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Abstract: Abstract Palaeodietary reconstruction, a rapidly emerging field of multidisciplinary archaeology, helps to reconstruct prehistoric people’s food consumption or subsistence behavior. Trace element analysis plays a vital role in the palaeodietary reconstruction of prehistoric populations. Trace elements such as Strontium (Sr), Zinc (Zn), Barium (Ba), Calcium (Ca), Copper (Cu), Magnesium (Mg), and Iron (Fe) found in the human bone provide valuable indicators for reconstructing dietary behavior of the ancient human population. It has been observed that the concentration of the trace element Zn depleted from herbivore to carnivore, whereas it is reversed in the case of Sr. The present study of the dietary behavior of the Roopkund skeletons shows higher concentrations of strontium than Zn, as reported in the human skeletons of Roopkund. Based on preliminary results, a significant component of vegetal material can be ascertained in the diet of most of the human skeletons reported from the Roopkund region. PubDate: 2024-08-05
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Abstract: Abstract The pandiagonal magic squares have been known in India from the time of Nāgārjuna (c.100 CE) and Varāhamihira (c.550 CE). In his comprehensive mathematical study of magic squares presented in the Bhadragaṇita chapter of Gaṇitakaumud \(\bar{\iota }\) (c. 1356 CE), Nārāyaṇa Paṇḍita has briefly outlined a method for constructing 4 × 4 pandiagonal magic squares based on turagagati or horse movements in a chess board. In this paper, we present a study of the verses of Nārāyaṇa Paṇḍita which leads to a method of construction of 4 × 4 pandiagonal squares by horse moves only. We also show that this algorithm generates all (and only) the 384 pandiagonal squares of order 4. Besides presenting this algorithm, this paper discusses various properties exhibited by these squares along with their proofs. PubDate: 2024-07-24
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Abstract: Abstract Historically, Indian Knowledge, has been classified into Aṣṭādaśa-vidyāsthānas (अष्टादशविद्यास्थान), eighteen abodes of knowledge. This classification scheme assigns an appropriate place for all components of Indian knowledge in a consistent system. In modern libraries, based mainly on the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC), there is no natural place for the corpus of Indian Knowledge (IK), and different components of IK get split over widely separate diverse classes. In this article, we describe India’s traditional classification of knowledge and propose a national modification of the DDC to incorporate the former. The proposed scheme shall ensure that the diverse corpora of IK are compactly brought together in Indian libraries. This shall help the students and scholars appreciate the breadth and depth of IK and also the interconnectedness of its different components. It is impossible to understand the history of any element of IK, including Indian Sciences and Technologies, without comprehending the interconnectedness of the entire corpus. PubDate: 2024-07-04
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Abstract: Abstract How did the European industrialists influence the nature and form of the course in sugar chemistry and technology, as well as its standard and form of training at Harcourt Butler Technological Institute, Kanpur' This course led to the Imperial Institute of Sugar Technology's establishment (renamed National Sugar Institute after independence) in 1937 at Kanpur. The overwhelming presence of Europeans in the sugar industry until the 1920s gave European industrialists an influential role in deciding policy for technical education in colonial India. Although the sugar industry became a prominent political arena for Indian industrialists after the tariff protection of 1932, technical education for industrialization was not a serious concern for industrialists. The paper examines the process of initiating advanced courses for sugar chemists and technologists at HBTI by the second decade of the twentieth century. Proceedings of the Department of Industries of the Government of India and the United Provinces and official reports are analyzed to understand the political and social underpinning of the process of setting up a sugar technology course at HBTI, which subsequently emerged as an independent institute for sugar technology named as Imperial Institute of Sugar Technology Kanpur. PubDate: 2024-06-19
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Abstract: Abstract This paper presents a brief history of semiconductor science and technology and examines the role of Indian scientists in the decade following the invention of the transistor. The paper first outlines the development towards identifying and understanding the special characteristics of semiconductors. The current understanding of the physics of semiconductors and their properties are briefly mentioned thereafter. A chronological listing of different works, starting from the first report by Volta in 1782 and other scientists, is given, and how their findings gave evidence to this special class of materials is pointed out. In the list, a brief mention is also made about J. C. Bose’s invention of the first semiconductor device