An Interesting Questionnaire on Science and Fiction !

Peggy Kolm puts a list of questions on her blog ' Biology in Science Fiction ' which are to be answered by sf writers and bloggers as a preparatory exercise to moderate a session on sf in ScienceOnline09 which is an annual rendezvous of science bloggers.

I have answered the questions as per my little understanding of the subject and genre.The questions and answers are as follows-
What is your relationship to science fiction? Do you read it? Watch it? What/who do you like and why?

I am very fond of reading and watching sf .I like the stories particularly with optimistic note and happy endings. This may be due to the deep sacraments through which an Indian undergoes since his childhood. As a matter of fact most of the Indian stories have happy endings and a positive thought towards human life -Vivekanand( (January 12, 1863–July 4, 1902) ,the great Indian spiritual leader who visited USA also once said .."See ,if you have lost every thing, future still remains." So we have born and brought up in a milieu like this.My all time favorite sf writer has been Issac Asimov who still has many of his admirers in India.His many stories have social implications and is appreciated by Indian audience.

· What do you see as science fiction's role in promoting science, if any? Can it do more than make people excited about science? Can it harm the cause of science?

· At least in India sf could play a pivotal role in popularizing sf but for this we have to look for many new innovative formats and procedures ...one is already in practice and has been brought to your notice earlieir and finnds a mention on your blog -BIOLOGY IN SCIENCE FICTION -This could be depicting/ showing of sf in dynamic models, .tableux during the religious occasions at times when there is a great assemblage of common people like the one called KUMBH –the largest fair of the world organized every 12 years for a duration of more than a month on the cofluence of river Yamuna and Ganges in Allahabad,India. An ingenious mix of mythology and sf could also be tried to attract the common masses. This experiment has yielded encouraging results during last Kumbh .If you rationally mix something very familiar like myths of a country with something very unfamiliar like sf ,things get going very well to carry and communicate the intended message to masses.No ,there seems to be no damage to the science itself ,instaed it serves the very purpose of sci communication. Its helpful to bring out the science out of our iron walled laboratories to the public.

·

· Have you used science fiction as a starting point to talk about science? Is it easier to talk about people doing it right or getting it wrong?

· Quite often ,To begin a lecture on science or technology stories act as attracting contrivances /devices for the audience and thus could be used in various medium of imparting knowledge from class room to open theater as par the need and demand. But yes such story tellers/trainers or teachers must be trained by the experts in the field ,otherwise there is a possibility of promoting pseudo science in the name of sf -mythology mix or any such ingenious combo.

· Are there any specific science or science fiction blogs you would recommend to interested readers or writers?

· Biology in sf is my favorite , sf signal is another one and there are many more depending on the choices by the people of specific geographical areas and interests.

· Questions for Science Fiction Writer.

* Why are you writing science fiction in particular? What does the science add?
* Writing to me at least is for my own satisfaction first and a very strong motivation to share the gained knowledge however meager that may be to fellow beings who need that knowledge. Sf writing serves to satiate my innermost desire.
* What is your relationship to science? Have you studied or worked in it, or do you just find it cool? Do you have a favorite field?
* I am a PhD in fish genetics from the Oxford of the East –Alahabad university ,India –so have a penchant for scientific contents especially genetics ,behavior and so on.

* How important is it to you that the science be right? What kind of resources do you use for accuracy?
* Science must not only be right it should be rightly put forth also .Otherwise there are chances that it may transgress the limits of sensibility/rationality and may plunge into the realms of pseudo science.
* Are there any specific science or science fiction blogs you would recommend to interested readers or writers?
* Already mentioned.

First Ever National Discussion on sf: A News Round-Up

National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC)

Indian Science Fiction Writers' Association (ISFWA)

Indian Association for Science Fiction Studies (IASFS)

The First Ever National Discussion

Science Fiction: Past, Present, Future

November 10-14, 2008, Varanasi, India

Venue : Sanjay Motels & Resorts, NH-56, Babatpur, Varanasi.

