April, 2015

Sastra Prathibha Awards 2014-15

SASTRA PRATHIBHA

Science International Forum (SIF) announced the

Gauri Prasanth(DPS)

results of its first Sastra Prathibha Contest in Kuwait.

Kartikey Arora(DPS)

Top scoring 14 students who appeared the exam in

KarthikSudheer (Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan)

Chrissa Oommen (Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan)

Diana Vinod Thomas (Carmel)

Neha Elizabeth Thomas (Carmel)

Athulya Jeeva (Indian Central Scool)

Sastra Puraskar for the best school is secured by

Swaraj Challa (DPS)

Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan (IES), Kuwait. 67 students

Sonal Bera (United Indian School)

from various Indian schools in Kuwait who wrote

Karthikeyan Suresh (ICSK Senior)

the exam in two categories were declared outstand-

Anirudha Ramesh(Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan)

Aashi Ashuthosh (DPS)

Josephine Crystal Mathew (United Indian School)

Akshaya Srinivasan (Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan)

two categories were declared Sastra Prathibha. The

winners from each class will be honored with Sastra
Prathibha title. The prestigious Acharya J.C.Bose

ing performers. The awards will be distributed at the

Science Gala Event, which is scheduled on 28th
March, 2015 at American International School. The

chief guest for the event is Padmabhooshan Dr. Vijay Bhatkar and Prof.Sivdas. The 14 Sastra Prathibhas
will have a personal interaction session with Dr. Vijay Bhatkar. Other eminent academic and scientific personalities from India and Kuwait are also expected to attend the function.
.

What is SIF-Kuwait?
Nayudamma Award 2014 given jointly to

Science International Fo-

Dr. Tessy Thomas and Geeta Varadan

Nayudamma Award: Established in 1986 in memory of distinguished chemical scientist, leather technologist and former Director-General of CSIR Yelavarthy Nayudamma. Presented annually to persons who

organization formed and

supported by professionals

have created vital contributions to the development of science and technology in the country.

Women scientists Dr. Tessy Thomas and Geeta Varadan on February 15

rum-Kuwait is a voluntary

th

2015 were jointly named for Dr.

in the fields of Science and

Technology,

Education,

and a few Philanthropists

Y Nayudamma Memorial Award

and prominent members of

2014. They have been chosen for

business community in Ku-

the award for their outstanding

wait. SIF-Kuwait is the of-

performance within the field of

ficial representative of Na-

science and technology. Ramon

tional Science Movement/

Magsaysay award recipient prof.

Vijnana Bharati in Kuwait.

Shanta Sinha presented the award

to Dr. Tessy Thomas and Geeta
Varadan at a special function organized at Tenali in Guntur district of
st

Andhra Pradesh. This is the 1 time

in the history of the trust that 2 emi-

Objectives:
Introduce Indias rich scientific heritage to the youth
in order to kindle scientific
temperament within them.

nent women scientists are being concurrently honoured. The recipients

delivered the 23rd Dr. Y Nayudamma memorial lectures on the themes

Identify and appreciate

students with a flair for science and technology.

Make in IndiaDefence Needs &

Initiatives and Remote Sensing Technology for National Needs respectively. Dr. Tessy Thomas is the Director, of Advanced Systems Laboratory
of the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Hyderabad and Geeta Varadan is the Project Director (Mission) of Agni V, and Director of advanced data processing research institute at ISRO. World noted
astrophysics scientist and astronomer Jayant Vishnu Narlikar was presented
with the Nayudamma Award 2013.

Motivate the young generation to take up science

as a career and encourage
them to contribute towards
INDIA VISION 2020.

Dr BG Sidharth: Man of Science, Born Ahead

of His Time, Know the man who proposed
that black holes do not exist !
Hyderabad-based renowned astrophysicist Dr
BG Sidharth has questioned the existence of
Black Holes for over a decade and his theory has
been confirmed recently by globally renowned
scientists, including famed physicist Stephen
Hawking himself.
Founder, Director General of the BM Birla Science
Centre in Hyderabad, Sidharth is also the convener
and co-chairman (with Nobel laureates professor DD
Osheroff and professor C Cohen-Tannoudji) of the
prestigious Frontier of Fundamental Physics International Symposium series that has been held in Asia,
Europe North America and Australia.

