Science and modern India: an institutional history, c. 1784-1947

Cover......Page 1
History of Science, Philosophy and Culture in Indian Civilization......Page 4
Copyright......Page 5
Centre for Studies in Civilizations......Page 6
Contents......Page 8
List of Figures and Tables......Page 12
General Introduction......Page 16
Foreword......Page 26
Preface......Page 28
Editors......Page 30
Contributors......Page 32
Introduction: Science and Modern India: An Institutional History, 1784-1947......Page 40
 Science for Society: Some Historical Pointers......Page 41
 Colonial Obstructions , ‘atidesa function’, and Science......Page 47
 Indian Leadership in Science......Page 51
 Breakthrough......Page 53
 Nationalist Aspirations and Indian Science Leadership......Page 56
 National Self-determination and Science Organization......Page 59
 About this Volume......Page 61
 Notes and References......Page 71
 Bibliography......Page 75
Part I: Umbrella Institutions for the Cultivation of Science and for the Organization of Scientific and Industrial Research......Page 80
 Scientific Surveys in British India: A Survey, 1760-1900......Page 82
  Why Survey?......Page 83
  Measuring the Land......Page 84
  Botanical Explorations......Page 86
  On the Margins......Page 95
  Conclusion......Page 97
  Notes and References......Page 99
  Bibliography......Page 103
 The Asiatic Society and the Sciences in India, 1784-1947......Page 106
  Sir William Jones and the Asiatic Society......Page 108
  Organization and Administration......Page 111
  Library and Museum......Page 114
  Publications......Page 117
  Astronomy......Page 118
  Hindu Astronomy......Page 120
  Meteorology......Page 122
  Geology......Page 125
  Museum of Economic Geology......Page 126
  Palaeontology......Page 127
  Zoology......Page 128
  Botany......Page 133
  Physical Sciences......Page 134
  Medical Science......Page 135
  James Prinsep’s Contributions to Science in India......Page 136
  Other Institutions and their Relations with the Asiatic Society......Page 138
  Conclusion......Page 139
  Notes and References......Page 141
  Bibliography......Page 145
 Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science: A Nation’s Dream, 1869-1947......Page 148
  Visionary and the Vision......Page 149
  The Raman Era......Page 170
  The Era of Krishnan and Saha......Page 182
  Concluding Remarks: The Nation’s Dream......Page 187
  Notes and References......Page 189
  Bibliography......Page 193
 Science and Swadeshi: The Establishment and Growth of the Bengal Chemical and Pharmaceutical Works,1893-1947......Page 196
  The Making of an Indian Pharmaceutical Company......Page 197
  Science and Industry in India......Page 199
  The BCPW and the Social History of Industrial Bengal......Page 200
  Gandhian Ray and the Pharmaceutical Industry......Page 204
  War and the BCPW......Page 208
  Post-War Strategies......Page 209
  Conclusion......Page 214
  Notes and References......Page 215
  Bibliography......Page 219
 Indian Science Congress and the Three Academies, 1914-35......Page 222
  The National Academy of Sciences, India......Page 225
  The Emergence of two Academies......Page 227
  The National Institute of Sciences of India......Page 228
  The Three Academies: A Review......Page 233
  Notes and References......Page 234
  Bibliography......Page 235
 Organization of Industrial Research: The Early History of CSIR,1934-47+......Page 236
  Early Efforts, 1918–33......Page 237
  Concession : The Industrial Intelligence and Research Bureau, 1934–39......Page 239
  CSIR, 1942–47: The Planning of National Laboratories......Page 243
  The Metropolitan ‘Model’ and its Peripheral ‘Image’......Page 247
  Science Administration......Page 248
  Conclusion......Page 254
  Notes and References......Page 256
  Bibliography......Page 261
 Early Influences on the Origins and Directions of Coal Utilization Research in Colonial India: The Rise of the Central Fuel Research Institute, 1918-47......Page 264
  Industry and the Social History of Science in Colonial India......Page 266
  The Institutional Framework in the Pre-World War II Years......Page 268
  The Colonial Outlook, Indian Capital, Men of Science and the Progress of Research in India......Page 273
  Coal Survey Research......Page 275
  Coal Washing Research and Development......Page 277
  Research for the Utilization of Inferior Grades......Page 281
