Reply to SATYAM BRUYAT - Justice Katju : Needham's Grand Question
Sir, I think Needham's Question regarding China (& India) has been poised romantically. There are two instant but desultory answers that come - (1) That we lagged because of Colonization, and (2) That we lagged because of decay of our culture due to successive parochial interpretations.
While both are true to some extent, we must know that Hindsight blinds. Path of history is so clearly lit with events of magnanimous importance that it becomes impossible to construct an alternative without occasionally straying on the actual path.
Therefore, when we say that it was because of Britishers or Mughals or other rulers that we could not attain/ maintain the past glory of Indian culture from science to society, we are actually understating the prevailing conditions in the country(or more precisely 'Indian Landmass' ) which led the people to choose solutions which led to deterioration of the scientific thought.
The answer lies in defining 'prevailing conditions'. It does not begin with usual agricultural, exploitative, poverty ridden society. These are the end products of the first cycle. Thereafter, they provide 'feedback' to the system and the tale goes on.
By 'prevailing conditions', I mean lack of decentralization of knowledge. While caste system acted as closed door - exclusivist guardian of knowledge, over the centuries it even alienated the 'Upper-Castes' from its reservoir. Result - Only the dogmas and prejudices survived and no discussion and percolation of knowledge to the society could take place. Illiteracy and atrocities 'blossomed'.
It is a well documented fact that Industrial revolution was greatly facilitated by press-revolution. The ideas disseminated freely from researchers, institutions(which had active support of state) and from across the borders. The chain reaction is what came to be known as Industrial revolution and manifested itself in massive energy of 'The bomb' (well, literally!)
The decline of the 'Argumentative tradition' of our culture is therefore chief, if not sole answer for the Needham's Indian question. The sporadic efforts by mahrajas and badhshahs notwithstanding, it was the wholesome decay of the education system that kept us in dark ages. And as quote goes, "An age is called Dark, not because the light fails to shine, but because people refuse to see it." (James A. Michener)
To conclude, I will state some current controversies - be it AFSPA or Art 377 of IPC or Reservation system, we find that there is no meaningful public discussion. Answers by both supporters and dissenters are almost dogmatic and tread a uniform line - Indepence/ Liberty/ Merit or Law&Order/ Unnaturalness of Act/ Past Exploitation. While one side is dismissed as elitist, others are denounced as trolls or paid 'Bots'. By engaging in healthy discussions, we can not only arrive at accepted solutions but more importantly open ourselves to variety of viewpoints and advance our knowledge.
Sir, I think Needham's Question regarding China (& India) has been poised romantically. There are two instant but desultory answers that come - (1) That we lagged because of Colonization, and (2) That we lagged because of decay of our culture due to successive parochial interpretations.
While both are true to some extent, we must know that Hindsight blinds. Path of history is so clearly lit with events of magnanimous importance that it becomes impossible to construct an alternative without occasionally straying on the actual path.
Therefore, when we say that it was because of Britishers or Mughals or other rulers that we could not attain/ maintain the past glory of Indian culture from science to society, we are actually understating the prevailing conditions in the country(or more precisely 'Indian Landmass' ) which led the people to choose solutions which led to deterioration of the scientific thought.
The answer lies in defining 'prevailing conditions'. It does not begin with usual agricultural, exploitative, poverty ridden society. These are the end products of the first cycle. Thereafter, they provide 'feedback' to the system and the tale goes on.
By 'prevailing conditions', I mean lack of decentralization of knowledge. While caste system acted as closed door - exclusivist guardian of knowledge, over the centuries it even alienated the 'Upper-Castes' from its reservoir. Result - Only the dogmas and prejudices survived and no discussion and percolation of knowledge to the society could take place. Illiteracy and atrocities 'blossomed'.
It is a well documented fact that Industrial revolution was greatly facilitated by press-revolution. The ideas disseminated freely from researchers, institutions(which had active support of state) and from across the borders. The chain reaction is what came to be known as Industrial revolution and manifested itself in massive energy of 'The bomb' (well, literally!)
The decline of the 'Argumentative tradition' of our culture is therefore chief, if not sole answer for the Needham's Indian question. The sporadic efforts by mahrajas and badhshahs notwithstanding, it was the wholesome decay of the education system that kept us in dark ages. And as quote goes, "An age is called Dark, not because the light fails to shine, but because people refuse to see it." (James A. Michener)
To conclude, I will state some current controversies - be it AFSPA or Art 377 of IPC or Reservation system, we find that there is no meaningful public discussion. Answers by both supporters and dissenters are almost dogmatic and tread a uniform line - Indepence/ Liberty/ Merit or Law&Order/ Unnaturalness of Act/ Past Exploitation. While one side is dismissed as elitist, others are denounced as trolls or paid 'Bots'. By engaging in healthy discussions, we can not only arrive at accepted solutions but more importantly open ourselves to variety of viewpoints and advance our knowledge.
