Year of Indian Independence

VIGYAN PRASAR 2 0 4 7 AUGUST 2021 / Vol. 24 / No. 8 / 20 Entering into the Year of Indian Independence Science, Society and Modernity Colonial Model and the Emergence of National Science in India: 1870s and 1940s Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray: A Rishi Dadhichi in the Service of his Nation Editor-in-Chief: Nakul Parashar Nakul Parashar Editor: Nimish Kapoor Production: Pradeep Kumar Ganesh D. Kalghuge Hailing the Science Bipro Kumar Sen Language Editor: Revolutionaries Sumita Mukherjee self-respect, and love for their nation. Address for Pramatha Nath Bose was one of the first correspondence: Indian scientists to join the Survey of India. A geologist par excellence, Bose was inspired by Vigyan Prasar, A-50, As we the swadeshi outlook. Despite having better Institutional Area, Sector-62, step into the 75th year of our independence, credentials, he was deprived of promotion Noida-201 309, U.P., India we salute all those brave hearts once again for the post of the superintendent, which was who laid their lives so that we can easily given to a much junior Englishman. Thus, Tel: +91-120-2404430, 35 breathe in a happy and prospering India. Bose decided to leave Survey of India and Fax: +91-120-2404437 Year-long celebrations have thus begun all joined the Mayurbhanj state as a geologist. over the country. We, too, at Vigyan Prasar Bose is credited with a lot of firsts in the e-mail: have decided to do our bit. Through various history of Indian science. He was the first [email protected] formats and means, we shall highlight the Indian graduate in science from a British saga of the indomitable spirit of Indian university, first to discover oil in Assam, website: scientists and remember their unmatched first to set up a soap factory in India, first to http://www.vigyanprasar.gov.in contribution to the development of science & establish Bengal Technical Institute that later technology during the hard times. on became famous Jadavpur University, and We’ve grown up reading, hearing, and more importantly, led the establishment of watching stories and incidents about several Tata Steel at Jamshedpur. freedom fighters. Our scientists also were Stories of similar discrimination of our stopped from carrying out their research scientists during that period are many, and Vigyan Prasar is not responsible and getting higher education in science & most of them emanate from Kolkata. Inspired technology. However, there is very little by Kolkata, several institutions came up at for the statements/opinions information available about their hardships. other places. In Pune, Shankar Purushottam expressed and photographs Their path to success was not a smooth one. Agharkar, a famous botanist, established the used by the authors in They faced continuous discrimination. If Maharashtra Association for the Cultivation their articles/write-ups someone started to research the problems of Science against all odds. For this, it is said published in “Dream 2047” our scientists faced during the Indian that he had to sell off his personal belongings Independence struggle, they would end up and jewellery of his wife. His institute in Articles, excerpts from articles with piles of thesis. Pune is now called the Agharkar Institute. published in “Dream 2047” The importance of science & technology Our tribute to our proud revolutionaries may be freely reproduced has been very well understood by one and all from the domain of science & technology since times immemorial. Britishers were no through this year-long celebration has with due acknowledgement/ exception. Thus, ten years after the battle of commenced with special issues of our monthly credit, provided periodicals Plassey in 1757, Robert Clive established the magazines in various Indian languages, series in which they are reproduced Survey of India, DST’s oldest organization. of weekly and fortnightly lectures by people are distributed free. They realized that without the application of eminence, and a digital portal which would of science & technology, they would not showcase these stories and carry easy-to-use understand the country. This organization content. A pack full of inspiring stories thus helped them map the country with their coming your way. Stay tuned. Published by Dr Nakul Parashar advances. They thus clearly understood on behalf of Vigyan Prasar, A-50, that if they kept the Indian population away Institutional Area, Sector-62, from the latest developments of science & Noida-201 309, U.P. India. technology, they would be able to rule much efficiently. Yet, our scientists continued their Cover Design & Illustrations By: BIPRO KUMAR SEN struggle with their sheer determination, Email: [email protected] 2 dream 2047 / august 2021 ENTERING INTO THE 75th YEAR OF INDIAN INDEPENDENCE Jayant Sahasrabudhe aware that the British attack was not the only or the first attack on our