The trend of devaluing the scientists is continuing even to this day instead of holding the scientists and the institutions in higher regard, which otherwise may push the country further down in global ranking in the future
World Science Day is celebrated on November 10 every year with much fanfare and enthusiasm globally upon the initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. This year the theme is 'Youth at the Forefront'. It was 'Building Trust in Science' last year.
In addition to the international science day, it is also marked locally. Nepal has been observing Science Day every year on the 1st day of the month of Ashwin. This practice began in 2013 when Babu Ram Bhattarai, then the Prime Minister, decided upon the request of late Daya Nanda Bajracharya, former Vice Chancellor of the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) for the popularisation of science and technology in the country.
Science observes the natural phenomena and forms theories. A scientist watches the flowing rivers and theorises that all rivers flow downward. A technologist on the other hand uses the scientific theory for the welfare of the people. Accordingly, a canal is constructed to irrigate agricultural farms. An innovator in turn makes it more efficient by paving it with bricks or stones, as the case may be, to ensure that there is little loss of water from leakage.
It has been observed worldwide that science is the harbinger of prosperity in a country. This is evident from the position of countries making high investments. Countries like South Korea and China spend 4.21 and 2.07 per cent of their Gross Domestic Product whilst Nepal spends a paltry 0.38 per cent.
Consequently, Nepal finds itself at 109th place in the 2024 Global Innovation Index – the measure of the country's development in science and technology. China and India are up at 11th and 39th position respectively with Switzerland enjoying the number one spot. Nepal had climbed to 95th position in 2020 but again descended to its customary early three-digit ranking. All the other SAARC countries are higher up than Nepal with Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh at 89th, 91st and 106th position.
The ranking is determined based on seven parameters such as institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, market sophistication, business sophistication, knowledge and technology outputs, as well as creative outputs. The institutions take into consideration the institutional, business and regulatory environment. Similarly, human capital and research comprise education, tertiary education as well as research and development. The following infrastructure has information and technology, general infrastructure and ecological sustainability. Likewise, market sophistication has in its fold credit, investment as well as trade, diversification and market scale. Furthermore, business sophistication consists of knowledge workers, innovation knowledge and knowledge absorption.
In addition, knowledge and technology output is computed by taking into account knowledge creation, impact and diffusion. Last but not the least, creative output is calculated by looking at the intangible assets, creative goods and conditions as well as online creativity.
If we look at a comparative study of India and Nepal, it can be seen that whilst India scored a ranking of 54, 51, 72, 23, 58, 22 and 43 in the aforementioned seven parameters with an overall ranking of 39, Nepal secured a corresponding ranking of 111, 130, 100, 65, 116, 110 and 97 with 109 overall. In the past, Pakistan and Bangladesh were a few ranks behind, but now they have overtaken Nepal.
It is interesting to note that Nepal was doing very well in the field of science and technology in the past. If we take the case of drinking water, it had a very notable system in the still functional stone-water spouts constructed in the early sixth century as described in the Kel Tole inscription of Licchavi King Man Dev. It was successfully done by the mobilisation of local technology, consultants and the contractors in stark contrast to the failure of the Melamchi Drinking Water Project despite the use of almost everything foreign.
Why is it then that Nepal's performance in the present has left much to be desired? It is partly because of the devaluation of scientists in the following years. Apart from the Licchavi period, the following regimes do not appear to have shown much regard to science, scientists and the corresponding institutions.
We can see in England how Sir Isaac Newton, born in 1672 during the reign of Pratap Malla in Nepal, was knighted. He was later buried near the Kings and Queens in Westminster Abbey after his demise in 1727. Pratap Malla's statue can be seen at Kathmandu Durbar Square along with his queens and children. But no statue of architect or sculptor like Ludgu Bharo can be seen.
The national impression towards scientists hit rock bottom when during the Rana period, scientist Gehendra Shumsher died a mysterious death. His team mate Tirtha Mishra received a four-sided head shave – a punishment meted to Brahmins at that time. Yet another mate of Gehendra Shumsher, Mushe Thapa, had to suffer harsher retribution of banishment from the country.
This attitude of the government continued with Prime Minister Chandra Shumsher saying that he hit his own knee with an axe during the foundation stone-laying ceremony of Tri Chandra College in 1918.
This trend of devaluing the scientists is continuing even to this day. The lowering of NAST's vice chancellor in the national protocol is a burning example. Such irresponsive steps demotivate the scientists, ultimately pushing the country into underdevelopment. The government should hold the scientists and the institutions in higher regard, which otherwise may push the country further down in global ranking in the future.
Pokharel is a former VC of NAST
