Occasionally, the hall at the National College, Basavanagudi, is overflowing. But issues such as the size of the audience or the fact that sometimes an emergency lamp has to be used to light the room, have not dampened the venerable Dr HN-as he's popularly known. 'Dr Narasimhaiah is an austere Gandhian who has done a lot for secondary and higher education. The forum has had a tremendous impact on Bangalore. He has fought for a scientific temper, but the people he fought-godmen, for example, have become more powerful because they've built big hospitals and the like,' says Dr Raja Ramanna, fellow nuclear physicist and former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission.
This science forum is a unique entity in India where numerous luminaries have presented an update on science and technology. Besides these lectures, the forum's many other activities include screening of films on issues in science, summer camps for students, lecture contests for pre-university and degree students etc. Dr Narasimhaiah has also been organising month-long science festivals-usually in July-for the last 21 years. All with a meagre budget of Rs 15,000. His efforts have borne fruit, with many of his students having risen to positions of eminence over the years.
At 79, this prophet of rational thought has a new project-a science centre in Hosur, the village where he was born to poor and illiterate parents. He is raising funds for the Rs 50 lakh project which would include a museum for school children from 40-odd villages in the taluk. His philosophy is simple: Do not accept anything that violates the laws of nature. 'A spirit of inquiry and rational thinking is a must for every individual. Scientific temper alone can solve the problems of this country, not pompous godmen and superstitious practices.'
This nuclear physicist's campaigns against godmen and 'miracles' and superstitious beliefs are legendary. As VC of Bangalore University, he led a committee 'to investigate miracles and other verifiable superstitions', and was successful in calling the bluff of several spurious godmen. 'How can people fall at their feet when they 'produce' watches made by some company or the other? Their deeds pale into insignificance when you watch a show by P.C. Sorcar,' says Dr Narasimhaiah.
Over the years, his contributions have been recognised, and he was also awarded the Padma Bhushan. But this bachelor continues to occupy the same small room he's been living in for the last 53 years-first as a poor schoolboy, then as a lecturer, then as principal and now as president of the National Education Society. He's been wedded to this cause from his childhood; ever since he defied his mother and refused to tonsure his head while performing his father's last rites because he did not get a convincing answer on the connection between the two. On the wall in his office, one can see Albert Einstein's quote: 'Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds,' and a question mark-signifying a spirit of inquiry. Both, predictably, are very dear to Dr HN. His phone numbers: 080-6603591 and 080-6677123.