In 1997, when the standard Big Bang model was the

accepted theory with the universe, which is believed
to be slowing down due to dark matter, Sidharth put
forward his theory that the universe was actually
accelerating and was dominated by something called
dark energy. Today dark energy is the new paradigm
and the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics went to three

Black Holes do not exist and I have been writing on astronomers for this discovery. And yet, Sidharths
this for several years, says the 66-year-old scientist. contributions were left unnoticed. The scientist,
Now, whats interesting is that Stephen Hawking however, laments the present state of the scientific
himself is saying that Black Holes do not exist. If scenario in India and feels that the West is miles
they exist at all, that would have to be of the super- ahead. Unfortunately, Indians do not excel at what
massive type, millions of times as massive as the they do. We are very lax and have a Chalta Hai
Sun. Such supermassive Black Holes are believed to attitude. This is the case across the country. As Berbe at the center of galaxies, he explains.

nard Shaw says If it is worth doing a thing at all,

He was conferred with the Einstein-Galilei Laureate then it is worth doing it well, he says.
and Gold Medal of Institute for Theoretical Physics Asked if he fears his lifes work would be rejected,
and Advanced Mathematics and Galileo Telesio of Sidharth smiles and says, Whatever Ive done,
Italy 2013, which he shared with Nobel laureate pro- whether it is accepted or not, I enjoyed doing it and I
fessor DDOsheroff. He also received Italys highest derived immense satisfaction from it. In the end,
honour to non-Italians, Knight-Commander of the thats all that matters.
Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity in 2006.

Aryabhatta knew about gravity before Isaac

Newton: ex-ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair
One of the country's leading scientists and former
ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair propounded
the theory that some shlokas in Vedas mentioned
about presence of water on the moon and astronomy experts like Aryabhatta knew about gravitational force much before Isaac Newton.
The 71-year-old Padma Vibhushan awardee said
that the Indian Vedas and ancient scriptures also
had information on metallurgy, algebra, astronomy, mathematics, architecture and astrology, way Even the knowledge of gravitational field, Newton
before the western world knew about them. Speak- found it some 1500 years later. The knowledge existing at an international conference on Vedas, he how- ed in our scriptures," he added.
ever, added that the information in Vedas was in a
"condensed format" which made it difficult for the Nair, who was ISRO chairman from 2003-09, also
claimed geometry was used to make calculations for

modern science to accept it.

building cities during the Harappan civilization and

"Some sholkas in one of the Veda says that there is the Pythagorean theorem also existed since the Vewater on the moon. But no one believed it. Through dic period. Ancient Indian scriptures posess the sciour Chandrayaan mission, we could establish that entific information including that on plastic surgery
and we were the first one to find that out," Nair said, as well as aero-dynamics.
adding that everything in Vedas could not be understood as they were in chaste Sanskrit.
He also talked very highly about fifth century astronomer and mathematician saying, "We are really
proud that Aryabhatta and Bhaskara have done
extensive work on planetary work and exploration of
outer planets. It was one of the challenging fields.
Even for Chandrayaan, the equation of Aryabhatta
was used.

Ayurveda's healing powers: Top US research institutions conducting mega study on traditional Indian medicine
A major study on Ayurveda's healing powers is being conducted at the
Chopra Center for Wellbeing in California by looking at the genetic and
cellular response to a whole systems
approach on health and well-being.
The research is titled Self-Directed
Biological Transformation Initiative (SBTI) Research Study. It will
measure the total effects of an intensive immersion into a systemic program to check for a person's connection to the healing process. It will
study genes, hormones, bacteria response, inflammation markers,
weight, stress makers etc. in participants who will be split into groups
that receive medicine and control groups who do not.
The study involves top research and medical institutions in the USHarvard University, Scripps Clinic, University of California San Diego,
Mt Sinai University, University of California San Francisco and Duke
University, reports the Times of India. Most traditional medicine and
therapies are not done in isolation, where the focus is on symptoms
alone.
"The body's healing system is still little understood because of the complex inputs - thoughts, emotions, diet, stress, exercise, immune response
- that affect healing. The picture is further clouded when isolated findings overlap or contradict one another. In the context of Ayurveda, therapies and practices aren't done in isolation. Instead of focusing on local
symptoms, the diagnosis is systemic. Only now is Western medicine
beginning to understand that a blanket condition like 'stress' or
'inflammation' connects many diverse disorders, including heart disease,
cancer, and diabetes," says Deepak Chopra.
The study is also an attempt to scientifically establish the efficacy of
Ayurveda which is largely seen as pseudoscience. Commenting on the
beneficial gene activity of ashwagandha, one of Ayurveda's primary
medicine, on Alzheimer, Dr Rudolf Tanzi, a professor at the Harvard
University and a co-researcher at the SBTI study says, "Any scientist of
worth will admit that most of time we are wrong. Just look back at science 100 years ago and ask how much is still correct today. Why would
this not continue to be the case 100 years from now? Thus, it makes
sense to look back to ancient remedies and wisdom, for example, as
prescribed in Ayurveda medicine."

