Manoj Varghese

During India’s freedom struggle, apart from politics, there was a freedom movement going on at the grassroots, in the hearts and minds of the general public, including in the field of science. The role of scientists and scientific institutes laid the foundation for the evolution of science and technology in our country. Many scientists faced discrimination at the hands of the British, yet persisted in their quest.

Dr Mahendra Lal Sircar, known for his work in the field of medicine, was made the Secretary of the British Medical Association in India. But soon he was removed from the position since he prescribed to other indigenous forms of medicines. The British tried to stop his practice and publications. This led him to finally publish The Calcutta Journal of Medicine, India’s first scientific research journal in 1868 and establish an institution by the name Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) in 1876.

Dr Pramatha Nath Bose, a graded Scientist in the Geological Survey of India, was humiliated when he was denied promotion as the Director. Instead, the post was filled by a Britisher ten years junior to him. Against this move of the Britishers, Dr Bose resigned in 1903 and met Jamshedji Tata to establish the Tata steel industry in Jamshedpur...read more