From our Correspondent

SILCHAR, Aug 3: Along with other parts of the world, the People’s Science Society based in Silchar celebrated the birthday of the greatest scientist of the country Prafulla Chandra Roy in their own distinct way on Thursday evening.

The members of the organization selected Chaitanya Nagar Pathsala, the school located in a slum area near the town to mark the occasion. “As PC Roy wanted to take science to the doorstep of common people, we have selected the school where most of the students belong to poor families,” said Rahul Roy, a member of the Society.

The members of the organization Pinki Purkayastha, Sufia Barbhuiya and Geeta Roy, who are the research scholars of Assam University, displayed different scientific experiments before the students. Pinki Purkayastha, a senior researcher in the department of Environmental Science, dwelt on the various environmental issues. She also spoke on the adverse effects of air and water pollution and suggested precaution measures to the students.

Hillol Bhattacharjee, vice president of the Society, shed light on the life of Prafulla Chandra Roy. Born on August 2, 1861 in Bangladesh, Roy was a brilliant student from his childhood and in 1882 he left for England as a Gilchrist scholar and took the degree of B Sc. and D SC. from Edinburgh University, Hillol said.

Hillol further pointed out that the lack of funds and necessary equipments to carry out a research could not stop PC Roy from his quest and soon he was able to synthesize chemically the compound Potassium Nitrate. He added to say that Roy was known for setting up the first Indian pharmaceutical institution ‘The Bengal Chemical and Pharmaceutical Works Ltd.’ in 1901.

Hillol also spoke on the role played by PC Roy during the time of independence. “He was not only a scientist, but a freedom fighter too. He often was found in pains to see the misery of a poor man. He always made an effort to take science to the reach of a common man to fight against all sorts of superstition. He fought against the tyrants in his fields and taught people the true cause behind nature's powers,” Hillol added.

The organization would also start a free coaching centre for the students of weaker sections of the area.

Other members present on the occasion included Prashanta Singha, Nilratan Bhattacharjee, Rahul Roy.