Science and Technology Exhibition at Gangtok, Sikkim

Sir CV Raman, the first Indian scientist to win the Nobel Prize was born on 28th February 1888.  As a homage to the great scientist, 28th February is commemorated as the National Science day.  The Government of Sikkim celebrated the occasion by holding a Science and Technology exhibition from 28th February to 5th March 1997 in ‘White Memorial Hall’, Gangtok. TARA was invited to participate by the Sikkim Government and was provided financial support for the same.  Prominent among other participant institutions were Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur; IIT Kanpur; Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee; and Regional Research Laboratory, Bhubaneswar. Several NGOs from across the country also participated.

TARA stall had two machines on view: The Balram and the TARAcrete Vibrator.  Also on display were the model of the TARAloom, the water testing kit -JalTARA, handmade paper and handloom products.  The TARA stall attracted visitors from different sections of the society - decision makers, technologists, NGOs, teachers, students, and potential entrepreneurs.  The Corporate video film was a major communication tool.  Among the visitors were the Governor of Sikkim - Hon’ble Choudhury Ranbir Singh and the Chief Minister - Shri Pawan Kumar Chambli and the Deputy Chief Minister Shri PT Lucksom.

The visitors evinced keen interest in the low-cost, resource conserving building technologies; and business enquiries were received.  TARA handloom products and handmade paper received great appreciation from the young and the old.  To the teachers and students, JalTARA appeared as a novelty and they were given hands-on experience in the use of the kit.  Observing the generation of awareness in the youth, the Sikkim Department of Science & Technology purchased the JalTARA kit on the spot!

The organisers took a good deal of trouble in making the exhibition interesting - workshops, seminars, science quizzes were held.  For TARA participants - Faiz Ahmed and Dharitri Mohanti – it was a great outreach experience in a beautiful part of the country – Sikkim.   q

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