1922.] Indian Science Congress. 1.8.C. 89 
countries of the modern world—whether it be in the dealings 
of Pope Urban with Galileo or in those of the British Govern- 
ment with scientific men in the early part of the War—ignor- 
ant members of the official hierarchy—and even a high official 
of the most excellent administration may be very ignorant of 
science—have attempted to treat science much as St. Columba 
treated the practical experience of St. Oran. The story is 
told in full in a comparatively late Irish life of Columba 
and is barely hinted at in more authentic documents. It 
been decided that one man must die for the community and 
become the guardian spirit of the shrine. St. Columba called 
for volunteers and St. Oran, who is said to have been his 
brother, offered himself. St. Oran was accordingly buried 
alive. After three days St. Columba, apparently overcome 
with human feeling, caused the grave to be opened. 8t 
Oran opened his eyes and said, ‘‘ There is no mystery in death 
and hell is not like what it was said to be,” St. Columba, 
doubtless thinking that the corpse was possessed of devil, cried 
out in alarm, “ Earth, earth on the eyes of Oran, lest he bla 
ore!” And so it was done. ‘Earth on the eyes of Oran’ 
has become a proverb in Gaelic. : 
I had recently in London an opportunity of discussing the 
position of zoology in this country with one of the greatest of 
living zoologists. He maintained that zoology should not be 
enconraged in India until India was in a position to do in- 
dependent work. By independent work he meant research 
independent of official control. Apart from aJ] personal consid - 
erations, I was unable to agree with him, for I see no way of 
fostering zoological research at present in India but through 
the agency of government. It is quite true that no branch of 
science can be said to be on a sound basis unless it 1s indepen- 
dent, and that the flame of research must burn feebly so long 
as it is not fed by the spirit of individuality. Moreover, the 
alue of the indepen- 
? 
dence of science will be appreciated by 
Science and officialdom are as ant “ 
and the snake. but officialdom in its ——— form 1s a 
oe nfo 
matter of the spirit: abiit im mores. 
= No government that con- 
ci month. I 
ar i ith a dysentery ° 
aasod “sccketety Stove ite Finance Department. 
