Chandrayaan-3 a triumph of India, not of BJP

The landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the south pole of the moon has certainly captured the popular imagination in India and made every single Indian proud. However, the event has been given an unwarranted twist by the ruling establishment. There is nothing wrong with beating drums at this epoch-making event, but restraint is a must to maintain the dignity and auspiciousness of the event. In order to appropriate the event, the party went to the extent of denying the contributions of its predecessors. In one of its tweets, the party claims that it is the vision of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the mission of Narendra Modi, and the labor of scientists that have led Chandrayan 3 to the moon. The propaganda machinery of the BJP sprang into action as soon as the Chandryan landed on the moon. Pictures of Prime Minister Nehru hugging Mrinalini Sarabhai, the celebrated wife of the father of Indian space mission Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, with obscene comments appeared on social media. They started talking about how Nehru spent on his extravagant lifestyle and refrained from spending enough on science research. Though most of the stuff the BJP combatants' post on social media is baseless and malicious, it reflects the stance of the RSS on issues that affect the political culture in the country. Their stance is contradictory too. The saffron soldiers are, on the one hand, celebrating the landing and, on the other, putting a picture of the Prime Minister with Tripund and Tilak on his forehead, presenting him as a Sanatani. Does it match with the image in which he is celebrating the landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the moon? How can his Sanatani image reconcile with his image as a missionary of science? It is deep insecurity within Hindutva leaders that compels them to repeatedly exhibit their Hindu identity. The identity is largely political and does not have to do with religious devotion. The occasion could have been used to generate devotion to scientific inquiry.

We indeed find a forward-looking vision in Nehru. While addressing a conference of scientists and educationists in August 1963, Nehru says," The value of science is more important as was stated in the scientific policy resolution. But it is not complete by itself unless you use the term science in the much wider sense than merely technology. And today we see enormous changes being brought about by science and its ramifications. The whole context of life is changing. Even as a matter of fact looking back at the last half century with which I have been more or less connected—some of you also—you see the enormous changes that have been brought about, chiefly because of science and technology. And the pace of change grows and I have no doubt that looking after another 50 years or even 25 years, you will see even greater changes—changes that are not merely on the moon or in space research that may happen, but something affecting human life. And in order to participate in this movement, you have to build yourself up in the scientific and technological sphere."

This is the vision that has guided scientific developments in India. An attempt to belittle it would only mean denying the vision itself. The attempt to attribute scientific achievements to any other person is a brutal assault on history.

A look at our country’s journey to the moon is not only fascinating but also displays the very path our independence movement took under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Jawaharlal Nehru, and others. This path was one of non-violence, peace, brotherhood, and equality among humans. This fascinating journey had the kind of romance that we could only find in literature. A glimpse into the life story of Vikram Sarabhai displays the romanticism that guided the youth of the period. He belonged to a very rich business family in Gujarat. His father, Ambalal Sarabhai, was closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi. His family participated in the Freedom Movement. Vikram and his elder sister, Mridula Sarabhai, had participated in the Salt Satyagraha and the Dandi March in their childhood. The family was also associated with Rabindranth Tagore, and Tagore had recommended him for his studies and research.

After coming back from the United Kingdom, he worked with Nobel laureate CV Raman at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. Raman was involved in developing science in India and devoted his life to the cause. It was nothing surprising that Vikram, the offspring of nationalist parents, chose Raman as a mentor. This was the period when Indians were not only trying to free themselves from the yoke of British slavery but also trying to lay the foundation of a nation that was to come. While in Bangalore, he fell in love with Mrinalini Swaminathan, an Indian classical dancer, and married her. Mrianlini Sarabhai, too, belonged to a noted nationalist family from Madras. Captain Laksmi Sahgal of the Rani Jhansibai Regiment of Netaji Subhaschandra Bose was her sister. Mrinalini Sarabhai spent her life in Ahmedabad and devoted it to training classical dancers. Vikram’s daughter, Mallika Sarabhai, is a noted dancer and actor.

This is hardly surprising about Vikram's leading the space mission envisioned by Jawaharlal Nehru. He, along with Homi Bhabha, led atomic and space research in India. How can the RSS and the BJP appropriate the legacy of the freedom struggle? Their attempt to portray it as a triumph of Hindutva and a step towards becoming Vishwaguru cannot succeed. This is the triumph of India as envisioned by Gandhi, Nehru, and Tagore. This should also be lamented that rulers are incapable of enjoying the romance of a great journey. Nehru, Sarabhai, and Bhabha enjoyed the romance because they could see into the future.

(The author is a senior journalist. He has experience of working with leading newspapers and electronic media including Deccan Herald, Sunday Guardian, Navbharat Times and Dainik Bhaskar. He writes on politics, society, environment and economy)