The Kalpana Chawla story- you cannot imagine (कल्पना नही कर सकते)!

Participation in Kalpana Chawla Space Academy workshop
 

India’s First Space Technology Academy at Secondary School level

Hello and namaste. Recently I got an opportunity to participate in a workshop organized at Kalpana Chawla Space Academy, Adv. Bapusaheb Bhonde Highschool, Lonavala. I also got opportunity to contribute for designing its curriculum. It was wonderful to interact with such scientists and veterans in the fields of science, education and research. Got so many things to learn from these persons. Many less- known facts about the great Kalpana Chawla came to the fore. A video call with her father was the moment to be remembered for the life! Here is a write up to highlight major aspects of this workshop.
 

✪ Shri. Sanjay Pujari- “madly passionate about educating”
✪ Towering personalities and equalizing science
✪ Young veterans sharing words of wisdom!
✪ The Kalpana Chawla story- you cannot imagine (कल्पना नही कर सकते)!
✪ Inspirational meeting with senior Chawla ji
✪ “Whole the universe is my home”
✪ Less known aspects of Kalpana Chawla


Shri. Sanjay Pujari sir, veteran in science popularization and founder of Kalpana Chawla Science centre, Karad had told me to prepare an outline for a curriculum for 7th Standard students about astronomy. I had told him that I can write on for observational aspects of astronomy and he accepted that. While conducting sky watching sessions, many persons had asked me how they can learn about these sky wonders. So I had some ideas in mind and then sent the outline to Pujari sir. Then he invited me for this workshop.

Young veterans!

In the workshop, I met Shri. Pujari sir after long time. Such a warmth and affection. He introduced us to other eminent dignitaries. It mainly included Shri. Madhav Bhonde sir, the principal of the school and Mrs. Radhika Bhonde madam, ex- vice chancellor of a university Dr. Pandit Vidyasagar and others. Mr and Mrs. Bhonde have extended their support to this academy. It was amazing to know these young people. One such young veteran- Dr. Vyankatesh Gambhir casually shared that he had just ascended to Sinhgad fort. Age of this young person is just 75! Another young person- Industrialist Shri. Narayan Bhargava had come here all the way from Mumbai and he drove his car even when he had a plaster in his left hand! This was just one example of how he can do things single- handedly!

(You can read more about Kalpana Chawla centre here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069161393854&mibextid=ZbWKwL )

Minds to be ignited

Shri. Sanjay Pujari, the veteran “mad about educating” shared his ideas and vision. In brief he also shared his journey of Kalpana Chawla Science Centre, Karad. He shared how one science activity run by him inspired a Baramati girl- Aditi Vadgaonkar to do career in science, space and how she then joined NASA. He also stressed the need to work with young children. Another veteran in the educational sector and academics, Dr. Pandit Vidyasagar in his briefing shared that aptitude should be developed with impetus to basic sciences, he stated. He elaborated the formula that was put forth by activist Tarabai Modak- The kids should move, should speak and also laugh while learning. He shared how hands on experience and experiments teach the students more. He talked about an experiment of working with pendulum for calculating gravity and also shared incident when he was asked questions about giant looking mythical figure of Ghatotkacha. If height of a person is doubled, then his weight would be increased much more, if a person is 50 meter tall, then his blood pressure would be enormous! Even his vocal chord would be so wide that he would become deaf to ordinary sounds! He also talked about small experiments such as measuring latitude of Lonavala and why we cannot see below the water. He also stressed the need to prepare the students for Olympiads.

Snakes, frogs and humans

Dr. Vyanktesh Gambhir sir mainly suggested that teaching should be fun for the students and the teachers. He shared his experiences about how students at MSC level did not know how to test efficiency of antacid. He talked about simple but enriching experiments such as why a flame always go upward, why a piece of paper cut in a specific way kept above a candle starts rotating. Through interesting stories, he taught us about cold- blooded animals and warm blooded animals. Frog is a cold blooded animal. In cold climate, it goes to long sleep. For showing this, we can put a frog in a bottle. Then we can insert pieces of ice in the bottle. Initially it would jump a lot and later on fall like he is dead. The children would say it is dead. But then it is to be taken out. Slowly slowly it again wakes up! He also asked simple questions such as why a candle kept under a glass extinguishes and why its flame changes. It was just joy to listen such stories from him! He highlighted the need to induce observation through crisp questions and activities. Developing curiousity should be focused, he added.
 

Innovation and Assimilation!

Shri. Satyajeet Jagtap of Insculpt Technologies- Inlearn expressed his experiences and ideas about various subjects such as Atal Tinkering labs, the domain of STEM, experiences with urban and rural students, robotics, rocketry, aerodynamics and automation. He also shared his journey, how he was working in the U.K. and how then was forced to return to India and then how he worked with Gujarat science city as robotics team leader. He shared that in the U.K, hands on experience was given a lot of importance and as a result, the students are much advanced. He also showed demos of his robotic craft. He shared how students as young as Standard 3 can make such instruments. He also talked about how technologies such as 3D design, 3D printer, coding, modular robots can be used and its applications are made. For example, ultrasonic robotic instrument can help blind persons. He also shared ideas about 21st century concepts such as AI, machine learning, technologies such as rovers and their applications. For example, a polluted river can be cleaned seamlessly by a robotic device. Such devices can also help for saving electricity. He underlined importance of role of girls in the field of STEM. He told that young students should be encouraged to experiment and experience. They should be given maximum exposure of modern tools and techniques. Robotics can also be employment source for youth.

