Valuable lessons for one and all
View(s):This is an unsolicited review of a book I enjoyed reading recently mainly for the lessons to be learnt by one and all. The author and the reviewer are not known to each other though they had worked in two state institutions for at least ten years not more than a quarter mile apart in Torrington Square, Colombo 7.
The book written in simple style is very readable throwing insights into the state of our anomalous socio-political culture. It was not a bit plain sailing for a public officer scientist working in a research oriented organisation as a young chemist scientist steering himself amidst the petty jealousies pervading the social ethos of this research institute.
During his post graduate days, though supported by funds from a foreign University scholarship the newly married Jansz had to face financial hardship which he managed to get over finally with supplementary funds granted due to his good performance in the examinations and research work.
On the political front after being promoted Director ( equivalent of Director General) of this Research Institute he was once directed by the Minister’s Secretary (on the Minister’s orders, I guess)to recruit 17 young unemployed persons, mostly women, to the institute’s workshop for which they had no skills. He had refused to do so following the new recruitment principles laid down by the then President, the late President Premadasa. But the Director got, metaphorically, thrown overboard back to his former position when a further extension recommended by the Institute’s Board was rejected which of course was a blessing in disguise as he could now function totally as a scientist and exploit his skills for the benefit of our export industry. But still the tide was turning badly for him.
He then turned to academia at the Open University and the Sri Jayawardenapura University (USJP) where he finally became the Professor of Biochemistry in the Faculty of Medical Sciences. Despite the heavy load of preparing curricula in the new faculty and lecturing he undertook the time consuming task of supervision of post graduate students preparing for the MPhil and PhD degrees. The names of several post graduate students are listed most of whom had completed research on the health and economic benefits of our plants. Some of them were on king coconut water, palmyrah, kohila, kiri aguna (curingnan), goraka and kankun.
He was honoured by the people of Jaffna for the research done on palmyrah. Two of the plants named above that could bring immense health benefits from the research of his post graduate students were kankun and kiri aguna which are plentiful in our villages. It was proved in the research-dissertations of his students that kankun had anti diabetic properties and kiri aguna both anti diabetic and anti cholesterol properties. It is a pity that these research findings have not been popularised for the benefit of the general public.
But the more important matter that struck me personally on reading this autobiography in his figurative swim against the mainstream is the bold assertion that Darwinian evolution is not blind due to natural selection and random mutations but “divinely guided”. Coming from an Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry who had been immersed in practical research earlier in biochemistry this statement needs to be taken seriously though it is bound to raise the hackles of some scientists. This is a challenge to Oxford’s Richard Dawkins’ blind watchmaker theory of evolution. Prof. Jansz might now, in his retirement, have to cross swords on land (instead of swimming) with Dawkins and his supporters here.
Although the title states he was swimming against the tide he has truly crossed ashore safe in glory surmounting obstacles being the recipient of the degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) by the USJP and the Emeritus status , the former as the highest honour awarded in science by a University.
The bane of politicisation due to which the author suffered, prevalent in the 1980s as a mild current, is now at its zenith leading not only to the appointment of square pegs in round holes in excess of requirements but also to a deterioration in discipline in the public service.
This autobiographical work of Prof. Jansz should serve as an impetus to other prominent scientists and even administrators and businessmen to chronicle their memoirs for the benefit of our Sri Lankan society.
Book facts
“Swimming against the Tide” by Emeritus Professor E R Jansz. Available at Sarasavi Bookshops .Price Rs.300/. Reviewed by Dr. Leo Fernando