An Overview

Can you imagine having a barbecue ethnic dinner on the holy bank of the Ganges after having a full view of the light of earthen lamps on the Ghats of the Ganges? Can you imagine a puppet show at the beginning of a conference and Shehnai Vaadan by the nephew of Shehnai maestro Bharat Ratn Late Ustad Bismillah Khan and also a magic show and other recreational activities including fun fishing and primordial soup making contest to commemorate the concept of origin and evolution of life as a curtain raiser to Darwin's bicentenary celebrations due in India next year . These activities were organized as stress releasers after the day long strenuous schedule of the discussions on two of the nights of the conference before dinner on the lawns of the resort under moonlit night and a visit to Sarnath, the famous Buddhist pilgrimage. An excursion like ambiance was provided during the National Conference on SF by the ingenious, innovative and carefully through out programme by Dr. Arvind Mishra, the coordinator and convener of National Conference on S.F.

The First Ever national Discussion on Science Fiction jointly organized by National Council for Science and Technology Communication, Indian Science Fiction Writers Association and Indian Association for Science Fiction Studies was held as Sanjay Motels and Resorts, Varanasi from 10 to 14 November 2008. The conference began with a press conference in “Paradkar Smriti Bhawan’ at Maidagin ,Varanasi, which was addressed by Dr. Manoj Patairiaya , director NCSTC .Dr Arvind Mishra coordiantor/convener of the event outlined the objectives and details of the programme.

In the evening a puppet show on SF story of Zeashan H .Zaidy was presented by Arshad Umar, a puppeteer from Lucknow. Audience had a wonderful evening session of interacting and also viewing a short film by Mark Lund named "First World' .It was very much appreciated by the audience.The film envisaged that aliens have not only arrived clandestinely on earth but were living with us -a fact which is known by certain authorities but they are keeping it tight lipped.The highlight of the day was also a talk on World Science Day entitled ‘ Moon :Facts and Fictions’ by Dr Nellai S Muthu, scientist, Chennai in which be presented a detailed history of the expeditions to the moon.

The Conference was formally inaugurated in a grand function on 11th Nov. 2008. The Chief Guest on this occasion was Professor S.N. Dubey, Vice-Chancellor of JRH Chitrakoot University, U.P. The inaugural function was presided over by Dr. Manoj Patairiya, Director of NCSTC, New Delhi. The Key-note address was given by Marathi Science Fiction Writer Dr. Y.H. Deshpande. In his key-note address he traced the origin of Indian SF in the great epic Mahabharata. The Chief Guest, respectable Vice-Chancellor S.N. Dubey underlined the importance of reading science fiction for spreading science awareness. The other distinguished speakers who spoke on various aspects of science fiction were Dr.Madhu Pant , former director of BAL BHAWAN , New Delhi and Shri Hemant Kumar, a senior litterateur from Lucknow. The presidential address was given Dr. Manoj Patairiya; and the vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. R.R. Upadhyaya, President of ISFWA, Faizabad. On this occasion three books on/of SF by Dr. Ratnakar D Bhelkar, Mr Harish Goyal and Mr.Zeashan Haider Zaidy, were also released by the chief guest of the function.A message in the form of an erudite piece of sf critique by Hon. Justice Yatindra Singh,Allahabad High court was also released on the occasion.

The inaugural function was followed by two technical sessions. The first technical session was on the historical perspective of science fiction. The chairman of the session Professor S.M. Gupta opened the session by raising important issues to be discussed at the session such as science fiction, role of fantasy in SF, mythology and reinterpretation of mythology in SF and the futuristic vision of Science fiction Dr. Gauhar Raza made a distinction between an artist and a scientist and stated that an artist not only revisions future but also revisits and reinvents the past. But the study of science is accumulative in nature in that future scientific inventions are built on the past inventions. He emphasized the need for forging the future of SF rather than the analysis of its past history. Dr. Arvind Dubey, a pediatrician by profession and sf buff , emphasized the need to identity the first SF story. He rejected the view that Mary Shelley 's "Frankenstein" is the first SF in English. According to him Lucian's "True Story" (2nd Century A.D.) and Kepler's "Somnium" (1634) are the best contenders to be first S.F.

According to Dr. Arul Aram H.G. Well's novels have post-modernistic trend in them. He emphasized the need of social responsibility as a component of SF.Dr. CM Nautiyal drew a distinction between science fiction, science fantasy and fantasy. He said that in a true science fiction, science is integral and not incidental to the story but what may not pass this test , may still be good literature or good science fantasy. However, the result of the test may change with times and with readers' background. To write 'hard science fiction', one ought to know the laws of the related science. No Indian film passes the test. 'Koi Mil Gaya' comes the closest to being Sci-Fi-Fi but not good enough.

