The Era of Science Enthusiasts in Bengal (1841-1891): Akshayakumar, Vidyasagar and Rajendralala
Indian Journal of History of Science, 47.3 (2012) 375-425 THE ERA OF SCIENCE ENTHUSIASTS IN BENGAL (1841-1891): AKSHAYAKUMAR, VIDYASAGAR AND RAJENDRALALA ARUN KUMAR BISWAS* (Received 14 March 2012) During the nineteenth century, the Indian sub-continent witnessed two distinct outbursts of scientific enthusiasm in Bengal: one led by Rammohun Roy and his compatriots (1820-1840) and the other piloted by Mahendralal Sircar and Eugene Lafont (1860-1910). The intermediate decades were pioneered by the triumvirate: Akshayakumar, Vidyasagar, Rajendralala and a few others. Several scientific journals such as Tattvabodhinī Patrika–, Vivida–rtha Samgraha, Rahasya Sandarbha etc dominated the intellectual environment in the country. Some outstanding scientific books were written in Bengali by the triumvirate.Vidyasagar reformed the science content in the educational curricula. Akshayakumar was a champion in the newly emerging philosophy of science in India. Rajendralala was a colossus in the Asiatic Society, master in geography, archaeology, antiquity studies, various technical sciences, and proposed a scheme for rendering European scientific terms into vernaculars of India. There was a separate Muslim community’s approach to science in the 19th Century India. Key words: Akshayakumar, Botanical Collection, Geography, Muslim Community approach to Science, Phrenology, Rajendralala, Science enthusiasts (1841-1891), Technical Sciences, Triumvirate, Positivism, Vidyasagar INTRODUCTION It can be proposed that the first science movement in India was chiefly concentrated in the city of Calcutta and spanned the period of approximately quarter of a century (1814-39) coinciding with the entry of *Flat 2A, ‘Kamalini’ 69A, Townshend Road, Kolkata-700026 376 INDIAN JOURNAL OF HISTORY OF SCIENCE Rammohun in the city and James Prinsep’s departure from it.
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