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National Science Day is observed in India on February 28th every year to commemorate the discovery of the 'Raman Effect' by Sir C.V. Raman or Dr Chandrasekhar Venkata Raman in 1928. Sir C.V. Raman also received the 1930 Nobel Prize in Physics for this discovery.

History Of Why National Science Day Is Celebrated

On February 28th, 1928, one of the greatest Indian physicists,Sir C.V. Raman , announced his novel discovery on the scattering of light, which came to be known as the 'Raman Effect'. It was a very important discovery that earned him a Nobel Prize in 1930. The first National Science Day was celebrated in 1987 . Nearly six decades after Sir C.V. Raman made the important discovery , the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) requested the government in 1986 to designate February 28th as National Science Day. Hence, beginning in 1987, National Science Day has been observed every year in Indian schools, colleges, universities, and other relevant places.

Celebration Of National Science Day

National Science Day is widely celebrated throughout the nation. Schools and colleges participate with utmost zeal and enthusiasm. Mainly, in engineering and science colleges, exhibitions are held, and students discuss the development and use of science and technology. Government also hands out commemoratory awards and monetary prizes to the individuals and organisations involved in promoting science and technology in some way or another.

Importance Of National Science Day

National Science Day promotes science and technology and their feasibility in daily life. It also encourages scientists, writers, students, and others involved in promoting science and technology.

About Raman Effect

The Raman Effect was an important discovery in the scattering of light. The discovery states that when the light traverses through a transparent object, some of it gets dispersed, and the dispersed light changes its wavelength and amplitude, though slightly. Sir C.V. Raman was discovered on February 28th 1928. He was also awarded the 1930 Nobel Prize in Physics for this important discovery. We celebrate National Science Day to commemorate Sir C.V. Raman and his discovery, the 'Raman Effect.

About Sir C.V Raman or (Dr. Chandrasekhar Venkata Raman)

Chandrasekhar Venkata Raman, popularly known as C.V. Raman, was born in Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu, in November 1888. He was the second child of Chandrasekhar Iyer and Parvathi Ammal. His father was a lecturer in Mathematics and physics, so even from his early years, Raman was immersed in an academic atmosphere. At a very young age, Raman moved to Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. On May 6, 1907, he married Lokasundari Ammal.

Raman grew up in an atmosphere of music, Sanskrit literature and science. He completed secondary school education at 11 and moved to the prestigious Presidency Colleges Madras. In 1904, when he was fifteen, he received his B.A. Honours in Physics and English. He gained. M.A. degree in 1907, obtaining the highest distinction. On completion of their studies, Raman served as an accountant under the Department of Finance of the Indian government. He was elected to the Royal Society of London in 1924. At Raman's graduation, there were few opportunities for scientists in India. This forced him to accept a position with the Indian Civil services as an Assistant Accountant General in Calcutta. His love for science, enthusiasm for work and curiosity about learning new things made him immensely interested in the study of sound. When he was eighteen, one of his first research papers were published in the 'Philosophical Magazine of England. Later another paper was published in the scientific journal 'Nature. He served as a Professor of Physics at the University of Calcutta from 1917 till 1948. He then took over as the Director of the Raman Institute of Research at Bangalore, founded and endowed by himself. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery of 'Scattering of Light' famously known as 'The Raman Effect. Sir C.V. Raman is remembered for his major contributions in the field of vibration and sound, musical instruments, ultrasonic, diffraction, metrological and colloid optics photo-electricity, x-ray diffraction, magnetism, dielectrics and the Raman Effect. Sir. C.V. Raman started contributing to science even at 18 by publishing his inventions and discoveries in international magazines like 'Nature'. He started the first Indian Scientific Research Institute to promote scientific investigation among Indians.