country. There had been many attacks earlier. But there was a fundamental difference between the British and the Independence other attacks. There are generally three main reasons for the invasion policies: one, the quest for power, second, to impose one’s sect or cult and the third one is to achieve economic gain. When we consider British onslaught in this light, new factors Movement and emerge. Prior to the British, the attackers came with their armies, and by evoking fear they looted our country. India was a rich and prosperous country not only in terms of economic aspects, but it had also carved a niche in the field of science Science and knowledge. The world was drawn towards India. Even people from Europe, whenever desired to know something new or acquire wealth, looked at India. This is the reason why here is a general perception in our country many countries from Europe tried to invent the sea routes to that our freedom struggle was mainly political and India. Columbus also set out to find India, but instead, on 12 economic, and there were also social aspects associated October 1492, he reached a continent we now call America. with it. But very few are aware that there was a freedom Then, finally in 1498, Vasco de Gama from Portugal reached movement going on in the arena of science too, and Kerala’s Calicut (now Kozhikode). the scientists played an important role in it. Even British came to India in 1610, which was the beginning of Tthe people working in this field have very little information seventeenth century, and they came mainly as traders. Around about this. Today, while starting to celebrate the 75th year of that time ‘East India Company’ was established in England our Independence, we should try to inform people about the so that the trade ties could be established with the Eastern contribution of science in the freedom struggle. countries. The company's representatives also reached India. The word independence generally means ‘liberation’, which They had interest on China too, but India was their first priority. is called ‘Azadi’ in Urdu. In our country we didn’t call it ‘Freedom Besides British, Portuguese, Dutch, French, and German had Movemen’; instead, we used the phrase ‘Independence also their presence in India. They had the competition over the Movement’ or ‘Swatantrata Sangram’ or ‘Swadhinta Sangram’. sea routes from India to their countries and all of them wanted The special element in it is the sense of ‘swa’ or self. We are to dominate the routes and gain control over them. august 2021 / dream 2047 3 ENTERING INTO THE 75th YEAR OF INDIAN INDEPENDENCE Along with trade they were also worried of their own safety, In fact, America also had abundant natural resources. But and that’s why all the European countries maintained their the British who went there didn’t want to be under the rule of small armies. There was a continuous tussle going on. They England, and as a result of this, ‘American War of independence’ were establishing trade contracts with the various rulers in was fought during 1775 and 1783. In India, we also had a India. It also included having a trade contract with the Nawab similar kind of war in 1857, the ‘Indian War of Independence’. of Bengal. British didn’t want France to get these rights, and At that time industries were already established in England, therefore, The Battle of Plassey was fought between the Nawab and these industries required natural resources. The supply of Bengal and the British. East India Company's British officer had suddenly stopped coming from America. Obviously, for Robert Clive won this battle in June 1757. This victory paved Britain, India was the alternative. The victory of 1757 was the way for the British to collect taxes (Diwani rights) in Bengal not a result of their courage but their treacherous ways. They and Bihar. Thus, East India Company got the opportunity to followed this policy and defeated Marathas in 1818. It took govern the state. This incident, generally, is termed as the them sixty years to reign control over the huge landmass that beginning of British rule in India. included undivided India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, We know that England was able to establish industries etc. This is precisely the reason they saw India as an asset. In due to its scientific advancement. It was 1760 when the first their words, For the British, ‘India was a jewel in the crown of Industrial Revolution began in Britain. This revolution British empire’. They considered India as an important place required both natural and economic resources. After because the money and the natural resources for the industrial obtaining the Diwani rights the British now had money and revolution came from India. also the power to control and subsequently the ownership of The British took help of science to establish their rule.

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