HS508: Indian Knowledge Systems

Reflection note on ‘Pan-Indian traditions of science and technology’.

Rajas P. Shah | 17110118 | Submission date: 27/02/2020
Typeface: Palatino Linotype, 12, 1.5 spacing.

Innovation –Does India get the credit it deserves?

Today’s lecture, which covered a plethora of Indian texts and prominent scholars

pertaining to various fields – Mathematics, astronomy, Grammar, Literature, etc. –

provoked me to think about a question that was present in my subconscious – Does

India get the credit it deserves for its role in scientific innovation?

India has always been a forefront runner in innovation. Be it the vimaan designs form

the ancient period or be it the invention of zero, India has always had a penchant

for persistent scientific enquiry and successful results. However, when it comes to

the credits, it seems a bit blurry. The westerners think we did not invent the

numbers; the Arabs invented them. It has been widely accepted now that the Arabs

actually circulated them due to trade. The astronomers in India were on par, or at

times probably superior than their western counterparts, however most of the

credits are with the latter group. Our prominent astronomers get recognition, but

not the credit they should be given.

India has pioneered or many-a-times independently matched the world in many

inventions and masteries, like the practice of yoga, natural medicine (Ayurveda),

drama, music, poetry, etc. Sadly, however, with the decrease in usage of Sanskrit, a

lot of the Indians and the world forgot about these. The westerners, who are not

really known for crediting other cultures, even if they were older, more

sophisticated and more diverse, need not be the ones we blame. When a lot of people

amongst us, ourselves, is ignorant about this rich heritage, we cannot blame

outsiders for neglecting its significance.

We are the ones most responsible and obliged to ensure that our ancestors’

contributions don’t go to waste. Our education systems need to be revised to include

our nation’s rich intellectual and innovation heritage. This change, which is only

aimed to promote the pride we should foster for our historical heights, should also

drive us to strive and match the world in today’s world. Time is running out, and the

leaders are getting more and more distant. Although it is very clear that Indian minds

are among the sharpest, we need to leverage this and become an intellectual

superpower once again.