The Second Technical Session on Understanding Science Fiction-A Cognitive Approach began under the chairperson ship of Dr.Madhu Pant ,former director of BAL BHWAN New Delhi , The speakers outlined the current trends in SF. Dr Thirumani stated that contemporary sf is an easy way to understand science. Mr. Harish Goyal, a writer of Hindi SF made a case for prescribing science fiction in the curriculum at school and college levels. Mr Vishnu Prasad Chaturvedi underlined the importance of science element as a necessary component of SF.Amit Sarwal emphasized the need for curriculum development in SF in the literature classroom at undergraduate level by the UGC and hoped for grants to publish critical books on SF in order to equip teachers to teach this new subject.Mr. Mehrdad Anaseri presentation focused on 'Study of Tom Stoppard's Hapgood and Arcadia with cultural implications to India". "There is no need to go beyond reality to find utopias or dystopias," contended Mr.Anaseri adding that literature and cinema should shoulder the responsibility of focusing on "real" issues challenging modern science today, before depicting wild extrapolations. Mr. Mohan, one of the Tamil science fiction writers, presented his views on “SF in Science Propogation". Science Fiction writer Mr. Kamlesh Srivastava shared his views on the “Public Understanding of Science through SF”.

The third technical session was chaired by Dr. Vibhavari Deshpande and was devoted to the current trends in SF. Anwesha Maity presented a comparison between Japanese and Bengali SF and pointed out that both started as adventure stories. Reema Sarwal drew the attention of the audience to the similarities between SF and post colonial writings. Zakir Ali Rajnish , a noted SF writer for children pointed out the need to make SF interesting for children. Two joint papers were also presented on SF movies by M. Venkadeshan, M. Srividyas and NS Sampath Kumar and S. Valliganthans. They pointed out the special effects created by the Sf Cinema. Ratnakar Bhelkar stated that fantasy is not the opposite of reality but the other side of reality. Anil Kumar Vishwa and Jaiprakash pointed out that new trends in the form of reinterpretation of mythology are developing in SF.

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On 12th November 2008, Technical Session-IV : Science Fiction for Science communication was chaired by well-known SF writer Mr. Unnikrishnan from Kerala. Dr. Geetha.B discussed various possibilities of using SF as a teaching tool in her paper on “SF as a Teaching Tool: Future Prospects”. She stressed that SF should be used in classrooms of various subjects and not only in language classes. Meenu Khare said that SF can be presented effectively through radio. "Animation films, cartoons and comic strips always attract children" said Amit Kumar. He stressed the need to produce SF comics and cartoon films so that difficult concepts of Science can be taught easily.Dr. Afrina Rizvi discussed the scientific content in SF by drawing the audience’s attention to Mary Shelley’s & H. G. Wells’ SF works.

In the V technical session Hemant Kumar spoke on the latest trends of SF। Zeashan Haider Zaidy pointed out the importance of SF and suggested the ways to popularize it। Amit Kumar presented a comparative study of Hindi mainstream stories with those of SF. Arshad Umar advocated the presentation of SF through puppetry. Dr.Taralika Trivedi was of the opinion that the fiction based on scientific theme can also be very much of a mainstream fiction. The paper discussed this doctrine comparing SF works with mainstream fiction .As soon as a great SF is written, critics stop calling it SF, but reclassify it as mainstream fiction.Many works unassumingly portray SF,remaining still very much in mainstream.Good SF is both good literature and good writing. The best SF is simply a genre of the best writing.

The greatest achievement of the conference was the preparation of the outlines of 'Benaras Document on SF 2008' under the leadership of Dr Manoj Patairiya. This document will contain definition of SF, scope of SF and ways and means of writing, training and popularizing science fiction in this country. The important suggestion that was put forward was the establishment of a SF cell to train young writers to write SF; to translate SF across Indian languages and into English.

The Valedictory function was held in the after noon of 13 Nov. 2008. The Chief Guest was Prof. S.N. Upadhaya the director of IIT Benaras . In this address, Prof. Upadhaya suggested the need to reinterpret Indian mythology to address to modern environmental problems of pollution. Dr Manoj Patairiya presented " Benaras Document on sf -2008' in its preliminary form and said that it will prove to be a landmark work document in the propagation of SF. The guest of hononour on this occasion were shri P.K. Mishra, Chief Co-ordinator IIP Cell B.H.U. and the function was presided over by R.K. Singh Chief Conservator of Forest H.P. The vote of thank, was proposed by Dr. Arvind Mishra, the coordinator and convener of the conference.

