SHASHWAT GUPTA RAY
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PANJIM: While on one hand political rhetoric is creating a gulf between India and Bangladesh relations, on the other hand, former Acting Director of National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa, S Prasanna Kumar is bridging this gap by quenching the thirst of Bangladesh’s Oceanography researchers and students for knowledge on marine science, in Dhaka.
“I have a deep connection with Dhaka, especially with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University (BSMRMU), Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh since 2014. Teaching and learning about the ocean are my passion,” Prasanna Kumar told O Heraldo from Dhaka.
“I had spent more than 30 years researching the ocean at NIO, Goa and about 20 years teaching about the ocean at various Indian universities and now a decade of teaching marine science to the students of Bangladesh,” Prasanna Kumar said.
“The Bangladeshi students are very obedient, respect the teachers and are keen to study about the ocean; and many want to become a teacher like me and inspire the youth to build a career in the ocean related sector. They feel very strongly about protecting the ocean from all kinds of pollution and preserving the ocean as pristine as possible,” he said.
When asked about his experience in the neighbouring country in this volatile atmosphere, the veteran scientist said that “the so-called turmoil” was “largely limited to media”, while the common man on the street is largely disconnected from it.
“I have been here since November 16. I haven’t felt any such turmoil till now. I think the so-called anti-India sentiments also are largely limited to the media. I did not feel or experience such a thing either from the student community or from the faculty, nor from the common people on the street, shopkeepers or fruit vendors,” he said.
“Since I can converse in Bengali, I interacted very freely with a wide variety of people. In fact, they are very warm and helpful as you can find in any place elsewhere. During my present stay, I have also travelled within Dhaka and outside. In fact, I travelled to Sylhet by bus just to experience the journey through the countryside,” the scientist added.
He informed that BSMRMU and Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute (BORI) have a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with NIO, Goa. BSMRMU also has MoU with Goa University.
“I have not seen any change in approach to research collaboration or academic activities due to the regime change. In fact, I strongly believe that science and education, the two pillars of knowledge generation, add great strength to the bilateral or multilateral engagement with countries, even during challenging times,” he said.
According to him, the man on the street is already heavily burdened with price rise, inadequate infrastructure and health care, inadequate availability of clean drinking water, and pollution free air. And hence for him the rhetoric will not help as it cannot alleviate his difficulties in life.
“I strongly feel that science could be a unifier element between counties. No one will have any objection to imparting or acquiring knowledge. Hence, it is in the interest of both countries to try and find out the areas where active engagements could be taken with mutual respect and trust,” Prasanna Kumar added.
