A travelling exhibition on Indian science and technology has come to T&T and has brought with it over 7,000 years of that country's scientific and cultural achievement, from zinc melting to planetary motion. The exhibition, which is a direct result of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's January visit to India, opened last Tuesday at the Divali Nagar, Chaguanas. It will close on July 20. Indian Hugh Commissioner Shri Malay Mishra described the exhibit as a complete package where not only children and educators could learn but also policy makers. "Biotechnology, ICT and watershed management are all pertinent subjects in technology that can be beneficial to T&T. "Policy makers and leaders can go to the exhibit and see what can be applied to T&T to contribute to the growth and development of the country," he said. He said that artists and craftmen could benefit, as award-winning artisans from India would perform live demonstrations and give workshops on crafts. "I know in this country there is a great demand for crafts and for ways people can become self-employed and that is what can be learned," said Mishra. Carla Sookhram, the National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (Niherst) co-ordinator of the project, said the interactive science exhibition was meant to show how India has used science and technology it inherited as a platform for development.
"We want to demonstrate to citizens that we can do that here. They have used science and technology for their national growth and that is something we can mirror," Sookhram said. She said the exhibit saw close to 1,000 visitors daily, most of whom came from schools. The exhibition is a partnership between the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) in India and (Niherst). Nataraj Dasgupta, curator of the NCSM, says India has a great tradition in science and technology in culture that spanned over 9,000 years. "Past Indian civilisations have a lot of experience in architecture, public health systems, ship-building and the making of ceramics and pottery," he said. He said other periods in India had traditions of mathematical science and medical science. India had progressed remarkably in terms of biotechnology, communications, space science and medical science, he said. At yesterday's exhibition several children visiting from schools as far south as Penal gathered around the nearly 150 individual exhibits, while tour guides provided information for each piece. The exhibition is made up of three parts - Heritage India, Traditional Crafts and Modern India- and also includes a "teckno theatre" and "fun science zone" where children can interact with inventions.
Heritage India
In the section that highlights Heritage India, there is a timeline of the science and technology of India that goes back to 7000 BC and the excavated sites of the Indus Valley civilisations. The exhibit states that zinc smelting began in India. According to the information accompanying this exhibit, an archaeological team in India, in 1983, discovered medieval furnaces dated as far back as the 16th century, two centuries before the zinc distillation process in Europe. Another display in the exhibition notes that cotton as a textile material originated in India before spreading to the world. The heritage India section also features the rustless iron pillar of new Delhi, copper in ancient India and ancient natural dyes.
Traditional crafts
This section highlights India's glass technology, ceramics and pottery as well as gems and jewelry. One Niherst tour guide told a group of pupils that ancient India was often referred to as the Golden Bird due to stories of its wealth. Notes around the display state that jewelry is one of the most frequently found relics and artefacts of past civilisations. "The traditional art of India depicts a richness and profusion in the jewelry adorned by both men and women," it reads. Also on display are beautiful pieces of inlaid marble, wood carvings, silver filigree, wax casting and traditional "bidri ware." There is even a live demonstration of the marble being inlaid on display.
Modern India
"Today, India is looked at as one of the most developed countries in the world," said Dasgupta. From science and technology education to space exploration and nanotechnology, Dasgupta says India is far beyond many other countries in terms of science. India is the fifth largest electricity sector in the world and Indian railways are the third largest railway network globally.