About Democratic Research Scholars' Organisation in 155/1 Seth Colony (near Sammilani Club), Dum Dum, Kolkata

DRSO - AGENDA

General Scenario,-
Research Today: Not only far far away from common social understanding, but directed quite opposite to common social interest.
Researchers: The best minds are not only mentally isolated from the society, but doing research in a way enhancing the isolation - resulting in a deep self-orientation.

These allegations require explanation and this may not be the place. But we all feel them to be true.

Today research is done in a 'by the market for the market' policy. This inherited such a culture that research work is dictated by the terms "publish or perish". Administrative atrocities in most institutions are common. Guide-student relation, even the choice of field of research is directed according to 'project' and 'money sanctioned'. No wonder, corruption grew its root deep into the vein.

Two things are turning out to be the main mass killers. The first one is the intense economic crisis - poverty and war. The second one, though is intimately linked to the economy, has grown up sufficiently to be separately considered. It is, the 'ecology' itself, or rather the destruction of its balance - Climate change or unnatural weather behaviour is a much longer term process, much debated too. But the intense environmental pollution (air, water, soil and everything) - lead, arsenic, mercury to poisonous gases and chemicals to radioactivity, the more recent impending catastrophe of genetic pollution.. - in all over the Earth's ecosystem is fast taking us towards a genocide. And what is the cause? The so called developement of science itself. And the isolation of modern man's way of living from ecosystem, along with the afore-said situation, gave birth to a whole new term, 'lifestyle-disease'. Not Cholera, but heart disease, diabetes etc are epidemics today.

Fundamental research (both theoretical and applied) gave birth and developed the very notion of scientific outlook that not only gave thrust to all scientific and academic research, but revolutionized the social way of living and thinking - make way to become free from the clasp of kings and priests, made the renaissance happen, gave us 'freedom' of mind, and so on. Today, it has almost no place in research arena and is fast decaying. Even 'invention' is losing ground. It is the "decade of innovation".
The few dedicated researchers entering into the arena with the hope of doing good 'research' are deeply unsatisfied, frustrated. Research has come down to the level of 'career', and even in this respect, the situation of the scholars is terrible. Less than .5% of all students pursuing Graduate Education comes to PhD level research in India, with a quite uncertain fellowship status. And then, there is hardly a job prospect, leave alone their career in furthering the research. Depression is very 'natural' all-pervading phenomenon.

There may never be enough space to describe the problems - the present orientation of research is causing damage not only to the society but to itself. But this cannot be natural. There comes the question, what is the root of all these, and how can the disease be cured, once and for all. We, being researchers, must scientifically identify the root, must organise in a scientific way, and must proceed along scientific steps in order to uproot and cure it. IT IS THE NECESSITY.