  Culpability of British Capital and the State in Sustaining the Colonial Pattern of Coal Use......Page 284
  Coal Utilization and the Nationalism of the Scientific and Technical Intelligentsia......Page 286
  Colonial Assurances, Coal Conservation and Research After 1940......Page 289
  Colonial Assurances, FRC, and the Scope of R&D at CFRI......Page 292
  Scope and Mandate of CFRI as Redefined by the FRI Planning Committee......Page 293
  The Innovation System and CFRI......Page 297
  Conclusion......Page 299
  Notes and References......Page 301
  Bibliography......Page 309
Part II: Agricultural and Botanical and Forestry Sciences......Page 312
 The Calcutta Botanic Garden and the Wider World, 1817-46......Page 314
  The Rise of the Calcutta Botanic Garden......Page 315
  The Garden and the World......Page 321
  Notes and References......Page 327
  Bibliography......Page 331
 From Jungle to Forests: Aspects of Early Scientific Conservation in Assam, 1839-1947......Page 334
  From Artificial Plantations to Natural Regeneration: Experiments with Teak, Sal......Page 336
  Treating the Forest Scientifically: Silviculture and the Provincial Forest Department......Page 344
  Protecting the Forest: Fire, Wild Animals and Insects......Page 347
  Shifting Cultivation: Anxieties of Forestry......Page 351
  Practice of Taungya and Forest Regeneration: Dilemmas of Science......Page 355
  Improving Commercial Prospects: Technological Dimensions......Page 358
  conclusion......Page 361
  Notes and References......Page 362
  Bibliography......Page 366
 Improving Indigo: Science in the Colonial Laboratories and  Experiment Stations, 1897-1920......Page 368
  History of Indigo Manufacturing in India......Page 371
  Planters, Scientists and Bureaucrats: Initial Responses......Page 372
  Dunstan’s Report: A Landmark......Page 374
  The Planters React......Page 376
  Indigo Experiments Reach a Ceiling......Page 378
  The Switch to Sugarcane......Page 380
  Indigo Experiments, 1904–13......Page 382
  Epilogue......Page 384
  Notes and References......Page 385
  Bibliography......Page 387
 Poona Agricultural College: Catering to the ‘Colonial Food’ Requirement, 1908–47......Page 390
  Special Agriculture Departments......Page 391
  Agriculture in the Maharashtra Region......Page 392
  Why was Poona Chosen for Agricultural Education?......Page 393
  The ‘Loni ’ School and Agricultural Education......Page 394
  Experiments Pertaining to Cultivation Patterns......Page 395
  Irrigation Experiments......Page 397
  Undergraduate Courses in Botany......Page 398
  Progress of Postgraduate Research......Page 399
  Agricultural College and Poona Dairy Farm......Page 400
  Courses in Zoology and Entomology......Page 401
  The Development of Special Research Schemes......Page 402
  Graduates of the Poona College of Agriculture......Page 403
  Notes and References......Page 404
  Bibliography......Page 405
 Institutionalizing Forestry Research in India: The Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, 1906-47......Page 406
  The Early Years: Establishing the Legitimacy of Forestry Research......Page 408
  Classifying the Content of Forestry Research......Page 412
  Communicating Forestry Research......Page 415
  Integrating Forestry Training, Research and Management......Page 416
  Contending with Competition......Page 419
  The War Years: Crisis and Expansion......Page 422
  Serving the New Nation......Page 423
  Notes and References......Page 424
  Bibliography......Page 425
Part III : Astronomical and  Meteorological Sciences......Page 426
 Early Modern Observatories in India, 1972-1900......Page 428
  The Madras Observatory......Page 430
  Observatories in Calcutta......Page 436
  Observatories in Dehra Dun......Page 437
  The Royal Observatory at Lucknow......Page 438
  Raja Vurmah Observatory at Travancore......Page 441
  Observatories in Poona......Page 442
  Conclusion......Page 447
  Notes and References......Page 448
  Bibliography......Page 456
 The Role of the India Meteorological Department, 1875-1947......Page 460
  Accounts of Monsoon Rains by European Travellers in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries......Page 461
  Scientific Progress in Europe During the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries......Page 462
  Progress in the Eighteenth Century: Large-Scale Winds......Page 463
  Assessment of Early Meteorological Studies in the First Half of the Nineteenth Century......Page 464
