Science and the Raj: A Study of British India

To what extent were colonial scientific knowledge or discourses used to achieve political and cultural goals? How did the recipient culture appropriate or redefine the metropolitan ideology of science? Science and the Raj investigates some key questions related to British scientific encounters with India. It explores the link between science, technology, and the process of colonization in the context of British India. Deepak Kumar makes implicit and explicit distinctions between colonial and metropolitan sciences in terms of their aims, contents, and the mentalities of their patrons and practitioners. He argues that despite colonial influence, the generation, transmission, and reception of scientific ideas gradually acquired an autonomy and momentum of their own. Empirically and conceptually well grounded, this book skillfully combines in-depth case studies with wider analytical perspective. Building upon new sources and research base, the second edition brings the discussion up to date with a new chapter taking the story up to 1947. This book would be very useful for students and scholars of history, sociology, science, as well as those interested in the study of science and society in India.