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R HEART U O Y S E H C T H AT T O U Y L I A D G IN AN INSPIR Vol. 1 No. 19 Pages 16 PUNE, SUNDAY MAY 13, 2012 Rs.4 WEATHER Sunrise .....................06:02 Sunset ......................19:00 Moonrise .................00:52 Moonset ..................12:51 Temperature Min ...........................22 0c Max ...........................37 0c
ALL THAT ROCK AND JAZZ
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INSPIRING YOUTH
With the aim of identifying and nurturing young minds with a scientific bent of mind, Dr MG Deo is scouting the villages of India in search of hidden talent
Scouting the young SAMARTH GOYAL
S
cience’s ability to fascinate and intrigue young ones has always made quite an interesting relationship. While all of us have enjoyed reflecting on tiny objects through the microscope to trace some crazy cellular shapes at some point in time, some pursue their love affair with science beyond the infantile initial stage.
The concept To provide an impetus to such young talent, Dr MG Deo chooses kids with a genuine love for science, who possess the potential to break new ground in the future. One might think that you’d need to tap the crème-de-la-crème of Indian schools to achieve that,
Indian scientist but Dr Deo’s sources are way different—he plans to select children hailing from villages and the underdeveloped sectors of the society. Moreover, the initiative is working completely against the run of the current education system followed in our country.
The rationale Started just four years ago, the Moving Academy of Medicine and Bio Medicine, Dr Deo’s brainchild, dreams of finding scientists and people who can innovate, who don’t have to mug up. The institute seeks those who dare to take the road less travelled instead of choosing the easier way out. He says the idea is to help such kids, whom he calls ‘game changers’, realise the potential within themselves, and gain something worthwhile out
Changing trends
About Dr Deo z Dr Madhav G Deo is one of India’s leading medical scientists whose work is widely recognised and cited internationally especially in the fields of protein energy malnutrition, endemic goiter, anti-leprosy vaccine, tobacco-linked oral cancer and growth modulators. He has published more than 100 original papers. To promote research-embedded medical education he organised for the first time in this part of the world, two National Medical Students’ Research Conferences in 2006 and 2008 in Pune. This is a trendsetting event in the history of medicine in India. He obtained an MBBS degree from the Gajra Raja Medical College, Gwalior and MD, Ph.D from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. of their love for science, for themselves and the society we’re living in. Dr Deo further clarifies the ideology behind this activity. “In any society, if one samples 100 students, one will find that a minimum five per cent of the children are interested
in learning that goes beyond textbooks,” he explains. This five per cent, he feels, is a valuable pool that can be tapped into. “The initiative is a blessing in disguise for those who can’t afford to avail of such facilities; it’s a win-win for everyone,” adds Dr Deo.
Dr Deo points out the disturbing recent trend of students being shipped straight to coaching classes post Standard 10. “Thanks to the condensed ‘intensive’ courses, the entire course is compressed into two months’, leaving the child high and dry about what to learn and what to mug up. Our objective is to utilise these two crucial months after Class 10 by involving children in activities they’ll enjoy working on, instead of mugging up like a parrot.” The selection process is quite simple. “I ask the children to write essays on subjects which do not feature in their textbooks, for example, on cancer or diabetes—something which requires external knowledge. Then, we invite them for a oneon-one discussion following which, suitable candidates are
selected.” In the first year of the academy, 10 students were chosen, two of whom have gone on to become scientists. Within four years since its inception, the initiative now boasts of a 34 student-strong batch. The activity is run during the summer vacations, typically after Class 10 examinations to discourage children from joining coaching institutes. “Coaching classes promote hammering the concepts into children through repetition, without any physical application. All this knowledge is no good unless the child knows the utility and flaws of the concepts,” Deo explains. The best one can do, he opines, is salvage the five per cent is question. “I feel if we hone these kids and get them to think out of the box, they will play a pivotal role in shaping a bright future for the country.”
An unnerving snake surprise! A thrilling story where the protagonists are an intruding snake, petrified house occupants and a hero, who comes to the rescue of those trapped, and the snake too!
UMA KARVE
T
ill the tiny-framed Santosh Adsul appeared on his bike, the Karandes—Sucheta and Nitin—had their hearts in their mouths. And why wouldn’t they? In their otherwise quaint home on Sus Road had entered a snake! To make matters worse, this one was not one of those rat snakes or the non-poisonous garden snakes, but a majestic, almost four-feet-long cobra.
How it happened It all began around 10 pm on the Sunday of May 6 when the husband-wife duo were watching the telly. “We heard somebody calling out our
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son’s name near the kitchen window,” recounts Nitin, who asked Sucheta to open the living room door.
BRIEF ENCOUNTER When Sucheta opened the door, she couldn’t stop screaming. Coiled on her door handle with its hood raised was a hissing cobra! As she recoiled, the snake brushed her hand, dropped to the floor and slithered into the house, part of him inside and part outside the door frame. Fortunately, Sucheta was not bitten. “I was petrified to see the big hood; the creature hissing almost in my face and
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brushing my hand almost made my heart freeze,” she says. Concerned neighbours contacted Neelimkumar Khaire, founder of the Herpetological Society, who suggested they seek help from Santosh Adsul. The saviour arrived 20 minutes later from Paud Phata. The snake was then bundled in a bag and nobody was hurt. For Adsul, this was just another routine call.
The man of the hour For people like Adsul, who answer frantic calls from across the city, a snake, whether a Russell’s Viper or a Cobra or a rat snake, are equally precious. >> Continued on Page 5
how they lend an extending hand could propel you to contribute your bit to the society. In this progressive city of Pune, the desire to the serve the society is very strong, as we learnt from interaction with citizens.
The hero on the occasion was Santosh Adsul, a brave snake rescuer. Within 20 minutes of his arrival at the Khaire household, the snake was safely bundled in a bag
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