Indian scientists clone near extinct wild buffalo

Scientists at the National Dairy Research
Institute (NDRI) here successfully cloned a
critically endangered wild buffalo found in
Chhattisgarh. Only one female Asiatic wild
water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) survives in
Chhattisgarh's Udanti-Sitanadi tiger reserve and forest officials have confined it
in semi-captivity.
NDRI scientists conducted a biopsy on its
ear tissue and took it to a laboratory at
Karnal for cell proliferation. The cells were
used for the cloning process using an indigenously developed hand-guided technique. "The calf, named Deepasha by the
scientists, had a normal birth weight of 32
kilograms, is healthy and active," NDRI
Director A.K. Srivastava told the Indian
Science Journal, adding: "We have the
necessary expertise and infrastructure to
multiply this endangered species."
The Asiatic wild water buffalo is restricted
to South and Southeast Asia. The species is
critically endangered due to high anthropogenic pressure ranging from habitat
deterioration to hybridization with domestic buffaloes. The cloning was carried out
at the request of the Chhattisgarh government.
Srivastava said the calf will be handed over
to the Chhattisgarh wildlife authorities for
releasing into wild after a particular age.
NDRI had recently cloned the famous high
-yielding Murrah bull variety - the world's
first such.
Srivastava said that over the years, NDRI
has developed reasonably good facilities in
buffalo reproduction with a dedicated
team of scientists who specialize in production of stem cells, in vitro embryo production and trans-genesis.

India successfully test-fires nuclear capable Agni 5 missile canister

version
India successfully test-fired its indigenously developed, intercontinental
surface-to-surface nuclear
capable ballistic missile
'Agni-5',which has a strike
range of over 5000 kms
and can carry a nuclear
warhead of over one
tonne, from Wheeler's Island off Odisha coast.
The three stage, solid propellant "missile was testfired from a mobile
launcher from the launch
complex-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at about 8.06 hours," ITR
Director M V K V Prasad said. Prasad told that the canister version of
Agni-5 missile was successfully test launched. "The missile, witnessed a
flawless 'auto launch' and detailed results will be known after all data
retrieved from different radars and network systems." An eye-witness
said, "The sleek missile, just within a few seconds of its blast-off from
the Island Launchpad roared majestically into a clear sunny sky leaving
behind in its trajectory a trail of thin orange and white column of smoke
and within seconds it pierced the sky".
This launch was the third developmental trial of the long range missile.
The first test was conducted on 19 April, 2012 and the second test on 15
September, 2013 from the same base. The indigenously developed surface-to-surface missile Agni-5 is capable of striking a range more than
5000 km. It is about 17 meters long, 2 metres wide and has a launch
weight of around 50 tonnes. The missile can carry a nuclear warhead of
more than one tonne. Unlike other missiles of Agni series, the latest one
'AGNI-5', is most advanced having some new technologies incorporated
with it in terms of navigation and guidance, warhead and engine, Prasad
said.
"Lot of new technologies developed indigenously were successfully tested in the first Agni-5 trial. The very high accuracy Ring Laser Gyro
based Inertial Navigation System (RINS) and the most modern and accurate Micro Navigation System (MINS) had ensured the Missile reach
the target point within few meters of accuracy.
"The high speed onboard computer and fault tolerant software along
with robust and reliable bus guided the missile flawlessly," said an official. India has at present in its armory of Agni series, Agni-1 with 700
km range, Agni-2 with 2000 km range, Agni-3 and Agni-4 with 2500
km to more than 3500 range. After a few more trials, Agni-5 will be inducted into the services.
.

Dr Vijay Bhatkar , one of the

most acclaimed scientist and IT
leader in India, awarded
Padmabhushan
He is best known as the architect of India's
first supercomputer and as the founder
Executive Director of C-DAC, India's national initiative in supercomputing. He is
credited with the creation of several national institutions, notably amongst them
being C-DAC, ER&DC, IIITM-K, I2IT, ETH
Research Lab, MKCL and India International Multiversity.
He has been a Member of Scientific Advisory Committee to Cabinet of Govt of India, Governing Council Member of CSIR,
India and eGovernace Committee Chairman of Governments of Maharashtra and
Goa.
A Fellow of IEEE, ACM, CSI,INAE and
leading scientific, engineering and professional societies of India, he has been honored with Padmashri and Maharashtra
Bhushan awards. Other recognitions include Saint Dnyaneshwar World Peace
Prize, Lokmanya Tilak Award , HK Firodia
and Dataquest Lifetime Achievement
Awards, and many others. He was a nominee for Petersburg Prize and is a Distinguished Alumni of IIT,Delhi.
Dr Bhatkar has authored and edited 12
books and 80 research & technical papers.
His current research interests include Exascale Supercomputing, AI, Brain-MindConsciousness, and Synthesis of Science &
Spirituality.
He is presently the Chancellor of India
International Multiversity, Chairman of
ETH Research Lab, Chief Mentor of I2IT,
and National President of Vijnan Bharati.