and his work related to materials, later identified as semiconductors. This listing, with a brief mention, continues by outlining the progress towards developing semiconductor science and technology until the end of World War II. The invention of the transistor, announced on December 23, 1947 created a boom in activities worldwide in semiconductors, improvement in device performance, and announcement of newer semiconductor devices. Indian research in this area over the decade after the invention of the transistor is identified. International research had been in full swing in this period, and some of these developments that paved the way for the invention of integrated circuits in 1958–1960 are listed and discussed. Finally, the reasons are sought for limited work and the general unawareness or lack of interest of Indian workers in this important area, leading to the present Information Age, compared to international activity. PubDate: 2024-06-17 DOI: 10.1007/s43539-024-00125-4
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Abstract: Abstract Atharvaveda is the fourth veda in the usual order of enumeration after Ṛgveda, Yajurveda, and Samaveda. However, the historical analysis of Atharvaveda shows that it is as old as Ṛgveda. The Atharvaveda saṃhitā contains around 5987 verses, which varies slightly based on the two recessions. These saṃhitās are curious compendiums of medicine in its various stages of evolution and include the most primitive as well as some of the most highly developed stages of therapy. Most of the vedic healing verses/liturgies occur in the Atharvaveda. These liturgies, termed Bhaiṣajya suktās (hymns on medicine), which deal with human diseases, their causes, and cures, show a remarkable insight into the subject of health sciences with several medicinal plants’ descriptions. The descriptions of the structure of the human body and its organs, which reveal anatomical knowledge, are shown predominantly in the Atharvavedic scriptures. The Atharvan medical terminology is still being used in the traditional Ayurveda practice. The project aims to make a comprehensive and systematic assessment of the descriptions of plants revealed in the Atharvaveda saṃhitā texts. PubDate: 2024-06-12 DOI: 10.1007/s43539-024-00128-1
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Abstract: Abstract Salvadora persica occurs widely in the dry and semi-arid regions of the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, and parts of Africa, where it is commonly used as a ‘toothbrush’. The present paper attempts to chronicle the history of S. persica in present-day Tamil Nadu. Sangam literature (300 BCE–300 CE) in Tamil is widely acknowledged for identifying floral and faunal elements of parts of Southern India, particularly modern Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The description of floral elements in Sangam literature, when definitively linked to the present-day scientifically determined plant identities, enables us to estimate and evaluate their present distribution. In addition, this paper collates the references to the plant ukãy from both Sangam and the later-period Tamil literature and traces the history and use of this plant in the Tamil region. PubDate: 2024-06-11 DOI: 10.1007/s43539-024-00123-6
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Abstract: Abstract This essay explores the life and work of Dr. Yellapragada Subba Rao, an Indian scientist whose contributions to medical science have profoundly impacted the world. From his early days in India to his time at Harvard University, Subba Rao’s innovative research led to the development of several important drugs, including the first chemotherapy agent for leukemia and the discovery of diethylcarbamazine for filariasis treatment. Despite his many achievements, Subba Rao never received the recognition he deserved during his lifetime. However, his legacy lives on through the countless lives he has saved and the ongoing research inspired by his work. This essay sheds light on the critical contributions of Subba Rao to medical science and the remarkable impact his work has had on society. PubDate: 2024-05-31 DOI: 10.1007/s43539-024-00124-5
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Abstract: Abstract Dams and ensuing development is a contentious topic that has occupied scholars forages, and the present article endeavors to show how the process of construction of Bhakra dam could influence the history and future of a princely state and its subjects that had been ruled by “Rajas” of Kehloor (Bilaspur) for more than 1250 years. This paper focuses on the project’s history during Colonial India from 1908 to 1947. It was the period when the seed of the idea was first sowed, and the machinations behind it would eventually decide the fate of Bilaspur’s small independent state. It involved the possibility of losing its identity and land and, notably, the loss of sovereign rights of its people. The independent principality ceased to exist in post-colonial India as it became a district in Himachal Pradesh. The relocation heaped on the masses remained silent in the annals of history, and those rendered homeless remained without a voice. The Dam’s construction depended on the consent of the Raja of Bilaspur and, finally, the government of India, which is the major player in the politics surrounding the Dam. PubDate: 2024-05-27 DOI: 10.1007/s43539-024-00122-7