By Professor Sagarmal Gupta

Natioanl Discussion on SF-A News Round-Up !

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National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC)

Indian Science Fiction Writers' Association (ISFWA)

Indian Association for Science Fiction Studies (IASFS)

The First Ever National Discussion

Science Fiction: Past, Present, Future

November 10-14, 2008, Varanasi, India

Venue : Sanjay Motels & Resorts, NH-56, Babatpur, Varanasi.

A NEWS ROUND -UP

Can you imagine having a barbecue ethnic dinner on the holy bank of the Ganges after having a full view of the light of earthen lamps on the Ghats of the Ganges? Can you imagine a puppet show at the beginning of a conference and Shehnai Vaadan by the nephew of Shahnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan and also a magic show on two of the nights of the conference before dinner on the lawns of a resort under moonlit night and a visit to Sarnath, the famous Buddhist pilligrimage / Yes this excursion like ambience was provided during the National Conference on SF by the ingenious, innovative and carefully through out programme by Dr. Arvind Mishra, the Co-ordinator and convener of National Conference on S.F.

The First Ever national Discussion on Science Fiction jointly organized by National Council for Science and Technology Communication, Indian Science Fiction Writers Associations and Indian Association for Science Fiction Studies was held as Sanjay Motels and Resorts, Varanasi from 10 to 14 November 2008. The conference began with a press conference in “Pradkar Smriti Bhawan’ at Maidagin ,Varanasi, which was addressed by Dr. Arvind Mishra, Co-ordinator of the event. Dr Mishra outlined the objectives and details of the programme. In the evening a puppet show on SF story of Zeashan H .Zaidy was presented by Arshad Umar, a puppeteer from Lucknow. The highlight of the day was a talk on World Science Day entitled ‘ Facts and Fiction’ by Dr Nellai S Muthu, Scientist, Chennai in which be presented a detailed history of the expeditions to the moon.

The Conference was formally inaugurated in a grand function on 11th Nov. 2008. The Chief Guest on this occasion was Professor S.N. Dubey, Vice-Chancellor of JRH Chitrakoot University, U.P. The inaugural function was presided over by Dr. Manoj Patairiya, Director of NCSTC, New Delhi. The Key-note address was given by Marathi Science Fiction Writer Dr. Y.H. Deshpande. In his key-note addressed he traced the origin of Indian SF in the great epic Mahabharata. The Chief Guest, respectable Vice-Chancellor S.N. Dubey underlined the importance of reading Science fiction for spreading science awareness. The other distinguished Speakers who spoke on various aspects of Science Fiction were former director of BAL BHAWAN , New Delhi and Shri Hemant Kumar, a senior littérateur from Lucknow. The presidential address was given Dr. Manoj Patairiya; and the vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. R.R. Upadhyaya, President of ISFWA, Faizabad. On this occasion three books on/of SF by Dr. Ratnakar D Bhelkar, Mr Harish Goyal and Mr S.N. Dubey, were also released by the chief guest of the function.

The inaugural function was followed by two technical sessions. The first technical session was on the historical perspective of science fiction. The chairman of the session Professor S.M. Gupta opened the session by raising important issues to be discussed at the session such as science fiction, role of fantasy in SF, mythology and reinterpretation of mythology in SF and the futuristic vision of Science fiction Dr. Gauhar Raza made a distinction between an artist and a scientist and stated that an artist not only revisions future but also revisits and reinvents the past. But the study of science is accumulative in nature in that future scientific inventions are built on the past inventions. He emphasized the need for forging the future of SF rather than the analysis of its past history. Dr. Arvind Dubey, a pediatrician by profession and sf buff , emphasized the need to identity the first SF story. He rejected the view that Many Shelley "Frankenstein" is the first SF in English. According to him Lucian's "True Story" (2nd Century A.D.) and Kepler's "Somnium" (1634) are the best contenders to be first S.F.

According to Dr. Arul Aram H.G. Well's novels have post-modernistic trend in them. He emphasized the need of social responsibility as a component of SF.

Dr.C.M. Nautiyal drew a distinction between SF and fantasy and emphasized the need for the writer to be acquainted with the laws of Science before attempting to write SF.

