Chandrayaan-3 success and need to shed irrational thoughts, religious prejudices

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*
Congratulations #ISRO for successful landing of #Chandrayaan3 on #moon. For thousands of years, #Moon has been the Mama for all of us. We worshipped moon. After two-three months, we will have a celebration of #Karwachowth where a number of those clapping for todays mission, would be 'praying' the 'moon' for the long lives of their respective husbands and the same TV channel who are celebrating today, will celebrate #Karwachowth festival more than what they are doing it today.
It is clear that modern age is that of science and scientific thinking. The countries which have rationality and scientific thinking will progress while those steeped deep in superstition will just develop hatred and irrationality.

India has lost a lot due to irrational thoughts and religious prejudices. One does not have any issue if religion is for personal gratification and in the private domain. Sadly, religion is not private matter as state after state is appeasing the majoritarian chauvinism in the name of culture.
Isn't it ironical that a day when we should celebrate science and scientific thoughts, the news headline suggest '140 crore people prayed' for the success of Chandrayan. How can prayers ensure 'success'. If prayers are that powerful then I would ask all those why prayed for Chandrayan's success do pray for Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand where we have witnessed huge calamities. Please pray to stop the devastation.
Yes, we all wish our scientists to succeed and they deserve our support and solidarity. They deserve our good wishes. We know well that ISRO scientists too have been forced to go to Tirupati temple for the 'success' of their mission but these are the pressure of politics of our time. We know it well that the Mission Chandrayan's success is the hard work of our space scientists.
Let us hope the government spend more money on quality education and support the new young to explore new horizons of the science whether space, medical or in any other forms. Important to give our youths hope for future by investing in education sector considering it as our sacred national duty so that these young dont waste their time on doing whataboutery and hatemongering.
Let us hope that the success of our space mission and other such missions of science and technology will inspire these young minds to opt for these issues. Unless government take a serious note on it and spend reasonable amount money in strengthening our university and other institutions, we cant expect much and our youth will only be used by these political parties who fail to give them any hope and vision.

---

*Human rights defender

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