Today is National Scientific Temper Day. Follow this thread as I delve into the works of Indian scientists & thinkers like PM Bhargava, H Narasimhaiah, MGK Menon, Justice Jahagirdar, Jayant Narlikar et al. (1/n)

The controversial 42nd amendment to Constitution of India was enacted during the Emergency (25 June 1975 – 21 March 1977) & one of the important changes was the inclusion of Fundamental duties of Indian citizens towards the nation. (2/n)

Article 51A(h) says: 'It shall be the duty of every citizen of India ... to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;' (3/n)

Nehru seems to have coined the word term 'Scientific Temper' as explained in his book Discovery of India. (4/n)

Justice RA Jahagirdar in his work 'Scientific Temper' talks of how the spirit of inquiry is not the monopoly of scientists. (5/n)

A vociferous crusader for Scientific Temper, Physicist & Freedom Fighter, H Narasimhaiah was a pioneering 'Myth Buster' who debunked the works of many godmen who propagated pseudo-science. (6/n)

Astrophysicist of repute, Jayant Narlikar, talks of how scientific temper can resolve some conflicts that arise in society today. (7/n)

PM Bhargava, the eminent molecular biologist had this to say in 1983, have we progressed much since then? (8/n)

Physicist MGK Menon explains clearly why popularization of science is not to be confused with propagation of scientific temper. (9/n)

While we have a list of illustrious personalities who have strived towards inculcating Scientific Temper, it is pertinent to ask as to why the National Scientific Temper Day came into being. It is a sign of our times, a sign of an atmosphere that begs people to not remain silent.