  Evolution of the Provincial Meteorological System......Page 465
  Establishment of the India Meteorological Department, 1875......Page 466
  The First Indian Officer of the IMD: Impressions of Ruchi Ram Sahni......Page 470
  Scientific Contributions of Sir John Eliot  and the Consolidation of the IMD......Page 472
  Progress in the IMD During the Period of Sir Gilbert T. Walker......Page 475
  Meteorological Services to Civil Aviation and Introduction of Agricultural Meteorology: J.H. Field’s Work......Page 481
  Development of Aviation Meteorology and Meteorological Telecommunicaons: C.W.B. Normand ’s Time......Page 482
  Dawn of Indian Independence and Meteorology in the First Five Years of Independent India: Dr S.K. Banerjee as the First Indian DGO of IMD......Page 490
  Conclusion......Page 496
  Notes and References......Page 497
  Bibliography......Page 501
Part IV: Engineering Science......Page 506
  The Context and the Background......Page 508
  Origins of the Survey......Page 510
  Inadequacy of the Survey School......Page 512
  Founding of the Civil Engineering College......Page 513
  Further Growth and Changing Contours......Page 514
  Indian Response and Attitude to Engineering......Page 520
  Appreciation of the Value of Research......Page 521
  Lasting Impact and Significance......Page 524
  Notes and References......Page 525
  Bibliography......Page 527
  Appendix......Page 529
 Thomason College of Engineering, Roorkee, 1847-1947......Page 532
  The Upper Subordinate Class......Page 536
  The Lower Subordinate Class......Page 537
  Engineer Class......Page 545
  Draftsman Class......Page 546
  Notes and References......Page 550
  Bibliography......Page 552
Part V: Medical Science......Page 554
 A History of the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, 1835-1936......Page 556
  Debates and Institutions: The Bengal Medical College......Page 560
  Establishment and Experimentations......Page 563
  Development and Modifications......Page 570
  Teaching Medicine to Women: A Colonial Perspective......Page 574
  Stability and Consistency......Page 580
  Tabulation of Early Landmarks in the History of the CMC......Page 584
  Notes and References......Page 585
  Bibliography......Page 589
   Appendix A......Page 591
   Appendix B......Page 596
 Science, Institution, Colonialism: Tibbiya College of Delhi, 1889-1947......Page 602
  Institution, College, Renewal......Page 603
  The Question of Science and Tibbiya College......Page 605
  Sponsors, the Muslim Factor and Ideological Orientation......Page 607
  Unani Education During the Colonial Period......Page 609
  From Madrasa to College: Trajectory of an Idea......Page 610
  Institutionalizing the Idea......Page 622
  Women’s Medical Education and Tibbiya College......Page 628
  Syllabus: Shifting Focus......Page 631
  Notes and References......Page 633
  Bibliography......Page 637
  Glossary......Page 640
 The Haffkine Institute, 1899-1947......Page 642
  Haffkine and the Plague Prophylactic......Page 643
  Bombay Bacteriological Laboratory and the Propagation of Plague Inoculation......Page 649
  BBL as a Research and Public-Health Laboratory......Page 652
  Dissemination of Information......Page 653
  BBL Becomes the Haffkine Institute......Page 654
  Plague Department......Page 656
  Treatment of Plague......Page 657
  Expansion of Activities......Page 658
  War Years and Ind ependence, 1939–47......Page 661
  Conclusion......Page 663
  Notes and References......Page 664
  Bibliography......Page 668
 The Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine: Foundation to Opening, 1910-21......Page 670
  Phase 1: Planning......Page 673
  Phase 2: The Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine Endowment Fund......Page 685
  Phase 3: Rogers Reveals his True Colours—Staffing the CSTM......Page 692
  Conclusion: Who were the Winners?......Page 696
  Notes and References......Page 697
  Bibliography......Page 699
 ‘Clear Stream of Reason … Lost Its Way into the Dreary Desert Sand of Dead Habit’: The Story of the all India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Calcutta, 1922-45......Page 702
  Origins of the AIIHPH......Page 704
  Institutionalization of Medical Research......Page 705
  The Establishment of the AIIHPH......Page 706
  IRFA as the Controlling Agency......Page 713
  A Governing Body for the AIIHPH......Page 720
  Special Committee: Working Towards a Compromise......Page 721
