History of S & T in India

• Poster Exhibition
 Characteristics of Science

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• Science is an intellectual and practical activity
– systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world
through observation and experiment

• Science is Universal and belongs to the People

• World view of Science is common heritage

• The development and the direction of science is dependent on socio-political-

economic dynamics in society as it is fund dependant of the ruling Govt.

• Ruling Govt. Decides Science Development

 Characteristics of Technology

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• Technology is a collection of techniques, skills, methods and  processes for
the production of goods or services or for objectives such as scientific
investigation.
• Technology can be the knowledge of techniques, processes or can be
embedded in machines which can be operated without detailed knowledge
of their workings.
• Which technology is utilized and for whom depends on socio-political-
economic dynamics in society
• Technology is not static, but evolves as it is passed on in time and space

• Technology depends upon the Society

 Myth and Reality
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•Myth is any traditional story 
•consists of imaginary events were passed on in oral history
•explains origins of a cultural practice or natural phenomenon
•Eg: Rahu, Ketu for eclipse; Mahabaratha, Ramayanas

•Religions are based on Mythical Gods or historic person:

•Rama, Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius

•Rituals help religions: eg. Doing poojas for removing illness

•Asserting myths as reality gives credibility to religions

•Manufacturing reality based on myths the Hindutva way:

•interplanetary travel during Vedic period
•plastic surgery based on Pillayar
•stem cell regeneration based on Kandhari story

• Myth is a story built to strengthen Tradition, God and Religion

 Characteristics of manufactured S&T from myths

• Assigning maximum antiquity to Vedic-Sanskritic Hindu traditions

– 20,000 to 2 lakh years while in reality Vedas were composed during
‘Iron age’ (1500-500 BCE)
• No concrete verifiable evidence cited for the claims
– Birth of Rama, Adam Bridge
• Ignores extensive interactions and exchanges between cultures and
• civilisations thus denying universal character of S&T
• Tries to establish superiority of one culture and way of thinking over
others
• All those who do not subscribe to this ‘greatness’ are termed outsiders or
anti-national

• Objecting Myths is labeled as anti National

 Science and Technology of ancient civilisations:
1.5 Mya - 1100CE
•Attirampakkam (S. India) 1.5 Mya
•stone age tools by Acheulian hominins
•Mehrgarh (Balochistan in Pakistan) 6500 BCE
•Farming, proto-dentistry, brick houses, copper ornaments
•Indus Valley Civilisation (Afghanistan to NW India)3300-1300BCE
•Extensive domestication, urban centres, sewage systems, bronze, tin,
weights and measures, animal seals, ceramic, written language, idol
worship, yoga
• Post Harappan (Iron age, second urbanisation)1300-300BCE
•Vedic texts, large numbers, Vedanga Jyotisa (earliest astronomical text),
calendar, zodiac, veterinary medicine, sword, iron-pillar of Chandragupta
II, Vaisheshika and Buddhist school of atomism, negative numbers
•Beginning of Common Era 300BCE - 1100CE
•Glass, Wootz steel (S. India), binary numbers (Pingala), Brahmagupta,
Aryabhata, Baskara II, cartography, indigo dye, Susruta Samhita
Science & Technology: Historical perspective

Science and Technology before colonial exploitation

1100 CE – 1600 CE
•Madhava of Sangagrama and Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics
•Infinite series for π (pi) , trigonometric functions

•Silver currency from Sher Shah of Northern India

•Ali Kashmiri ibn Luqman’s seamless globe

•Gun powder, pyrotechniques

•Advanced irrigation systems

•Cashmere wool

•Sadiq Isfahani of Jaunpur 32 sheet atlas

Science & Technology: Historical perspective

Science and Technology during colonial period

1600-1947
•Rockets (Sultan Hyder Ali of Mysore)
•Extensive Railway network
•Indian Postal System
•Establishment of Calcutta, Madras, Bombay Universities
•Creation of Indian Institute of Science by Jamshedji Tata
•Eminent scientists – J.C. Bose, Prafulla Chandra Ray, S.N. Bose, Meghnad
Saha, P.C. Mahalnobis, C.V. Raman, S. Chandrasekhar, Homi Bhabha, S.
Ramanujam, Vikram Sarabai, Harish Chandra, Abdus Salam, Muthulakshmi
Reddi, Janaki Ammal
Science & Technology: Historical perspective

Science and Technology after becoming Independent

1947-1990

•Indian Constitution, in Article 51 A (h) states that it is part

of the fundamental duties of citizens to “...develop the scientific
temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform”
•Establishment of more than 200 Universities, 5 IITs
•Hybrid varieties: Green revolution (MS Swaminathan)
•Edible oil manufacture, milk production
•Bhakra Nangal dam, Kaveri engine (for Tejas Light Combat
Aircraft)
•Indian Space Research Organisation, DRDO
•Missiles, IRS, INSAT
•Creation of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
•Param supercomputer
Science & Technology: Historical perspective

Science and Technology post globalisation

1990 till now
•Privatisation through Public Private Partnership of education
and research-Private Universities and Research Centres

•Indian version of the Bayh Dole Act – Intellectual Property Bill

•IT boom: Outsourcing – modern colonial exploitation

•Technologies for exploitation of natural resources and mobile

communication spectrum

•Transgenics , biotechnology centres

•Stopped indigenous manufacture of computers, equipments for

research etc.
Science & Technology: Historical perspective

PSM role
•Campaign against pseudoscience

•Campaign of our historical achievements of S&T to create

confidence that we are capable.

•The S&T in the 50 years after independence must be

highlighted

•Create a sense of freedom movement to fight globalization and

neocolonialism

•Modernize, popularize and replicate People’s Technology-

like CTD/STD, MP-BGVS,IRTC,CERD