Religion and Modern Science in Colonial Bengal (1870-1940)

The Western world can boast of a massive volume of literature on the relationship of science and religion. This is partly because the ‘scientific revolution’ in the west took place in the midst of largescale combat between the church and scientists so much so that Galileo was forced to renounce truth and Bruno was burnt to death. Literature on India’s encounter with modern science moderated by colonial rule has been relatively scarce. Therefore, Professor John B. Lourdusamy deserves great credit for providing a compact and lucid analysis of the relationship between religion and modern science in colonial Bengal (1870-1940). Lourdusamy has assessed, pains-takingly as well as perceptively, how scholars and opinion makers of Bengal tried to address the issues of reason and faith, of God and science, during this period. He has made an ample use of original sources to discuss the positive or negative impact of religion upon scientific pursuits, and vice versa. Lourdusamy has also argued convincingly as to where and how science and religion should meet and enliven each other, and upgrade the life of the people by eliminating the harmful effects of science. This book is expected to win the admiration of a large number of readers generalists as well as specialists.