  Rogers’ Proposal......Page 723
  RF Compromise......Page 724
  Reorganization of the AIIHPH......Page 725
  Control: Scientific and Administrative......Page 734
  conclusion......Page 736
  Notes and References......Page 737
  Bibliography......Page 743
Part VI: Umbrella Institutions for Teaching Basic Sciences in the Colleges, Universities and Institutes of Research......Page 746
 Subaltern Science in the South, 1792-1947......Page 748
  Introduction......Page 749
  The Fascinating Story of the Madras Observatory......Page 751
  The Colleges ‘Where all the Action was’: The Professional Colleges......Page 756
  The Colleges ‘Where all the Action was’: The Arts and Science Colleges......Page 759
  The Research Departments: Late Entrants......Page 764
  Universities Born Out of Madras University......Page 767
  Beyond the Subaltern Horizon : The Trailblazers......Page 769
  Beyond the Subaltern Horizon : The Worthy Successors......Page 774
  The Mathematicians from the South......Page 780
  Institution Builders and Educationists......Page 783
  Comments on the Sociological and Colonial Context......Page 787
  Notes and References......Page 791
  Bibliography......Page 797
  The Jesuit Movement in Europe and India......Page 800
  Entry of Modern Science into India......Page 802
  Father Lafont and the Science Movement......Page 805
  Meteorological Investigations at the SXC......Page 807
  Spectro-Telescopic Investigations at the SXC......Page 809
  Father Lafont and the IACS......Page 810
  Promotion of Science Education and Popularization of Scientific Studies and Research......Page 812
  Moreon Father Lafont: Some Memoirs......Page 814
  The Aftermath......Page 816
  Science and Religion......Page 818
  Quo Vadis, St. Xavier’s College?......Page 819
  Notes and References......Page 820
  Bibliography......Page 824
 Aligarh Muslim University: Development and Progress of Science Teaching and Research, 1877-1947......Page 826
  Sir Syed Ahmad Khan......Page 827
  Further Development in Science Teaching and Research......Page 839
  Notes and References......Page 841
  Bibliography......Page 843
   Appendix A......Page 844
   Appendix B......Page 850
 The Development of Modern Sciences in the Punjab University under Colonial Rule,......Page 856
  Beginnings and Expansion of Panjab University......Page 857
  Development of Sciences from the 1920s to the 1940s......Page 861
  Contributions of Individual Scientists......Page 864
  Conclusion......Page 874
  Notes and References......Page 876
  Bibliography......Page 878
 The Making of an Indian School of Chemistry, Calcutta, 1889-1924......Page 880
  Antecedents......Page 883
  The Chemical Laboratory at Presidency College......Page 887
  The Institutional Home of the Indian School of Chemistry......Page 892
  The School of Indian Chemistry......Page 902
  Conclusion......Page 912
  Notes and References......Page 913
  Bibliography......Page 921
  Appendix......Page 924
 The National Council of Education and Its Progeny: The College of Engineering and Technology, 1906-47......Page 928
  The Dawn Society......Page 930
  The National Council of Education......Page 931
  Prelude......Page 932
  Bengal Technical Institute......Page 934
  The Bengal National College Versus the BTI......Page 935
  From BTI to the College of Engineering......Page 936
  The College of Engineering and Technology......Page 938
  From Technique to Technology—Technological Papers in the Journal of CET, 1934–47......Page 940
  Notes and References......Page 945
  Bibliography......Page 948
 Indian Institute of Science: Its Origin and Growth, 1909-47......Page 950
  The Constructive Philanthropy of Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata......Page 951
  A Teaching University for India......Page 954
  The Encounters: First Phase......Page 956
  The Issue of the Family Settlement......Page 957
  The Ramsay Report and its Critique......Page 959
  Location of the Institute......Page 961
  Masson and Clibborn Report......Page 964
  The Encounters: Second Phase......Page 967
  The Tripartite Agreement......Page 970
  The Resolution and the Vesting Order......Page 971
  The First Three Directors of the Institute......Page 973
  C.V. Raman, the First Indian Director......Page 981
  J.C. Ghosh, the Second Indian Director and the Institutional Growth of the Indian Institute of Science......Page 988
  Scientific Investigations: A Bird’s-Eye View......Page 991