Honours and Awards Raman received many honours from all over the world for his achievement. In 1928 the Science Society of Rome Awarded him the Matteucci Medal. The British conferred the knighthood in 1929, and from then on, he came to be known as Professor Sir C.V. Raman. The following year he was honoured with the prestigious Hughes medal from the Royal society. Honorary Doctorate degrees were conferred on him by the universities of Freiburg (Germany), Glasgow (England), Paris (France), Bombay, Benaras, Patna, Mysore, and several others. In 1930, the Swedish Academy of Sciences chose Raman to receive the Nobel Prize for Physics. He was the first Indian, more precisely, the first Asian to have received this award in his days. He was appointed Director of the Tata Institute in Bangalore in 1933. The Tata Institute soon became famous for the study of crystals. Raman and Nagendranath elegantly explained the diffraction of light by ultrasonic waves in a liquid. This became known as the 'Raman –Nath Theory'. To encourage scientific research in India, Raman established the Academy of Sciences in 1934. Since that year, the science journal 'The Proceedings of the Academy has been published every month till date. The Executive Committee of the Academy named the centre 'Raman Research Institute' in 1948, and he became the Director of the Institute.

Special Events And Activities On National Science Day

One of the main events of National Science Day includes the 'National Science Popularization Awards' handed over to the people and institutions for outstanding scientific contributions or the popularisation of science and communication. Activities like debates, quiz competitions, talk shows, science exhibitions, etc., are held to celebrate National Science Day. Science fairs and exhibitions are held to promote science and innovations . Also, books and journals on science and technology are published and promoted. Monetary awards are also handed over to individuals and institutions promoting science. The greatest honour that the Government of India conferred on an Indian is the Bharat Ratna award. Raman became a 'Bharat Ratna' in 1954. CV Raman is the uncle of Nobel laureate and Physicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar.

Significance Of National Science Day

Celebration of National Science Day is very important in promoting theInstitution of Science and its implementation in our daily lives. It also encourages the people, scientists, writers, students, etc., who do a commendable job of promoting and researching science. It provides a platform for the scientific fraternity to interact with the people and the government and inform them about the usefulness of science and the possible expansion of its growth. Science presents limitless possibilities for growth and makes daily living more comfortable and convenient.

Motive Of National Science Day

The main motive of National Science Day is to promote science and encourage people to adopt scientific methods in daily use to make their lives convenient and comfortable. It seeks to project science as a tool for the development and welfare of the masses and humanity. It is also very significant in promoting and commemorating an individual's efforts in the field of science. Young scientists, inventors, and writers are awarded and felicitated to keep up their good work. All in all, the main objective of National Science Day is to encourage people related to science and technology and to promote science in whatever way possible. National Science Day is celebrated every year to widely spread a message about the significance of scientific applications in the daily life of the people.

• To display all the activities, efforts and achievements in the field of science for human welfare.
• To discuss all the issues and implement new technologies for the development of science.
• To allow the scientific-minded citizens in the country.
• To encourage the people as well as popularise Science and Technology.

Themes Of National Science Day

Every year, a theme is decided for celebrating National Science Day. Theme plays a significant role in the celebration of events . The themes of some of the years are given below-

• Theme of 1999 – Our changing earth
• Theme of 2000 – Recreating interest in basic science
• Theme of 2001 –Information technology for science education
• Theme of 2002 – Wealth from waste
• Theme of 2003 – 50 years of DNA and 25 years of IVF-The blueprint of life
• Theme of 2004 –Encouraging scientific awareness in the community
• Theme of 2005 – Celebrating physics
• Theme of 2006 – Nurture nature for our future
• Theme of 2007 – More crop per drop
• Theme of 2008 –Understanding the planet earth
• Theme of 2009 – Expanding horizons of science
• Theme of 2010 – Gender equality, science & technology for sustainable development.
• Theme of 2011 – Chemistry in daily life
• Theme of 2012 – Clean energy options and nuclear safety
• Theme of 2013 – Genetically modified crops and food safety
• Theme of 2014 – Fostering science temper
• Theme of 2015 – Science for nation-building
• Theme of 2016 – Scientific issues for the development of the nation
• Theme of 2017 – Science and technology for specially-abled persons
• Theme of 2018 – Science and technology for a sustainable future
• Theme of 2019 – Science for the people, and the people for the science
• Theme of 2020 – Women in science

Conclusion Of National Science Day

National Science Day not only commemorates a great Indian scientist and one of his great discoveries but also promotes science as a part of our everyday lives. When society's approach becomes scientific in every aspect, growth and prosperity will follow as the outcome. Thus, the day must be observed with full support from the government and concerned departments.