The Status of Indigenous Science and Technology in India

Here we discuss the paradoxical situation of indigenous science and technology in India. Despite evidence of a rich history of scientific and technological advancements, there is little awareness or practice of these traditions in mainstream activities today.

Evidence of a Culture that Deployed Science and Technology

The available evidence, including living structures, scriptural references, and archaeological findings, points to a culture that utilized science and technology in various aspects of daily life. However, there is a lack of awareness of these practices today, and they are not widely used in mainstream activities.

Science and Technology Practices Still in Use

Some of the science and technology practices that are still in use have been labeled as rural, tribal, and folk practices, and they do not receive significant attention or appreciation.

Compelling Evidence of Understanding

There is compelling evidence to suggest that ancient Indians had a good understanding of several aspects of science and technology. However, there is a lack of substantive details in the literature on various aspects of science, engineering, and technology.

Reasons for the Paradox

There are several reasons for this paradoxical situation, as highlighted below:

• Reliance on Oral Tradition: Indian society relied heavily on oral tradition for preserving and disseminating knowledge, with a culture of extensive documentation through written material emerging relatively recently.

• Secretive Knowledge Transfer: The expertise of teachers was often kept secret and only shared with students working directly with them.

• Guru-Shishya Parampara: Some traditions still transfer knowledge from generation to generation through the Guru-Shishya Parampara (teacher-student tradition), with minimal written documentation.

• Caste System: The well-developed caste system was closely aligned with skilled crafts, with specific castes associated with particular trades. The decline of the caste system disrupted the continuity of these traditions.

• Foreign Rule: Large parts of India were under foreign rule for nearly 700 years, leading to the destruction of valuable knowledge resources, such as the burning of manuscripts at Nalanda University.

• Shift in Priorities: The priorities of the ruling class influenced what knowledge and skills were encouraged, contributing to the decline of indigenous practices.

• Government Policies: Government policies, such as mining bans and production taxes imposed by the British Raj, discouraged metalworking and other indigenous practices.

The Way Forward

To recover and reclaim these indigenous practices, it is necessary to:

• Dig up and analyze existing materials.

• Study ancient sites and tribal villages to understand existing practices.

• Reverse engineer some of the practices using available information.

• Visit ancient structures and keenly observe and deduce the underlying technologies.

• Search for and analyze manuscripts to unearth valuable information.

By undertaking these efforts, it may be possible to revive and integrate some of these ancient practices and knowledge into modern applications.