Course

Unit 1

Introduction
Western and Indian views of science and technology
Introduction; Francis Bacon: the first philosopher of modern science; The Indian tradition in science and technology: an overview.

Unit 2

Indian sciences
Introduction; Ancient Indian medicine: towards an unbiased perspective; Indian approach to logic; The methodology of Indian mathematics; Revision of the traditional Indian planetary model by Nilakantha Somasutvan in circa 1500 AD

Science and technology under the British rule
Introduction; Indian agriculture before modernization; The story of modern forestry in India; The building of New Delhi

Unit 3

Science and technology in Independent India
Introduction; An assessment of traditional and modern energy resources; Green revolution: a historical perspective; Impact of modernisation on milk and oilseeds economy; Planning without the spirit and the determination.

Building upon the Indian tradition
Introduction; Regeneration of Indian national resources; Annamahatmyam and Annam Bahu Kurvita: recollecting the classical Indian discipline of growing and sharing food in plenty and regeneration of Indian agriculture to ensure food for all in plenty.

Conclusion

Reference(s)

• Joseph, George Gheverghese. The Crest of the Peacock: Non-European Roots of Mathematics. London: Penguin (UK), 2003.
• Iyengar, C. N. Srinivasa. History of Hindu Mathematics. Lahore: 1935, 1938 (2 Parts).
• Amma, T. A. Saraswati. Geometry in Ancient and Medieval India. Varanasi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1979.
• Bag, A. K. Mathematics in Ancient and Medieval India. Varanasi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1979.
• Sarma K. V. & B. V. Subbarayappa. Indian Astronomy: A Source-Book. Bombay: Nehru Centre, 1985.
• Sriram, M. S. et. al. eds. 500 Years of Tantrasangraha: A Landmark in the History of Astronomy. Shimla: Indian Institute of Advanced Study, 2002.
• Bajaj, Jitendra & M. D. Srinivas. Restoring the Abundance: Regeneration of Indian Agriculture to Ensure Food for All in Plenty.Shimla: Indian Institute of Advanced Study, 2001.
• Bajaj, Jitendra ed. Report of the Seminar on Food for All: The Classical Indian Discipline of Growing and Sharing Food in Plenty. Chennai: Centre for Policy Studies, 2001.
• Bajaj, Jitendra & M. D. Srinivas. Annam Bahu Kurvita: Recollecting the Indian Discipline of Growing and Sharing Food in Plenty. Madras: Centre for Policy Studies, 1996.
• Parameswaran, S. The Golden Age of Indian Mathematics. Kochi: Swadeshi Science Movement.
• Somayaji, D. A. A Critical Study of Ancient Hindu Astronomy. Dharwar: 1972.
• Sen, S. N. & K. V. Sarma eds. A History of Indian Astronomy. New Delhi, 1985.
• Rao, S. Balachandra. Indian Astronomy: An Introduction. Hyderabad: Universities Press, 2000.
• Bose, D. M. et. al. A Concise History of Science in India. New Delhi: 1971.
• Bajaj, Jitendra & M. D. Srinivas. Indian Economy and Polity. Chennai: Centre for Policy Studies.
• Bajaj, Jitendra & M. D. Srinivas. Timeless India, Resurgent India. Chennai: Centre for Policy Studies.
• Joshi, Murli Manohar. Science, Sustainability and Indian National Resurgence. Chennai: Centre for Policy Studies, 2008.
• The Cultural Heritage of India. Kolkata: Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture.

* The syllabus and the study material in use herein has been developed out of a ‘summer programme’ offered by the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS), Chennai at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Rashtrapati Nivas, Shimla, sometime ago. The same has been very kindly made available to us by Professors Dr M.D. Srinivas (Chairman) and Dr J.K. Bajaj (Director) of the CPS.

Evaluation Pattern