The Second Technical Session on Understanding Science Fiction-A Cognitive Approach began under the chairpersonship of Dr. Vibhavari Deshpande. The speakers outlined the current trends in SF. Dr Thirumani stated that contemporary sf is an easy way to understand science. Mr. Harish Goyal, a writer of Hindi SF made a case for prescribing science fiction in the curriculum at school and college levels. Mr Vishnu Prasad Chaturvedi underlined the importance of science element as a necessary component of SF.

The third technical session was devoted to the current trends in SF. Anwesha Maity presented a comparison between Japanese and Bengali SF and pointed out that both started as adventure stories. Reema Sarwal drew the attention of the audience to the similarities between SF and post colonial writings. Zakir Ali, Rajnish, a noted SF writer for children pointed out the need to make SF interesting for children. Two joint papers were also presented on SF movies by M. Venkadeshan, M. Srividyas and NS Samath Kumar and S. Valligauthans. They pointed out the special effects created by the Sf Cinema. Ratnakar Bhelkar stated that Fantasy is not the opposite of reality but the other side of reality. Anil Kumar Vishwa and Jaiprakash pointed out that new trends in the form of reinterpretation of mythology are developing is SF.

.

On 12th November 2008, Technical Session-IV : Science Fiction for Science communication started with the paper of Mr. Unni Krishnanan who stressed that S.F. should be taught as S.F. and not as a tool for teaching the language. Meenu Khare said that SF can be presented effectively through radio. "Animation films, cartoons and comic strips always attract children" said Amit Kumar. He stressed the need to produce SF comics and cartoon films so that difficult concepts of Science can be taught easily.

In the V technical session Hemant Kumar Spoke on the latest trends of SF. Zeashan Haider Zaidy pointed out the importance of SF and suggested the ways to popularize it. Amit Kumar presented a comparative study of Hindi mainstream stories with those of SF. Arshad A Umer advocated the presentation of SF through puppetry.

The greatest achievement of the conference was the preparation of the outlines of 'Benaras Document on SF 2008' under the leadership of Dr Manoj Patairiya. This document will contain definition of SF, scope of SF and ways and means of writing, training and popularizing science fiction in this country. The important suggestion that was put forward was the establishment of a SF cell to train young writers to write SF; to translate SF across Indian languages and into English.

The Valedictory function was held in the after noon of 13 Nov. 2008. The Chief Guest of the was Prof. S.N. Upadhaya the Director of IIT Benaras . In this address, Prof. Dubey suggested the need to reinterpret Indian mythology to address to modern environmental problems of pollution. Dr Manoj Patairiya presented " Benaras Document on sf -2008' in its preliminary form and said that it will prove to be a landmark work document in the propagation of SF. The guest of hononour on this occasion were shri P.K. Mishra, Chief Co-ordinator IIP Cell B.H.U. and the function was presided over by R.K. Singh Chief Conservator of Forest H.P. The vote of thank, was proposed by Dr. Arvind Mishra, the coordinator and convener of the conference.

By-Prof.Sagar Mal Gupta

विज्ञान कथा -तेरी दुनिया ,मेरे सपने -जीशान हैदर जैदी और अरविन्द मिश्रा

विज्ञान कथा "मेरी दुनिया तेरे सपने "जीशान और और मेरा संयुक्त प्रयास है -कहानी थोड़ी लम्बी है पर इसे कई बैठकों में पढ़ कर इसका आनंद उठाया जा सकता है .

National Discussion on sf begins in the holy city of Varanasi

National Discussion on sf begins in the holy city of Varanasi,India from today with representation of around 100 participants from many parts of India especially from southern part of India.We had a wonderful evening session of interacting and viewing a short film by Mark Lund named "First World' yesterday .It was very much appreciated by the audience.The film hints that aliens have not only arrived clandestinely on earth but are already living with us -a fact which is known by certain authorities but they are keeping it tight lipped.We had a marvelous dramatic presentation of a science fiction story through the puppetry -perhaps an attemt of first of its kind in the world.
We also had the opportunity of hearing a wonderful evening talk by Dr.Nellai Muthu From ISRO who in his lucid presentation emphasized on the facts and fiction associated with the moon .Tomorrow we are going to have the formal inaugural session of the discussion.
The detailed programme could be seen here .