Patna,(BiharTimes): Noted physicist, Yash Pal, said on Sunday that the real significance and meaning of life is in closely understanding obscure   things which dot the vast universe. It is a fantastic adventure of mind to explore the world. The serious study of science provides this.

Inaugurating the Fifth  Bihar Science Congress organized by Bihar Brains Development Society at Shri Arvind Mahila College, Padma Vibhushan Yash Pal said, thoughts should not remain confined to books and journals but one should think beyond these existing knowledge and explore something different.

Citing example he said everyone knows who invented the sophisticated medicine, but do people know who invented turmeric having medicinal value.

Octogenarian Yash Pal, who is also the Chancellor of JNU, regretted that the present-day syllabi of most institutions fail to promote creativity. Knowledge should not be confined to watertight compartments and the ever-increasing specialization of knowledge must end. There should be childlike curiosity to know all the mysteries of universe and allow thoughts to wander from one discipline to another.

Speaking on the occasion Magasaysay Award winner Rajendra Singh said modern education system is only promoting ways for privatization of natural resources, including land, water and air. The curriculum does not prepare students to conserve the natural resources for the benefit of the future generation. He pleaded for developing indigenous system and utilizing ancient wisdom to solve socio-economic problems.

He lamented that PhDs done in India has hardly any societal relevance. The waterman recalled how a poor an illiterate farmer turned to become his supervisor and prompted him to undertake rain-water harvesting project. The lesson taught by the farmer helped him revive more than seven dried rivers of Rajasthan.

This, according to Rajendra Singh, was more valuable to him than writing a thesis for PhD.

The Vice Chancellor of Central University of Bihar (CUB) Janak Pandey said no development is possible without application of science and technology. He said one should be innovative and explore new ideas for the betterment of the society. The CUB would soon introduce a discipline of cognitive science for its students, he announced.

The college principal Asha Singh welcomed the guest while Science Congress convener Bikramaditya introduced the theme.