Swami Vivekananda, Modern Science and Human Excellence

In the entire religious history of the world, perhaps i Vivekananda was the first spiritual leader emphasized on cultivating scientific values and aching religion with a scientific mind. He not only imed the possibility of harmonizing science and on, but also emphasized its urgent need. He wanted one to strive to assimilate all positive values of all in endeavour to achieve excellence in every walk of in over-all excellence, the 'Human Excellence'. The author of this book, by profusely quoting Swami ananda has indicated the need for understanding the fits and limitations of every culture and civilization assimilating and integrating all values to create a world civilization – a civilization that would achieve hurture not just Eastern Excellence or Western llence, but 'Human Excellence'. May Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi and Swami kananda shower their blessings on Dr. Sanjay Sharad uile for writing this book and on Sri Arasu Ramanujam Sri K Rajagopalan for helping us in the proofreading. We hope this book would stimulate the public, cially the scientific community, to explore further mi Vivekananda's ideas on this subject and formulate hodologies for achieving total human development.

University education confers on young students the required academic knowledge and skills to achieve professional excellence in their chosen fields. Modern science and technology inspires them to achieve technical excellence. But is there something more to achieve?

The State Government of Madhya Pradesh (in India), had conferred on me the Young Scientist Award and extended support to do scientific research work in the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in 1987 and 1990. During my work in ISRO, I witnessed advanced aerospace technology being developed in India. I also received the blessings of eminent aerospace engineers and nuclear scientists, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Dr MK Mukhrejee, Dr Raja Ramanna and Dr Vasant Gowariker. Later, during 1990-95, I worked in Europe for EUROAVIA URM Satellite Design Project, and also for a project of the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop Aerospace Polymers for which I later received PhD from Heriot-Watt University, Scotland, United Kindom. During these projects, I received encouragement and blessings of Noble Laureate (Chemistry, 2000) Prof. Alan G MacDiarmid, Noble Laureate (Chemistry, 1996) Sir Harold (Harry) Walter Kroto FRS, Noble Laureate (Chemistry, 1981) Prof. Roald Hoffmann (Chemistry, 1981) and Prof. Akihiro Abe, co-worker, of Noble Laureate (Chemistry, 1974). Prof. P J Flory.nang

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