  Notes and References......Page 997
  Bibliography......Page 1004
  Appendix......Page 1005
  Introduction......Page 1006
  The Emergence of Chemical Engineering......Page 1007
  The Movement for Technological Education......Page 1009
  Chemical Technology Forms the Core......Page 1012
  Technology Transfer in Education: The Influence of the British Experience......Page 1013
  The Chemical Technology Curriculum......Page 1015
  The Chemical Technology Syllabus......Page 1016
  Institutionalizing the College of Technology: The University Department of Chemical Technology......Page 1018
  Conclusion......Page 1020
  Notes and References......Page 1021
  Bibliography......Page 1024
  Establishment and Objectives......Page 1026
  Department of Mathematics......Page 1030
  Department of Chemistry......Page 1031
  Department of Physics......Page 1033
  Department of Zoology......Page 1034
  Department of Botany......Page 1035
  Department of Geology......Page 1038
  Notes and References......Page 1039
  Select Bibliography......Page 1040
 Bose Institute: A Historical Perspective, 19-1747......Page 1042
  Why Bose Institute?......Page 1043
  Prelude to the Establishment of Bose Institute......Page 1044
  Foundation of Bose Institute......Page 1045
  Early Years of Bose Institute, 1917–37......Page 1048
  Bose Institute During 1938–47......Page 1049
  Notes and References......Page 1050
  Bibliography......Page 1051
   Appendix I......Page 1053
   Appendix II......Page 1062
   Appendix III......Page 1064
   Appendix IV......Page 1066
 Science College, Patna, 1927-47......Page 1068
  Science Education in Bihar in the Early Part of the Twentieth Century......Page 1069
  Establishment of Science College......Page 1071
  Teaching of Biology......Page 1073
  Contributions to Scientific Research......Page 1074
  Patna Science College Philosophical Society......Page 1076
  The 20th Annual Session of the Indian Science Congress......Page 1079
  The Issue of ‘Increasing Population ’......Page 1081
  Annual Session of the Indian Science Congress of 1948......Page 1082
  Conclusion......Page 1083
  Notes and References......Page 1084
  Bibliography......Page 1087
   Appendix I......Page 1089
   Appendix II......Page 1091
 Indian Statistical Institute: Numbers and Beyond, 1931–47......Page 1092
  Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis : The Early Years......Page 1093
  The Statistical Laboratory and the ISI......Page 1101
  Supplements and Appendices......Page 1107
   Appendix A. 2: Two Letters of Tagore on Nationalism and Education......Page 1116
   Appendix A. 3: Extract from Rolland and Tagore......Page 1117
   Appendix B: Contents of Council Proceedings, Sankhya and Annual Reports of the ISI in the 1930s......Page 1118
   Appendix D: Teaching and Training Programmes at ISI......Page 1127
   Appendix E: Extract from Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s Speech in the ISI Act......Page 1129
   Notes and References......Page 1130
   Bibliography......Page 1133
 Not Only Smashing Atoms: Meghnad Sahaand Nuclear Physics in Calcutta, 1938–48......Page 1136
  University Science College, Calcutta......Page 1138
  Meghnad Saha and Nuclear Physics......Page 1139
  An Indian in Berkeley, California......Page 1141
  Beginnings of the Calcutta Cyclotron......Page 1143
  Nag Comes to Calcutta......Page 1147
  Organization of the Cyclotron Group......Page 1148
  Saha and the Indian Scientific Mission......Page 1150
  Atomic Energy Research Board......Page 1152
  An Institute of Nuclear Physics......Page 1154
  Conclusion......Page 1159
  Notes and References......Page 1161
  Bibliography......Page 1169
  Appendix......Page 1171
 Fundamental Research, Self-relianceand Internationalism: The Evolution of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, 1945–47......Page 1174
  Homi Bhabha: The Cambridge Influence and International Networks......Page 1175
  Indian Institute of Science: The Turning Point......Page 1177
  Private Benefactions to Science in India......Page 1182
  The Role of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust......Page 1183
  The Inaugural Moment and the Plans for Fundamental Research......Page 1185
  Indian Independence, Science and Self-Reliance......Page 1187
  Notes and References......Page 1195
  Bibliography......Page 1199
   Appendix A......Page 1201
   Appendix B......Page 1202
   Appendix C......Page 1207
Index......Page 1210