SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN INDIA

Hello learners welcome to the session SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN INDIA

Indians, like people in other parts of the world, have a rich tradition of scientific ideas.
The urge to know the unknown, along with experimentation and observation, has
always produced a scientific temper.
This has led to the idea that truth may be found in the real world, with all of its
diversity and complexities.
Indians, like people in other parts of the world, have a rich tradition of scientific ideas.
The urge to know the unknown, along with experimentation and observation, has
always produced a scientific temper.
This has led to the idea that truth may be found in the real world, with all of its
diversity and complexities.
On the following slides, you will learn about India's ongoing quest for knowledge and
truth, which has resulted in discoveries and inventions, as well as their application in
daily life.

DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN ANCIENT INDIA

Ganita is the broad word for mathematics, which covers arithmetic, geometry, algebra,
astronomy, and astrology. Arithmetic has various names, including Anka Ganita
(calculations on board), Pattin Ganita (calculations with numerals).

Geometry is referred to as Rekha Ganita (line works), and Algebra, Bija Ganita (seed
analysis), Astronomy, and Astrology are all referred to as Jyotisa.

India has a rich scientific and technological background. Science advancements may
be able to alleviate our reliance on nature. Religion and science collaborated closely
in ancient India.
Let us investigate the advancements in several disciplines of knowledge throughout
the ancient times.

ASTRONOMY:
Astronomy has made remarkable strides. Planetary motion became emphasised and
extensively monitored.
The Jyotishvedanga texts established systematic categories in astronomy, while
Aryabhatta dealt with the more fundamental issue (499 AD).
In ancient India, astrology and horoscopes were studied. Aryabhatta's theories marked
a significant change from astrology, which emphasised beliefs above scientific studies.

MATHEMATICS:
Harappa's urban planning demonstrates that the residents were well-versed in
measurement and geometry.
By the third century AD, mathematics had evolved into a distinct field of study. The
Sulvasutras are thought to be the source of Indian mathematics.
In the second century BC, Zero was found in India.
Brahmagupta's Brahmasputa Siddhanta was the first text to mention 'zero' as a number;
thus, Brahmagupta is known as the one who discovered zero.
He explained how to use zero with other numbers. Aryabhatta discovered algebra as
well as the area of a triangle, which led to the development of trignometry.

MEDICINE:
Takshila and Taranasi evolved as medical and educational hubs.
Charaksamhita by Charak and Sushrutsamhita by Sushruta are two prominent texts in
this topic.
The fact that their work spread as far as China and Central Asia through translations
in several languages demonstrates the significance of their efforts.
The plants and herbs that are used for medical purposes are listed in the
Charaksamhita. Around the fourth century AD, surgery was listed as a separate stream.
Sushruta was a forerunner in this field.

METALLURGY
By the first century AD, mass manufacturing of metals such as iron, copper, silver,
and gold, as well as alloys such as brass and bronze, was underway.
The iron pillar in the Qutub Minar complex demonstrates the exceptional level of
alloying that took place.
Alkali and acids were created and used to make medications.
This process was also employed in other crafts such as dyeing and colouring.
Dyeing textiles was popular. The quality of colour is reflected in the Ajanta frescoes.
These artworks have survived to the present day.

GEOGRAPHY:
People were compelled to study geography as a result of the ongoing interplay
between man and nature.
Though the people were aware of their own physical geography, as well as that of
China and Western countries, they were unaware about their position on the globe and
the distances between countries.
Indians also helped with shipbuilding. The Indians were unfamiliar with travel and
navigation during the ancient period.
 Management of Biodiversity

Importance of Traditional Knowledge

The preservation of biodiversity and its traditional uses depends heavily on

traditional knowledge:
The authorized healthcare system in India includes Indian Systems of Medicine
(Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani), which rely on a variety of biological resources and
conventional knowledge.
Over many years, farmers and livestock keepers have cultivated and enhanced a wide
range of domesticated plant and animal species.
This has been crucial for ensuring food security as well as for offering clothing,
healthcare, and housing.
Local communities have autonomously protected wild spaces throughout India,
including natural ecosystems that are occasionally regarded as sacred, such as 'sacred
groves,' some of which are tens of thousands of years old and devoted to a regional
deity.

Protection of Traditional Knowledge

The protection of traditional knowledge innovations and practices of indigenous and

local communities has received increasing international attention since the adoption of
the Convention on Biological Diversity(CBD) in 1992.
It is now clearly established that Traditional Knowledge is valuable to contemporary
business and agriculture in addition to those who depend on it for their daily needs
and plays a significant part in the global economy
The majority of traditional civilizations rely on this knowledge to meet their needs for
food and medical care. As a large portion of the world's crop diversity has been kept
and preserved by indigenous/local peoples, which has aided in the protection and
conservation of biodiversity, the protection of Traditional Knowledge is crucial for
the conservation and sustainable development of the ecosystem.
Their expertise is essential for preserving and conserving Genetic Resources (GR) and
other bioresources. .

