Letters to the editor

I have enjoyed the artile on Sir William Herschel (published in November 2000 issue of `Dream 2047'). In this connection, I would like to mention that Sir M.J. Herschel, grandson of Sir William Herschel, served for sometime as District and Session Judge of Nadia, a district in Bengal. He inspired and guided Mr. Kalnath Mukherjee, a lawyer by profession, to study astronomy. Later Mr. Mukherjee wrote a book named `Popular Hindu Astronomy' (published in 1905) which he dedicated to his mentor Sir M.J. Herschel. In the `Foreword' of 1969 edition of this book. N.C. Lahiri (famous for Lahiri's almanae) has written following lines about the author of the book as well as Sir M.J. Herschel.

"Born in a middle class Brahmin family at Jaidia in Jessore district, now in East Pakistan, the author had college education at Krishnanagar... He graduated with honours in the year 1872 with Mathematics, Philosophy' and Sanskrit. He then studied law and got the degree in 1873. While he was a student at Krishnanagar College, he came in contact with Sir M.J. Herschel, M.A.,Bar-at-Law and also an astronomer who was the grandson of Sir William Herschel, the great astronomer. The author had the privilege of getting considerable inspiration and guidance from Sir M.J. Herschel in the study of astronomy and the stars. As a mark of tribute and respect he dedicated the present book to his precceptor."

A copy of the page which shows that the book was dedicated to Sir M.J. Herschel is also attached herewith in support of the above statement.

        Utpal Mukhopadhyay, Asstt. Teacher, Barast Satyabharati Vidyapith,                               Mark 24 Paraganas, West Bengal

I was impressed by your publication "Dream - 2047". The December issue is very informative, particularly for molecular biology. I would like to receive your publications. Also, please let me have the first issue.
I would like to point out a few errors and omissions in your Dec. 2000 issue in connection with Dr. S. Mahanti's article on the origins and Development of Molecular biology. 1950 : Chargaff found that the number of A is equal to T, and that of G is equal to C. A cannot be equal to G, and C to T, as they do not base pair. 1958 : Structure of an RNA (tRNA) was determined by Robert Holley. Got Nobel Prize along with Nirenberg and Khorana in 1968.1970 : It is Hindlll, not Hindll. Only the 1st letter is capital, the rest (ind) are small.1973 : Paul Berg received nobel Prize for making recombinant DNA. 1985 : It is Jeffrey, not Joffrey. 1967 : Without Werner Arber's (Switzerland) discovery of restriction enzymes in 1968, there would have been no genetic engineering. He got Nobel Prize along with H.O. Smith and Nathans in 1978 Many whom you have listed were awarded Nobel Prize, but you have mentioned only a few. It would be nice to mention all those who got the prize.
Moreover, in Dec. 2000 the DNA sequence of human chromosome 22 was published.
I congratulate you for promoting science.  I teach Molecular Biology.
With all good wishes.

        Professor M.S. Kanungo, Emiritus professor, Biochem & Molec.                                           Biology, Department of zoology, BHU Varanasi - 221 005

The November issue of "Dream - 2047" has been quite impressive. I am glad to read Editorial Column, Frederick William Herschel and VP News in this issue.

Narottam Rabha, Madhyampur Janajati, M.E. School, P.O. Dhup guri,
Dist - Golaghat, Pin - 785601

I am congratulating you and your staff for regularly bringing out the monthly newsletter of Vigyan Prasar entitled "Dream -2047" . The Editorial column and the rise of F.W.Herschel written by Subodh Mahanti gave me many new ideas and some instinctive points came to my mind. I have been really benefitted a lot from the most influential working astronomer of 18th century.

                                                    H.H. Mate, H.M. Higher Secondary School, Keithelmanbi,                                                                                      Military Colony, Sadar Hills, Manipur

I have received the issues from August to November and instantly read them all. Being a bilingual magazine, it has attracted attention of my young kids. However, they expect the magazine to include basic scientific articles also. It would be wonderful if the Hindi version is called "Swapna 2047".

Binod Kumar Jha, C-81, ONGC Colony, NAZIRA - 785 685, Assam