The Jorhat unit of the Yukti Bikash Samiti, which was formed to spread rational thinking and scientific mentality, geared up to organise Yukti Divas (Rational Day) for the first time in Assam.
To mark the death anniversary of Giordano Bruno, who is regarded as a martyr for science, this year initiative has been taken to organise Yukti Divas with a two-day-long programme on February 17 & 18, 2018. The main attraction of this Divas will be a prize money poster competition. The main theme of the open poster competition, to be held among the students from Class X to degree level, will be ‘Scientific mentality versus superstition’.
The participants of the poster competition will be able to select any kind of superstition in the society like soothsaying, belief in witch, quacking, etc. The size of the poster will be 4×3 ft. The participant will have to mention about the subject, his or her name and address, role, scientific explanation, impact of superstition in the society and conclusion.
The participants may also jointly participate in the competition. The joining fee is Rs 100. While the first prize winner will receive Rs 3000, the second prize winner will get Rs 2000 and the third prize winner will get Rs 1000 as prize money.
The registration of the participants for the competition, to be held at the Jorhat Press Club on February 18, will start at 8 in the morning.
The organizers have informed that on February 17, the inaugural ceremony of the Yukti Divas will be started at Millennium Park near Barua Chariali in Jorhat from 2 pm. The attraction of the inaugural day will be a street play to be directed by play artist Rajib Dutta.
The main programme of the Rational Day, to be started at 9:30 am, will be held at Jorhat Press Club on February 18. The programme will be attended by noted rational writer Devakanta Handique. Handique will deliver a speech on ‘Religion, God and superstition’ while Tezpur University Professor Dr Jayanta Kumar Sarma will deliver a speech on ‘Scientific curiosity of thinker Richard Feynman’ and Professor Dr Gautam Kumar Bora will deliver a speech on ‘Language, idea and logic’.