Science, not saffron, on Joshi’s mind

Amaninder Pal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 25

Murli Manohar Joshi, who headed the BJP when the Ram Janmabhoomi movement was at its peak in the early 1990s, today delivered a lecture peppered with references to Western philosophers Rene Descartes, Francis Bacon and Wilhelm Hegel and legendary scientists Nicolaus Copernicus, Isaac Newton and Erwin Schrodinger.

Joshi chaired the valedictory session of the three-day seminar on 'Social Science and Research Policy', organised here by the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID),

The senior BJP leader was equally at home talking about Judeo-Christian philosophy and quantum mechanics. Joshi, who had been accused by his political opponents of attempting to saffronise education during his tenure as the Union HRD Minister, compared the Western and Oriental world view.

"Today's science is a product of Judeo-Christian philosophy, which tends to fragments everything, including various disciplines. However, the Eastern philosophical world view espouses an integrated approach. Life's problems can't be studied in parts and solved in parts. We must have an organic and holistic view of life, which is offered by Indian philosophy," Joshi added.

He ended his address by urging social scientists to question the theories propounded by scientists of pure sciences. "We should be equally critical of pure sciences and social sciences," he said.

As the Kanpur MP, who holds a doctorate in physics, moved out of the seminar hall, he was asked to comment on the recent political developments in UP. "I don't talk politics when I am among academicians and scientists," he quipped.