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Abstract: Abstract Indigenous knowledge is considered the invaluable treasure of any particular community. It refers to unique traditional knowledge within a specific geographic area that facilitates indigenous cultural development. Sustainable development is an economically viable, environmentally, and socially beneficial process that balances the present and future communities' needs, for which preservation, promotion, and transmission are the primary requisites. The present study focuses on the Kurmi Mahatos, and their reliance on the traditional methods of using plant and animal species for medical assistance. Indigenous peoples and their knowledge are considered the guardians of the earth, as their conventional practices of medical assistance focus on managing natural resources to the fullest. Their knowledge represents a collection of cultural wisdom for natural resource management, along with the incorporation of caring and respect. Conserving their knowledge of medicinal plants and animals is vital to sustainable development. The S–W–O–C index highlights the chances between resistance and potentiality of this traditional practice. PubDate: 2024-04-26 DOI: 10.1007/s43539-024-00120-9
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Abstract: Abstract In 1967, George Basalla posed the question: “How did modern science diffuse from Western Europe and find its place in the world'” Here, we consider this question particularized to India: “How did modern science find its place in India'” In answering his own question Basalla posited a 3-phase model–one that has been severely criticized by some prominent social historians and sociologists of modern Indian science. In this paper, we question Basalla’s question anew from the perspective of cognitive history, wherein the focus is on specific, individual scientific productions as knowledge-consuming/knowledge-generating creative phenomena. Drawing on Asiatic Society records on the work of British scientists in nineteenth century India and contributions made in the same period by five Indian pioneers of science, namely, Radhanath Sikdar, Yesudas Ramchandra, Mahendra Lal Sircar, Jagadis Chandra Bose and Prafulla Chandra Ray–each of whom is presented here as representing a distinct aspect of science–we argue that: (1) the biographical records of the British scientists in nineteenth century India does not resonate in important ways with phase I of the Basalla model; (2) with one notable exception, the work of the British scientists and that of the Indian protagonists ran on essentially parallel tracks; (3) the distinction between Basalla’s phase II ‘colonial scientist’ and phase III ‘independent scientist’ dissolves in the case of our Indian protagonists; and (4) most importantly, we answer the Basalla question by way of identifying specific and distinctive contributions made to the knowledge-consuming/knowledge-producing enterprises constituting creative science. In the final analysis, we suggest that the Basalla model played virtually no role in understanding or explaining the genesis of modern science in India as practiced by our protagonists. PubDate: 2024-04-05 DOI: 10.1007/s43539-024-00112-9
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Abstract: Abstract The paper looks into the indigenous medical tradition and the exchange of botanical knowledge that happened throughout colonialism and even before it to highlight Kerala’s local knowledge base from around eleventh century CE, especially in botany. Plant-based healing practices have been followed in Kerala since antiquity, and the local physicians had considerable knowledge about the properties of the plants they used in and as medicines. The most common spices used in medicines in Kerala include pepper, cardamom, ginger, turmeric, and cinnamon. We also find a similar usage pattern in some early and medieval Western medicines. Since spices did not grow within European geography, it aroused much curiosity about their habitat and uses. This led to a quest for spices and an exchange of knowledge, especially regarding the properties and uses of the plants and spices used as medicines. The medical and botanical developments of early modern Kerala, the European curiosity about spices and plants of the East and how it became grounds for the exchange of knowledge and information relating to the botany of the region and its subsequent presence in European medicine in the medieval and early modern times forms the crux of this paper. PubDate: 2024-04-05 DOI: 10.1007/s43539-024-00116-5
