THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Institute of Encyclopaedic Publications is bringing out special issues on `astronomy’ and `evolution’ to mark the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s telescopic observations and the 150th anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin’s ‘The Origin of Species.’
This is the first time that encyclopaedias are being brought out exclusively on these two subjects in Malayalam, and probably in any Indian language, State Institute of Encyclopaedic Publications director K.Pappooty said. Both books are expected to hit the stands by November this year. The volume on astronomy, ‘Jyothishavignanakosham’ will provide deep insights into the science, its evolution over the centuries, the important figures, including Indians, who have proved to be the guiding lights and the path-breaking developments in the 20th century.
2009 is being celebrated as the International Year of Astronomy (IYA 2009) to mark the first telescopic observations made by Galileo Galilei and the publication of Johannes Kepler’s `Astronomia Nova’ four centuries ago.
An interesting feature of `Jyothishavignanakosham’ is that it will throw light on the contributions of the Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics that once flourished under the tutelage of scientists such as Madhavan of Sangamagrama and Neelakanta Somayaji. “There has been significant work in the field of astronomy between the eighth and the 18th centuries in Kerala,’’ Pappooty said.
Published in November, 1859, Charles Darwin’s seminal `The Origin of Species’ has had a phenomenal impact on the study of evolutionary biology.
The original title of the work was ‘On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.’
The ‘Parinama Vignanakosham’ on evolution planned by the State Institute of Encyclopaedic Publications will, among other things, feature in detail the studies prior to the publication of ‘The Origin of Species,’ the findings of Darwin and their impact, modern advances made in genetic studies and the contributions of important scientists.
“Both books will also have articles that throw light on the respective subject,’’ Pappooty said.
The State Institute of Encyclopaedic Publications has convened two meetings of scientists and academics as part of publishing the special volumes.
