A Journey Through India's Scientific Achievements Before Independence

The significant scientific development started much before the Independence of India. And it had deeper roots in the freedom struggle of India. It is believed that the scientific satyagraha that started in India was a decade before the actual satyagraha started in India.

India has a long and rich history of scientific and technological innovation. Even before the advent of the British Raj, Indian scientists and engineers made significant contributions to a wide range of fields, including mathematics, astronomy, medicine, engineering, and metallurgy.

TIMELINE:-

1757- (Battle of Plassey- East India Company laid the foundation of the British Crown)

1760- The Industrial Revolution took place

1767- Survey of India to Map came into effect

1784- Asiatic Society of Calcutta established- elected only Europeans till 1828

1787- Botanical Garden at Shibpur, Howrah Calcutta

1817- Hindoo College later known as Presidency College, Kolkata

1818- Great Trigonometrical Survey of India

1831- Radhanath Silidar discovered the Peak 15 which was later named Mount Everest by George Everest.

1853- Railway Introduced

1857- University of Calcutta (Jan)- 1st multi-disciplinary Institute in Asia; In (Sept)- University of Madras- One of the oldest

1876- Indian Association for Cultivation of Science (IACS)

1891- Indian Industrial Association by Pramath Nath Bose

1894- Crystal used as detectors by J C Bose in microwave experiments- 1st patented crystal detector in 1901

1895- 1st demonstration of microwave transmission by J C Bose

1901- India's 1st Pharmaceutical company Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Works Ltd. by P C Ray

1902- Dawn Society was established by Satish Chandra Mukherjee

1904- Association for Advancement of scientific and industrial education

1906- Dawn Society became the National Council for Education and Society for Promotion of Technical Education.

1908- The Calcutta Mathematical Society was established

1909- Indian Institute for Science established in Bangalore, By Jamsetji Tata 1st institute for masters in engineering.

1913- Vijnina parishad in Allahabad- for scientific literature in Indian languages

1915- Satyendra Nath Bose translated Einstein's original paper in German on the theory of relativity.

1917- Bose Research Institute by J C Bose

1920- Institute of Engineers - nonformal education in engineering.

1924- Indian Chemical Society with PC Ray as president

1930- CV Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize for scattering of light also called as 'Raman Effect' -was the 1st Non-white or 1st Asian to be awarded the Nobel Prize.

1931- The Indian Statistical Institute established by PC Mahalanobis grew out of a laboratory at Presidency College, Kolkata

1934- Indian Academy of Sciences Bangalore by CV Raman

1935- Indian Science New Association

1936- Birbal Sahni as a fellow of the Royal Society of London (Highest British Scientific Honor) for 1st time to Indian Botanist

1942- CSIR- Council for Scientific and Industrial Research was established

1945- TIFR- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research by Homi J Bhabha- 1st institute for fundamental research came into establishment.

1946- Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleobotany in Lucknow; Maharashtra Association for the cultivation of science in Pune.

1947- Meghanad Saha established the Indian Institute for Nuclear Physics in Calcutta.

As India has a rich history of scientific interventions even before gaining independence from British colonial rule. While the colonial period did pose challenges to scientific progress in India, there were notable contributions made by Indian scientists and scholars.

Some more primary significant interventions taking place before Independence in India are:-

1. Astronomy and Mathematics

2. Medicine and Surgery

3. Metallurgy

4. Textiles and Dyeing

5. Botanical and agriculture

6. Architecture and Engineering

7. Science of Sound and Music

8. Water Management

9. Navigation and Maritime Trade

These are just a few examples of the many scientific and technological achievements that India has made since Independence. India is now a major player in the global science and technology arena and is poised to make even greater contributions in the years to come.

These interventions highlight India's significant contributions to various fields of science, technology, and knowledge even before gaining independence. While colonial rule did pose challenges, these historical achievements laid the foundation for India's scientific progress in the post-independence era.

-A Blog by Jitisha .S. Hiremath