The BSS Kerala chapter has instituted a public lecture programme in honour of Mr.G.S.Padmakumar, former president of Breakthrough Science Society, Kerala chapter, who had played a very significant and leading role in building up a new science movement in Kerala. The first lecture was organised on the occasion of his first death anniversary on April 28, 2019 at the seminar hall, Priyadarsini Planetarium, Thiruvananthapuram. The invited speaker was Dr Liaquat Ali, former Vice-Chancellor, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences, Dhaka.
Speaking on the topic titled ‘Science and Renaissance – European and Indian contexts’ he said: “Compared to the European renaissance the main limitation of the Indian renaissance was that it could not develop scientific outlook in the society. As a result the Indian renaissance failed to eradicate various kinds of superstitions, casteism and communalism from the society. This has created a favourable ground for widespread misuse of religion in politics, a sign of regression in the Indian subcontinent. The lack of scientific outlook is also reflected in the unbridled consumerism at the cost of environment, ideology and ethics. Realising that the Indian renaissance remained an unfinished revolution we all have the responsibility to fulfil its unfinished tasks.”