Observations and Reflections

Abstract

The story of the growth of Western science in general and of particle physics in particular has many interesting lessons. The first is that Western science in India is not an organic growth but an implant, and therefore, its progress requires nurturing. The second is that the coming of Western science was intimately connected with religion, with the colonials determined to combine it with Christianity as a package, and an equal determination of Hindus and Muslims to accept the science but not the Christianity. Later the practice of science by Indians acquired a strong nationalistic flavour, some of which fed into the setting up of new institutions once India became independent. The paucity of women participants in this enterprise can be understood if we note the slow start in colonial India to women’s education, itself an idea implanted by the foreign dispensation. The more scientific part of the discussion leaves out advances in other fields, but it does bring out features like the importance of the Cambridge connection and the fact that most great Indian scientists had to become institution builders at a cost to their scientific work. Some remarks on the 'brain drain' and the importance of teamwork in modern science conclude the general discussion.