A letter to Abdul Kalam saved India's science newspaper 'Vaigyanik Drishtikon' from extinction

By Saurabh Duggal

Tarun Kumar Jain, a postgraduate in science, began his career as a mathematics teacher in a school in Jaipur, Rajasthan. But then there's a shift in perspective sparked by a meeting attended by scientists advocating for educators to introduce students to the wonders of science.

This transformative moment, coupled with an exhibition showcasing the potential of medium and small newspapers, redirected Tarun's career trajectory from teaching to journalism.

"As a school teacher, my reach was limited to my classroom or the school premises. However, the prospect of reaching a broader audience through a newspaper fascinated me. So, I made the decision to leave teaching and start a science newspaper in Hindi, aiming to connect with a larger community, particularly in rural areas," said Tarun, 51, who launched the fortnightly science newspaper 'Vigyanik Drishtikon' in 2000. 

The support of fellow science enthusiasts and funds generated through subscriptions, Tarun managed to publish the 16-page newspaper for nearly three years. However, financial constraints loomed, threatening the paper's survival. 

At this critical juncture, a letter of congratulations to then President of India APJ Abdul Kalam became the turning point for India's sole Hindi science newspaper. "When Kalam shab became the president, I sent him a letter along with copies of Vigyanik Drishtikon. He graciously invited me to the Rashtrapati Niwas," recalled Tarun. "He was surprised to see a newspaper entirely dedicated to science, particularly in Hindi. Upon learning about our financial struggles, he advised me to concentrate on the newspaper while assuring arrangements for the funds."

"Starting from the next month, the Union Ministry of Science and Technology, began providing grants to support Vigyanik Drishtikon," added Tarun.

Tarun fondly recollects multiple encounters with late APJ Abdul Kalam during and after his presidential tenure, attributing the grant from the Science and Technology ministry to Kalam's endorsement.

"Besides the regular grant for the fortnightly print edition, the Ministry has extended additional support for a project to launch a daily online edition of Vigyanik Drishtikon. For the past year, we have been rolling out a daily four-page science newspaper," said Tarun.