No. Activists and writers like Dilip M. Salwi are always there to ring the alarming bell with their research, suggestions and writings. Salwi’s ‘Science in Indian Media’ is his latest offering which is aimed, not at popularising science, but how media can contribute better in popularising science. The fact that it is coming from a prolific writer with less than half century in science writing but exactly a half century in popular science books makes it all the more worthy of serious contemplation. It is a writer contributing for a cause which has caused him all the recognition and standing.

"It is rather strange then that even when science has become a part of life of most Indians and its negative effects, like pollution, booming population, waste mismanagment, stress and psychological problems, etc., are being increasingly felt in all walks of life, Indian media chooses to remain silent over various public issues involving science." Clearly the author is pained at the Indian media’s apathy towards rationality while dealing with Science and related issues.

Be it known again and again to media houses in this country that they undesiringly have a social education responsibility too. This is because they are thriving upon an economy which is carrying the responsibility of educating its 30 percent unlettered population, a huge percentage of school dropouts among literates and which is amidst the crisis of treading a balanced path out of foreign cultural and value invasions and internal socio-cultural abrasions. Those better leave the Science who want to make a buck out of the entire confusion, because stabilisation is a strong property of the natural force and tomorrow if not today, the better sense will prevail atleast in the minds of common man, if not in the thoughts of vested interests.

The author's analysis of the present scenario and presentation of a blue print for future is based on his experience and the research work done under the ageis of K.K. Birla Foundation. Kudos to the sponsors who chose such an intellectually important but economically disastrous subject for its grant.

Science, undeniably is a boring subject, but only as long as one is not initiated into it. The wall of so called boredom is merely a mirage because the wall appears to be thick but in fact it is thin and fragile. Once in, the quest for more science ever remains unquenched. But alas! has our media ever seriously thought of inculcating interest for science in its ordinary readers? No! How quick it is to adopt frenzy tactics to acquire one upmanship in marketing, but it has shown no intent and liking for culturing; deliberate educating of its ordinary readers to science. May be Indian media will take little longer to evolve near to any state of realisation. You do need either of these essential components – either a responsible, evolved media or a scientifically aware society. Absence of both is a chaos.

The author comments on Indian media’s general approach towards science - "The easy path of taking news, features and other materials straightaway from western sources is not a solution to the problems created by science under Indian conditions because the politico/ economic and social system; and culture and values of Indian masses are different from those of their western counterparts." But than there would have been no need of such a work as Salwi has done, it such was not the state of affairs.

What is most significant in the book is a host of ‘need to dos’ under ‘A Blue Print for More Science’. These focus on various initiatives under hardware and software heads (programmes) to achieve a desirable level of Scientific Temper in the society. The appendix section is also quite useful.

Vigyan Prasar could, however, do a better job on the production (presentation and layout) front as a work is judged by 'cover' and not by the 'content', in the prevailing culture of marketing influences and packaging mis-notions.