Logically thinking

For Gauhar Raza, science is a way of life.

Gauhar Raza is no ordinary physicist. Apart from experimenting like a normal scientist, he works to develop a scientific temperament in the society for a change in the thought process - to not accept anything without proper analysis and logic.

His mission
When asked what he meant by scientific temperament, he says, "Scientific temperament is a thought process when we do not accept anything without proper analysis. In the last 56 centuries of human civilisation, science has changed the thinking of human beings in several prospects. In this journey, the earth's shape was changed from flat to round, displaced from the centre to the corner of the universe, the paradox of seven skies vanished. It is important to develop the attitude among common people to accept only those things which are logical. Development of scientific temperament among the people is the development of the nation." 
A resident of Sector 6 Akash Ganga Apartments, Dr Raza is associated with the Science Communication and Information Resources (CSIR) and is one of the founders of the Delhi Science Forum. Dr Raza is married to social activist Shabnam Hashmi and has two kids, Sahir and Seher.

Early encounter with science
Son of freedom fighter and teacher Wizarat Husain and social activist Kaniz Wizarat, Dr Raza inherited science from his father and elder brother Ahmad Raza.
Dr Raza's childhood and school college days were full of mischievous encounters with science, which according to him played a great role in developing an interest towards the subject. He recalls, "In the '60s when I was in school, we got a new pressure cooker. One day I thought of experimenting with it and put old clocks and watches in it to clean them. But I was caught by my mother and you could imagine my plight."

Dwarka Science Forum
Dr Raza has founded the Dwarka Science Forum which has a team of scientists who gives demonstrations at regular intervals. The forum uses the space of any society, school or college time to time for activities such as watching stars through telescopes, different experiments in mathematics, etc.

Laurels many
He was honoured by Urdu Academy Award for his contribution to popular science writing. His collection of poems Jazbon Ki Lau Tez Karo was honoured with the Creative Literature Award, Hindi Academy, Delhi. He was also honoured as the best expert for Educational Films by University Grants Commission, India.
Former president of India Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma accepted a copy of his play script 'Gyan ka Mandir' during a public function.
But these are just a few achievements of this great man of science whose mission is to spread scientific temperament among the common man.

Also a poet and documentary maker
Dr Raza takes inspiration from writers such as Dostoevsky, Kaffka, Sahir Ludhianvi and Faiz Ahmad Faiz. He writes Urdu poetry and makes documentary films. His poetry collection Zazbon Ki Lau Tez Karon has received critical acclaim.
He made a documentary on the Gujarat riots. Besides that, Dr Raza has made several documentaries on subjects related to AIDS, social science, plague, education, etc.

--Akhilesh Pandey