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Abstract: Abstract The paper attempts to study the Indigenous method of jhum, or shifting cultivation, and British attitude towards it. It was a popular method of cultivation not only in Colonial Assam but also in various parts of the country. Though jhum has been practiced for several millennia and found to be suitable for the climate of Assam, the British government tried to ban this form of cultivation for their interest. To meet the need of timber for railways, shipbuilding, etc., they wanted to expand plantation areas, and shifting cultivation was an obstacle to that. But the native people were not in favour of giving up their practice of jhum cultivation, and even the revenue officers demanded a mid-way to resolve the issue. This resulted in the adaptation of the taungya system of cultivation in which both cultivation and plantation could go simultaneously. The method used for the study is empirical and historical. Both primary sources such as forest administrative reports for Assam, Assam District Gazatteers and other official records collected from the National Archive of India, New Delhi and the Directorate of Assam State Archive, Guwahati and secondary sources such as books and research articles have been used for the study. PubDate: 2024-03-25 DOI: 10.1007/s43539-024-00111-w
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Abstract: Abstract This review focuses on tracing the history of entomophagy practice since the time of ancient archaic humans and the development of this practice that persisted until today among ethnic communities, with particular reference to the Apatani tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Insects as food is a trending research topic due to their potential as a future sustainable food. Until the mid-nineteenth century, the tribal population of Arunachal Pradesh was largely isolated, though the practice of eating insects prevailed among the majority of its tribal groups. Only in recent times has the need for alternative food resources, due to the impact of globalization, climatic crisis, and resource depletion worldwide, pushed for scientific exploration, which is gaining momentum. The history of anthropo-entomophagy and its sociocultural significance is explored in this study. The present paper also describes the ongoing scientific exploration toward the value of edible insects as neutraceutical, entomoceutical, and pest control tools historically being used by Apatanese and the prospect of these edible insects for the tribe in the future. PubDate: 2024-03-21 DOI: 10.1007/s43539-024-00115-6
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Abstract: Abstract Dr. Suresh Prasad Sarbadhikari (1866–1921) was a leading surgeon and a gynaecologist of colonial Bengal who left his mark not only in medical science, but also as an educationist and social worker. Born into an affluent and educated family, Sarbadhikari graduated from Calcutta Medical College and became a well-known doctor, contributing to ovariotomy and medical research. His name spread worldwide when he presented the impactful paper ‘Ovariotomy in Bengal’ at the first Indian Medical Congress in 1894. His reputation as a gynaecologist who could operate on patients at their homes, gradually replaced the monopoly of European doctors in Bengal and brought brilliant Bengali doctors into prominence. Sarbadhikari played a prominent role in establishing Carmichael Medical College in Kolkata and actively participated in the senate of Calcutta University. He formed the Bengal Ambulance Corps during WWI, comprising Bengali medical men who played heroic roles in Mesopotamia. He earned fabulously but donated generously to social causes. Brilliant, highly professional, honest, and patriotic- Sarbadhikari became a role model for many subsequent generations of doctors. Yet, the present generation has nearly forgotten the name of this great son of Bengal. This article is a homage to Dr. Sarbadhikari. PubDate: 2024-03-18 DOI: 10.1007/s43539-024-00114-7
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Abstract: Abstract Devasthal observatory, established over a period of ~ 5 decades, is located in the central Himalayan region of Devabhumi in Nainital district of Uttarakhand state, India. Operated and maintained by the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Science (ARIES), its location was selected after an extensive site survey. The first measurements of atmospheric seeing and extinctions at Devasthal were carried out from 1997 to 2001. Since 2010, three optical telescopes with apertures of 1.3, 3.6, and 4 m have been successfully installed at Devasthal. Optical and near-infrared observations taken with these telescopes testify to the global competitiveness of Devasthal observatory for astronomical observations. The article chronicles the collaboration with the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, beginning around 1996, for the purpose of establishing the observatory. A brief overview of the main science results obtained using these facilities is also presented. PubDate: 2024-03-06 DOI: 10.1007/s43539-024-00113-8
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Abstract: Abstract Ayurveda narrates the concept of prakṛti as a framework to understand human behaviour. Prakṛti determines an individual’s physical, physiological, and mental disposition. The three doṣas,vāta, pitta, and kapha, form the basis of the body and mind. The dominance of one or two of these influences the physical and mental makeup of the individual. The lead characters of Kālidāsa’s dramas are studied and analyzed to understand the relevance of prakṛti in literary studies. The concept of prakṛti is helpful for writers to build their characters and in literary criticism. Hence, it should be taught to students of academic studies. PubDate: 2024-02-26 DOI: 10.1007/s43539-023-00105-0
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