Scientific and Industrial Research in India

Abstract

ASMALL group of distinguished Indian scientists visited United States when World War II was in full swing. Their object was threefold: to cultivate fruitful contacts with scientific, industrial, and agricultural organizations in America; to visit leading universities in order to ascertain how nation's research laboratories are equipped, staffed, and run; and to see some of leading American industrial establishments. What was hoped for was intellectual cooperation on highest level. After all, science in its modern form reached India from West, and many of her ablest workers received their training in European and, more recently, American centers of learning. In ancient and medieval times India was ahead of Europe in certain branches of science, notably astronomy, mathematics, metallurgy, and medicine; but until recently she lagged lamentably behind Western countries in teaching of science and fostering of research. Notwith standing paucity of private endowments for research and meager provision made by Government of India for science teaching and re search as well as for specialist services, output of original work from several of Indian universities and other independent institutions compared not unfavorably with that in Occident. The organization and progress of modern scientific studies and re search in India falls into four overlapping stages. The foundation in 1784 of Asiatic Society of Bengal (A.S.B.), parent of all Asiatic societies extant, formed a landmark in history of arts and science in India. The objects of A.S.B, were to inquire into history, civil and natural, antiquities, arts, sciences, and literature of all Asia. Among its early patrons were Warren Hastings and Cornwallis. The A.S.B, has a long and brilliant record of achievement to its credit. On scientific side alone, its Asiatic Researches and Journal contain accounts of Archdeacon Pratt's research in geodesy; papers by Lambton, of Indian Survey Department, and findings of Voysey, father of Indian Geology, and Thomas Oldham, virtual founder of Geological Survey of India. Included in these records are results of researches by Falconer and Cautley on rich mammalian fauna of Siwalik Hills; by Hodgson on birds and mammals of Nepal, Sikkhim, and Tibet; and by Schwendler, one of founders of Calcutta Zoo. The studies of Roxburgh, the Linnaeus of Indian Botany, and of Dalton, pioneer in field of Indian ethnology, are also represented. The A.S.B, is parent and sponsor of many of nation's learned 625