SCIENCE OF SELEFHOOD

TIME IS RIPE TO AWAKEN THE COUNTRY TOWARDS THE STRUGGLE AND AUDACIOUS SCIENTIFIC VENTURES OF INDIAN SCIENTISTS THAT HELPED IN THE CREATION OF NATIONAL IMPULSE TO ACHIEVE SWATANTRATA

- JAYANT SAHASRABUDHE

There was a need for national self-expression— to show the West that, in all realms including science, Indians were equals’—this was the reply of legendary astrophysicist and Nobel laureate Dr S Chandrasekhar when he was asked: ‘Why was there a sudden surge of modern scientists of international repute in the first three decades of 20th century in India?' This reply, on the one hand, reflects the discriminatory and hegemonic tendency of the West (the British) against the Indians, and, on the other, it precisely captures and highlights the patriotic spirit of those world-class scientists who squarely challenged the oppressive colonial power as the warriors of struggle to attain swatantrata (स्वतंत्रता).

In spite of this reality, is it not a surprise that we as a society are yet to acknowledge and perceive scientists as warriors of the struggle for swatantrata? In fact, there is enough and detailed information available on the pages of history about how ‘science’ was utilised as a potent tool to establish and consolidate exploitative British rule in India; how the oppressive and discriminatory measures were exercised by colonial rulers against Indians in the scientific domain; and, most importantly, there are inspirational accounts of the struggle as to how those repressive measures were challenged and how the counterattack emerged in an intelligent manner. Now, the time is ripe to make earnest efforts to explore the struggle that was carried out in the domain of science and awaken the people by telling hitherto untold stories of audacious scientific ventures that could create impulse in the hearts of fellow Indians to achieve swatantrata.