indian audience and documentary filmmakers to films from around the globe.
In the competitive section, 58 films produced by Indian filmmakers and production houses were received in three categories — popular science programme, short film and animation & graphics film. The jury headed by Kiran Karnik, former president of NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Services Companies), and including eminent documentary film makers such as Amar Kanwar and Saba Diwan previewed 22 of these to choose the award winning films.
The festival was inaugurated on January4, 2011 at Chennai to enthusiastic participation from scientists, students and filmmakers. The festive mood, however, did not deter them from discussing serious issues with the producers and directors.
Eminent Indian film maker Adoor Gopalakirishnan gave away the awards at another function three days later. The Golden Beaver Award for the 'Popular Science Programme' went to Seema Murlidhara for her film Bahari Dunyan Ke Ajab Sanket. The film explains the complex science of radiations that we receive from outer space. Rakesh Andania received the Silver Beaver Award for his documentary on the history of telescopes Doorbin Ke 400 Sal . The Bronze Beaver Award category went to Butterflies directed by Suresh Elamon.
In the 'Short film on Science and Technology' category, the didactic documentary on Newton's laws, Action Reaction directed by Anita Gupta was selected for the Golden Beaver Award. The Silver Beaver Award went to Suresh Elamon for his film Ants All Around Us . The Bronze Beaver was awarded to Matiur Rahman for his film Beyond Bicycle . In the category 'Graphics Film on Science and Technology', the Golden Beaver Award was given to Pupi 2 directed by K. S. Madhu.
The path ahead
The first National Science Film Festival is surely a turning point in the history of science filmmaking in India. It is here that, for the first time, science filmmakers were honoured for their dedication, creativity and devotion.
However, its historicity would be lost if it fails to ignite the imagination of the young and creative minds. Since it was the first of its kind, the event was received with enthusiasm, but the hope will taper off if policy makers do not recognise the importance of this medium.
Science filmmaking has flourished only in countries that support dedicated TV channels for communicating science. And we don't have one.
The author is a scientist at New Delhi-based National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources, an Urdu poet and a film maker.
