27 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐨……………..

This day in 1998 was when India overcame heavy odds and conducted nuclear tests at Pokhran (code named Operation Shakthi) led by Project Chief Coordinators: Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (who was then the scientific adviser to the Prime Minister and head of the DRDO) and Dr. R. Chidambaram, (who was then the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and the Department of Atomic Energy). This was a significant moment in the history of modern India to have entered as the sixth nation in the elite group of nuclear powers.

The late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, then authorised the Council for Technology to conduct 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐲 11 starting next year (1999). This day celebrates the achievements in the field of science and technology by researchers, scientists and engineers.

The Technology Development Board (TDB), under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has announced this year’s theme as ‘YANTRA – Yugantar for Advancing New Technology, Research and Acceleration’. The word ‘YANTRA’ has deep roots in India’s scientific traditions and cultural history. It stands for more than just machines; it symbolises the power of systems, teamwork, and scalable solutions. The theme in 2024 was “From Schools to Startups: Igniting Young Minds to Innovate”.

107 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐨 …………..

This day in 1918 was when the Great Storyteller of Science, Richard Feynman was born. The Nobel laureate for Physics in 1965 not only lived science but also made others love science. Feynman’s attributes for science could be summed up as staying curious, thinking clearly and speaking honestly. While Feynman could be remembered for his quantum equations and diagrams, it is significant to recall his words “𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡.” If you have not had the opportunity till now to read his three volumes “Lectures on Physics”, do that 😊

Yashmia stands for the spirit of inquisitiveness, power of innovation and advancements in science and technology!

Happy Technology Day! Happy Feynman Day!