It was the evening of 14th October, 2015 . The deputy director general of ICAR Dr KML Pathak was looking the arrangements being made in Dr BP Pal Auditorium of IARI, Pusa, New Delhi . This place , an air conditioned auditorium in the name of a great Agricultural Scientist and former Director of IARI and Director General of ICAR Dr Benjamin Peary Pal ( the great wheat breeder, and Indian rose society founder) , was going to witness release function of a book on another eminent animal scientist Professor Sailesh Chandra Dutt who passed away on 16th August,1979 but still remembered by the scientific community . Mr Narendra Kumar, Incharge of Har Anand Publications Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, who took interest in publishing the book "Remembering Dr SC Dutt :The Parasitologist", came and stalled copies of the book . At about 4.30 PM the auditorium was occupied fully by vice chancellors of Agriculture/Veterinary universities, President,VCI , Heads of the departments, Directors , joint directors of many ICAR research institutes, students and other dignitaries ; important were the persons who were ever related or came in contact with Dr SC Dutt- either as his students or as colleagues. It was heartening to see Dr Suvimal Dutta, younger son of Dr SC Dutt with his family who travelled from Bhillai to New Delhi for attending the function .The younger daughter Mrs Deepali was also present with her husband Mr Bhaskar Dutta .
Chairs on the podium were occupied by Dr Ayyappan Director General of ICAR, Dr Mahapatra Director of IARI, Deputy Director General of ICAR Dr KML Pathak, Shri Shekhar Dutt, eldest son and former Governor of chattisgarh, Dr S Dutt, younger son and a prominent Surgeon , Mrs Deepali Dutta and myself- editor of the book.
The speakers, one by one, were able to recreate alive the old scientific atmosphere of IVRI (where mostly Dr Dutt worked) and IARI when scientists were totally devoted to the science and how they were working even in late mid night ; the time when laboratories were having only stools and no chairs ; libraries were congested with students and scientists searching scientific literature and consulting journals . Perhaps the most important fact was the feeling in each scientist to work for the nation and to solve one or other problem which the country was facing. Shri Shekhar Dutt narrated his memories related to the work of his father. He emphasized how Dr Dutt realized importance of zoonosis in human health and started working on zoonotic diseases when it attracted little attention ; as defence secretary he realized its importance for the country and also for the defence personal and urged scientists to look on this subject for greater details. The book was released by Dr Aayyapan , Director General of ICAR.
This was the time to invite speakers from the audience Dr Bhatnagar ,a retired personal from RVC narrated his first posting under Dr SC Dutt; Dr PD Juyal , retired Registrar of Vety university, Ludhiana and many others expressed their feelings on the occasion. The most important fact that emerged from these deliberations was the humane nature of Dr SC Dutt. Perhaps many among us may not know that he disowned his share of Zamindari, nurtured many his relatives, their siblings and helped them to take higher education . He became a Brahma Samaji and always opposed orthodoxes , prevalent in the society. He was a true humanist who was totally devoted to the science without caring for monetary benefits.
Perhaps a question may be raised by our young scientists why they should read such books that describe about past scientists and their work. To them , my answer is it is important to know what were the earlier scientific problems our country and science were facing and how these scientists solved many of them with minimum facilities ; how they planned the research methodology that their research findings are still valid even after lapse of so many years. Moreover, this book is divided in three parts - part A is about Professor SC Dutt ; Part B contains six Dr SC Dutt memorial lectures delivered by eminent parasitologists of India at College of Veterinary Science and AH Jabalpur MP and dealt with important subjects which are still relevant . Part C deals with articles on the parasitic problems which human race and animals are facing . When a student choose higher studies and willing to select academics and research as his career , it is imperative for him to know the past of the science, what work has been carried out abroad, in India and in his department on the topics . In absence of such knowledge, our post graduates ,at times, remain unaware about the great work ,carried out by their own department in the past. I have been told by Professor Alok Kumar, Professor of Physics in America that it is compulsory for all the post graduate students of the department to know about history of the department and contributions made by it on the subject. Certainly equipped with past and modern knowledge with modern facilities , these young scientists will become more capable of solving national and international problems to make the country and whole world livable for all- they will not forget human touch in all their findings ,throughout their life- perhaps this is the essence of science as taught by Dr BP Pal and Dr SC Dutt..
Perhaps a question may be raised by our young scientists why they should read such books that describe about past scientists and their work. To them , my answer is it is important to know what were the earlier scientific problems our country and science were facing and how these scientists solved many of them with minimum facilities ; how they planned the research methodology that their research findings are still valid even after lapse of so many years. Moreover, this book is divided in three parts - part A is about Professor SC Dutt ; Part B contains six Dr SC Dutt memorial lectures delivered by eminent parasitologists of India at College of Veterinary Science and AH Jabalpur MP and dealt with important subjects which are still relevant . Part C deals with articles on the parasitic problems which human race and animals are facing . When a student choose higher studies and willing to select academics and research as his career , it is imperative for him to know the past of the science, what work has been carried out abroad, in India and in his department on the topics . In absence of such knowledge, our post graduates ,at times, remain unaware about the great work ,carried out by their own department in the past. I have been told by Professor Alok Kumar, Professor of Physics in America that it is compulsory for all the post graduate students of the department to know about history of the department and contributions made by it on the subject. Certainly equipped with past and modern knowledge with modern facilities , these young scientists will become more capable of solving national and international problems to make the country and whole world livable for all- they will not forget human touch in all their findings ,throughout their life- perhaps this is the essence of science as taught by Dr BP Pal and Dr SC Dutt..
