Narlikar and his wife will visit the Yerala Project Society’s `Curiosity Centre’ that has been developed over a year at Jalihal village with a population of 2000. Funded by Dutch based Yojana project the centre aims at arousing the curiosity of village children by exposing them to science games and non conventional energy sources and their uses.

N V Deshpande, Project Director of the YPS said that 200 exhibits have been displayed at the centre which has been frequently visited by children from nearby villages. As many as 100 children visit the centre every week, says Deshpande and for the first time will now interact with a noted scientist. The aim is to encourage logical thinking and reasoning, says Deshpande who adds that the Dutch organization has provided a grant of Rs 60 lakh for setting up the centre.

Professor Narlikar has been in great demand as public speaker in different parts of India and has been regularly lecturing to the lay audience not only in Maharashtra , but also in other parts of the country. ``There is a need to emphasize the importance of a scientific outlook,’’Narlikar told The Indian Express.

``I went to Raipur recently and was amazed at the excellent questions raised by tribal children,’’reminisces Narlikar. They have heard about high energy accelerator and there was a thirst among the children to know more about things, says Narlikar adding that he was keen on visiting the curiosity centre at Jalihal village at Sangli.