Arise, awake youth, and take up the cause of science

 

Arise, awake youth, and take up the cause of science

An all-original poem by Sujay Rao Mandavilli

 

Science as we know is a systematic study of the natural and the manmade world,

Science matures through meticulous observation and experimentation in the real world,

Science proceeds by testing theories against evidence systematically obtained,

It critically investigates all aspects of real-world phenomena meticulously ascertained,

Science is a consummate gift,

That prevents us from going sans moorings or anchors in the sea of uncertainty adrift,

Research is its more practical and real-world effective sister twin,

That for the most part ensures that we do not go against the grain,

Science is organized knowledge bound together with a commonality of purpose,

 

Science should not be misused and distorted without just or due cause or purpose,

 

The science of today is the harbinger of all bright things associated with the morrow,

 

As it rapidly ushers in the resplendent and the dazzling gifts of tomorrow,

 

As a torch and a beacon illuminating a billion minds,

 

With all its bounteously yielded everlasting gifts and finds,

 

Science knows no country and not in the least any parochially cast boundary,

Because knowledge belongs irrevocably to all humanity,

O! budding and aspiring scientist, cultivate a hunger for knowledge and unbridled curiosity,

Inject and instill in yourselves a healthy dose of skepticism and objectivity,

And chart many a novel and unconventional course and trajectory,

Pursue passionately and dispassionately at the same time open-mindedness and intellectual honesty,

 

Along with dogged persistence and iron-fisted determination,

 

Nurture scrupulously fertile creativity and imagination,

 

Orchestrate with your fellow voyagers seamless communication and collaboration,

 

So take up the cause of science, you resourceful and immortal youth,

 

Become martyrs to the cause of science,

And torchbearers to the world to whom you owe all allegiance,

You cultured and you high-browed couth,

Drench and immerse yourselves profusely,

In your self-defined calling and destiny,

Arise, awake and do not yield until the goals of your impassioned calling are realized fully,

Mature and mould yourselves into intellectuals,

Chasing with harmonious vigour your self-proclaimed goals,

Pursue moral and upright intellectualism,

By jettisoning left-wing or right-wing anti-intellectualism,

And reckless, incautious or unheeding hedonism,

Become thinkers and thought leaders foremost,

And dedicate yourself to your craft with genuineness utmost,

Like the legendary Robert Bruce Foote,

Who changed the course of Indian prehistory in one fell swoop,

Or Pythogoras and Linnaeus,

Who in novel and unanticipated ways altered history’s course,

Become standard-bearers and champions,

Become philosophers though not ascetics,

Become academics and theorists,  

Even astute sages and mavericks,

Or scholars and influencers,

Change the status quo as humanity’s present efforts are weary and tired,

Our collective performance grievously currently leaves a lot to be desired,

Therefore do not become talkers, become doers,

Who vacate very early the fastened and secure seat,

And position yourself far out front on the field,

Dabble but do not distractedly doodle,

Understand the importance of far-sighted vision,

Aim high and deeply envision,

Understand the importance of critical thinking skills,

Also the importance of lateral thinking skills,

Cultivate out of the box thinking,

Even out of the ordinary thinking,

Do not adopt run off the mill approaches,

Do not manifest dyed in the wool approaches,

Step out of your comfort zone,

And your skills and talents do polish and thoughtfully hone,

Swim not with the ordinary tide and say no to tedious buzzwords,

As you will demonstrably regret it afterwards,

Dare to be different from the crowd,

Don’t chase goals that purely mercenary,

They yield rewards that are only pecuniary,

And certainly do not mimic infertile duds and unimaginative dowds,

Specialize vigorously in foundational research,

Take in voluntarily all that there is to analyze and search,   

Specialize consistently in service to science,

Specialize passionately in service to society,

Specialize congruously in service to the education system,

Pursue with unrestrained and resolute firmness objectivity and rigour,

Even as your throw out of the window all old-fashioned techniques sour and dour,

Stalk honesty, above all, intellectual uprightness and honesty,

Any deviations would make your own self-stated goals a mockery and travesty,

No sensationalism should be permissible,

Don’t talk big but indulge in actions with consequences considerable,

Innovate more and specialize more,

And break the fetters that bind us sore,

Shatter the shackles of Eurocentrism

Fracture the manacles of colonialism,

Eschew vested interests,

Abort all kinds of conflicts of interest,

Understand problems faced by less endowed societies gratifyingly not just the ablest,  

Examine all precious and beloved assumptions from scratch,

Any other compromise would be a skimpy mirage,

In horizontal collaboration with contemporary societies do participate,

In vertical collaboration with more scientifically mature and aware societies also do partake,

To briefly yet effectively recapitulate,

All forms of bias and prejudice do decapacitate,

Cross-cultural research design must be adopted,

Interdisciplinary approaches must be pursued,

Transdisciplinary approaches must not be discontinued,

Your mind orientation must be honed,

Your cultural orientation must be toned,

Scientific method must be your forte,

Rigour and precision you must court,

Processes and procedures you must vet,

Passion, dedication and devotion you must universally fete.

Then you will not just self-develop and self-mature,

But also lay the scientific grounds for society to grow in stature.