Indian scientists design morphine replacement

for pain therapy
In a breakthrough that could impact the blurring
realms of pain and pleasure, Indian scientists have
designed a potential morphine replacement, sans the
side effects of addiction, but loaded with pain-killing
power. For nearly four millennia, morphine and its
cousin compounds (opioids) have ruled the roost in
terms of their extraordinary prowess to dull pain
(analgesics). Morphine (sulphate) is a by-product of The larger picture, according to Sinha, lies in augopium which is extracted from poppy plants.
menting pain therapy and palliative care in India.
"Its pain relieving property is very high because of M.R. Rajagopal, a leading palliative care expert, said
its strong binding to the opioid receptor but it also major barriers to access to opioids are complicated
has a high risk for abuse. It has addiction property regulations and problems related to attitude and
like heroin but not as strong. In addition, it may knowledge regarding pain relief and opioids among
cause breathing problems," Surajit Sinha, associate professionals and the public.
professor in the organic chemistry department at the "Any invention like that would be a godsend," said
Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science in Rajagopal, chairman of Pallium India in ThiruvananKolkata, told IANS.
thapuram, told IANS via email and over telephone.
Sinha and his team considered a plant-derived compound called ibogaine, popular in African folk medicine and known for its anti-addictive properties and
pain-killing effects, but notorious for its psychedelic
(hallucinogenic) reaction. It is illegal in countries
like Norway and strictly regulated in the US.

Rajagopal spearheaded the procedure leading to the

Amendment of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic
Substances (NDPS) Act of India in 2014, which will
help ease access to morphine-based drugs through
uniform regulation across states for giving out licenses to manufacture morphine-based drugs.

"We synthesized an ibogaine analogue in our laboratory from scratch and saw that when mice was treated with 40 mg/kg dose of the new substance, it could
provide pain relief for more than 50 minutes. "When
treated with morphine at a dose of 10 mg/kg, duration was 45 minutes, which is lesser than the novel
substance," said Sinha.

"A common state rule will be announced by the central government. But it has not been done yet. It is a
procedural delay. Once they announce the rules, the
rules will be simpler - only if the states implement it.

"Changing the law alone is not going to make a big

difference unless it is implemented," said Rajagopal,
who is also the director of the WHO's Collaborating
The screening was done in collaboration with Su- Centre for Training and Policy on Access to Pain
mantra Das's lab in the neurobiology department at Relief.
the CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology in
Currently, 13 states in India and one union territory
Jadavpur. The researchers have applied for patent
have simplified regulations, but opioid availability
and are now working towards lowering the dose and
has improved only in a few of these states, he said.
studying other properties, including effects in the
nervous system.
.

Events
Annual Science Gala, 2015

To raise new questions, new pos-

Teachers Workshop

from a new angle, requires crea-

28th March, 2015, American International School, Hawally, @ 4.00 PM

tive imagination and marks real

sibilities, to regard old problems

Prof: S Shivadas, an eminent educational expert with five decades of

experience and the author of more than 160 science books, will grace the
evening with his thought provoking, motivating speeches and presentations. He is a National Award holder by the National Council for Science
& Technology Communication, Government of India.

advance in science
Albert Einstein

Sastra Prathibha Award Ceremony

28th March, 2015, American International School, Hawally, @ 6.30 PM

The chief guest for the evening :

Padmabhooshan Dr.Vijay Bhatkar, Chairman of the Governing Council, IIT Delhi, and India's leading IT expert.,
Inventor of PARAM Super computers.
Prof: S Shivadas, an eminent educational expert with five
decades of experience and the author of more than 160
science books. National Award holder by the National
Council for Science & Technology Communication, Government of India.

Presentation
28th March, 2015, American International School, Hawally, @ 7.00 PM

Speaker: Prof: S Shivadas

Subject: Mastering Science & Technology for Mastering the
Human Brain & Unravel the Immense Potential.

Discover
ISSUE 01 APRIL, 2015

Compiled & Edited

by

Prasanth Nair
Reshmy Krishnakumar
Science International Forum, Kuwait
facebook.com/sifkuwait

Corporate Partner :

For subscription mail to sifkwt@gmail.com

Worlds Trusted
Money Transferrer
Our Services:
Instant Bank Transfers
Instant Money Transfers
Online Money Transfers
Foreign Currency
Exchange

Hot Line: 180 88 00

Customer Care: +965 224 55653
customer.care@uaeexchange.com.kw
www.uaeexchangekuwait.com