Colonial Astronomy as an element of Empire in British India

Abstract

In this paper we outline the efforts made by the East India Company, the British colonial authorities, visiting astronomical expeditions and expatriate amateur astronomers to establish astronomical observatories in India during the three centuries prior to Indian Independence in 1947. The focus of this paper is therefore primarily on the emergence of Madras, Colaba, Calcutta, Dehra Dun, Hennessey and Kodaikanal Observatories. But we also discuss the accomplishments of the Trigonometrical Survey of India, and various total solar eclipse and 1874 transit of Venus expeditions. The Trigonometrical Survey of India and the aforementioned observatories were primarily established to further Britain’s colonial ambitions, and some of the astronomical observations were made with that objective in mind. We refer to this as 'colonial astronomy’. However, other observations (including of solar eclipses and transits of Venus) were made—especially by expatriate amateur astronomers—as a result of innate curiosity or in a bid to further astronomical science. It is notable that some of the solar eclipse observations inspired the founding of Government-funded solar observatories in India, which were linked to an improved understanding of the climate and the monsoons and therefore to the economic development and prosperity of India. One way or another, astronomy was an important element of Empire in British India.