Storm of brainstorming

Dr. Jagdeesh Math, an ISRO person and veteran of many decades in the fields of education, curriculum and academics  touched up on several aspects such as need for reconnecting with the nature, saving innovative brains from becoming clerks, reversing the Maslow’s pyramid with spiritual approach, life skills, experiential learning, need to preserve emotions and creativity even strengthening rational thinking and so on. He also stressed on giving opportunities for experiments and also encouraging mistakes as they only bring learnings. He talked about role of teachers and their empowering. He then touched up on areas such as soil conservation and biotechnology. He shared that ISRO also works for soil conservation and for wastelands. He also suggested that spirituality is base of science.

Strength of Research

Dr. Kavita Math shared her suggestions about the curriculum. She talked about aspects such as logical thinking, freedom to teachers and the students, systems of internal and external assessments, need for specific vision. She also discussed about current developments such as whether Chat GPT is to be allowed for students or not. She highlighted importance of research, data and benchmarking with an example concerning an airport. On the lines of Dr. Jagdeesh Math, Mrs. Math also suggested that spirituality is important. She also talked about importance of pedagogy and trust.

Sky watching session on Bhonde Farm

In the evening sky watching session was conducted at the wonderful site of Bhonde Farm where I got opportunity to show sky objects to the dignitaries. Initially I hesitated to speak before such vastly experienced veterans. But then felt that for the science and for the nature, everyone is equal. So although these dignitaries are great, the science equalizes us all. Then I briefly talked about my background, how I had got astronomy exposure when I was a kid, how I had started a biweekly magazine for astronomy and my further journey. I also shared experiences of his sky watching and fun learn sessions with students. When the students would watch the Moon and its creters, they would feel to go there. If the students observe the space station, understand its movements and work, then they may have a desire to go to the space. Through my telescope, I showed creters of the moon, Moon- like phase of planet Venus, beehive cluster and Zeta Ursa Majoris binary star to the participants.

Interactions with Banarasi Lal Chawla- another super young veteran

On the second morning, the major inspiration of this workshop arrived. A video meeting was arranged with Shri. Banarasi Lal Chawla, the 95 year old father of legendary Kalpana Chawla. It was a thrilling experience to meet him face to face. He was so much of energy and positivity. For a 95 year old person, talking to so many persons and individually giving blessings is no less than a troublesome task. But he too showed that he is super young and super active and driven. He blessed this new form of Kalpana Chawla Science Centre- now being called as Kalpana Chawla Space Academy and wished success to everyone. With so much of energy, he talked to everyone and praised the team for its work. He also asked about persons known to him and also treated Shri. Pujari sir as his son. It was a touching moment and this was the epitome of the workshop, many felt.

Journey of the Chawlas- You can never imagine (आप कल्पना नही कर सकते)!

Equally amazing was the elaboration that was given by Shri. Pujari sir. He talked about his meeting with Shri. Banarasi Lal Chawla, how he supported and how he treated him like his son. He told about journey of the veteran. After the partition in 1947, he had come to India without any asset. Then he became an industrialist, became so rich. Once he had innumerable vehicles. But later on he was fed up with all this and he then became a social worker and gave donations and founded institutions. He opened hospitals and worked for the people. After some time, he even left his property and since some years he is residing at a rented flat. He has also formed orphanages and old age home. When Kalpana was young, he gave all freedom to her. This has to be seen in the context of the then Haryana society. It is even today patriarchal. The participants felt that even his life is also equally inspirational.

Shri. Pujari sir also shared less- known facts about the legendary Kalpana Chawla. She was never named and her pet name Montu was only used till her enrollment to a school. But when that was being written in the school, she decided and named herself Kalpana. As a small kid, she would play with airplanes and would play sports played mostly by boys. With clear path taken at the early age (as was discussed- need to focus on young children), gradually she went upwards and finally studied in the U.S. Shri. Banarasi Lal Chawla had sent her to the U.S. with a chartered flight. Another less known fact is that along with her husband she led a very humble lifestyle in the U.S. So what was she doing with all her earnings? It was known when hundreds of kids came to pay her their homage when her last rites were performed after the ill- famous Columbia Shuttle crash of 1st February 2003. She had spent huge monies for education and shelter for the students and orphans.

The Path from dreams to reality does exist...

Kalpana Chawla was a keen bird lover and she had given huge amounts of money to Haryana Government for conservation of birds. She also supported environment related initiatives and also supported the blind persons. Thus she was not only a great scientist or an astronaut, she was a great human being. Her remaining relics were to be brought to India as she had wished. But Shri. Banarasi Lal Chawla told that she also felt that all the universe was her own home. So the relics were placed in the U.S. itself. And all this she had accomplished when she was not even 40 years old! We cannot even wonder about what she could have done had she lived further.....

Thus, it was a great enriching experience for me. Therefore thought to share its major highlights with you. Thanks for reading.

- Niranjan Welankar (09422108376 niranjanwelankar@gmail.com fitness, meditation, fun- learn sessions and sky watching sessions)