Science in british India 2. Indian response

Abstract

The first part of this article sets up a nested three-stage model for the advent and growth of modern science in India. We have already discussed the first stage, the colonial-tool stage, where science was used by the British to further their colonial interests. We now discuss the remaining two stages: the peripheral-native stage, in which Indians were trained and hired to provide assistance to the government science machinery; and the Indian-response stage, in which Indians took to scientific research on their own initiative. Note that we use the term native to refer to Indians in a subservient role. The term Indian is used only when there is exercise of free will or desire thereof