With this, we come to the end of our session. In today’s session, we discussed
Importance of Conservation & Sustainable Development of Environment and
Management of Biodiversity and Protection of Traditional Knowledge.I hope you
have got a fair understanding of the topic.
Thank you and Happy Learning!
Indian Science and Technology heritage

The Indian Civilization has a long recorded history of scientific culture that goes back
to more than 5000 years.
This gallery portrays the rich contributions of ancient India in science and technology.
Indians developed one of the earliest written scripts (the Indus Scripts), built urban
towns, with residential complexes and wastewater systems, way back in 2500 BC.
Ancient Indians produced the Delhi Iron Pillar that has remained rust less for more
than 500 years.

They discovered the zero and were the first to use decimal place value number system
way back in 500 AD.
Cotton Gin, an Indian invention, was the fore runner of all geared machines that
subsequently paved the way for the west to bring about an industrial revolution.
Indians also created enduring architectural constructs that have become eternal world
heritages.
They smelted zinc, which requires precise metallurgical knowledge, on industrial
scale and produced thousands of tons of zinc over hundreds of years.

Science and Technology in India- a time line - The Indian Civilization has a long
recorded history of scientific culture that goes back to more than 5000 years.
This gallery portrays the rich contributions of ancient India in science and technology.
Indians developed one of the earliest written scripts (the Indus Scripts), built urban
towns, with residential complexes and wastewater systems, way back in 2500 BC

Technology Traditions of Indus valley - This exhibit is controlled by CPU. This

exhibit gives the idea of the Indus valley civilization at its peak during 2600BC to
1900 BC.

Harappans the World’s first town planners - In this exhibit we can study that
Harappas were the first to adopt systematic town planning. The exhibit consists of the
various models collected during excavation.

Glimpses of Harappan technology - In this exhibit the technological traditions of

Harappans in ceramics, pottery, refined personal ornaments, metallurgy, steatite, agate,
and shell ornaments.

Shell bangle making - This exhibit is a model showing the making of bangles with
help of the shells.

Textiles- Indian origin - It is pointed by the scholars that the Harappans were the first
to grow the cotton and had established Cotton Empire.

Introduction - An attempt is made with this part of the exhibit to show case the
ancient Indian independent contributions in science. Specially focusing on some
important fields of science, mathematics, medicines etc.
Triguna - The gunas though assuming infinite diversity of forms and powers can
neither be created nor destroyed. The idea of conservation of matter was studied long
back in India.
Tanmatra - This exhibit shows about the five subtle infra atomic particles named as
tanmatras.
These five Tanmatras are not exactly the human senses of sound, but they signify
corresponding energy potentials.
The panchabhuta - This exhibit tells about the five basic elements that is sabdha,
sparsha, rupa, rasa and gandha tanmatras.

Atom 2500 years ago - Vaisesika atomism (4th Century BC) four basic elements of
vayu, tejas, ap, and ksiti are considered material and have atomic structure. The study
of atom was done in India in fourth century BC.
a) Gravity - It was regarded that gravity not as a force but as a cause of the act of
falling in 5th century BC.
b) Elasticity - Elasticity was conceived as the property that responsible for a bow or a
branch of tree, which can undergo contraction or expansion.
c) Viscosity - It was conceived as the cause of cohesion and smoothness.
Properties of matter- Vaisesika has laid considerable emphasis on properties of matter.
This exhibit tells about the fluidity property of matter.
Zero the Indian invention - This exhibit shows about the use of zero by Indians in
Mathematics2000 years ago.
Big numbers - This exhibit tells how big numbers were used in decimal system. It
also tells how Aryabhata used big numbers to express revolutions of the earth.

Decimal place value - This exhibit tells us the use of decimal system in the history
of India.
Word numeral - The nine numbers ranging from 0 to 9 were related to physical
realities. In this exhibit you can study how the different numbers were used to express
each number.
Brahmas discs - This exhibit tells about the almighty Brahma’s game of building this
universe. And still how many years he has to play the game of building this universe.

Golden rule of three - This exhibit tells us how the method of ratio and proportion
was freely dealt with in Baksali Manuscript in 2nd AD.
Square root -This exhibit tells you the method of finding the square root and the cube
root by Aryabhata
Rasashala- Ancient Indian chemical lab - This exhibit shows how different kinds of
apparatus were used in extraction of medicines in the chemical lab of Nagarjuna. We
can study the Indian works on alchemy and chemistry
Value of pi - This exhibit tells how accurately the value of π was found out by
Aryabhata in fourth century.
Pythagoras or sulba sutra: This exhibit tells about the sulba sutra or Pythagoras
theorem.
Bidri and lost wax (acclaimed Indian crafts) - This exhibit is explained with help of
a documentary of age old method of making Bidri work. The bidri work is an original
technique which involves inlaying of gold or silver on zinc, steel and copper base.
Area of circle - This exhibit tells how Aryabata gives the area of circle formula which
is known even today.
Mathematical series: This exhibit shows us about the trigonometric operations.
Sushratha (The plastic surgeon) - This exhibit tells how the great Shushruta had used
surgery techniques in olden days. It introduces us about the various surgical
equipment used.
Ayurveda (Ancient Indian medical system) - This exhibit tells about the Ayurveda
science in the Vedic period. It introduces us to the Science of life that originated in
ancient India. Ayurveda elaborately deals with the measures for a healthy life.
Dravyaguna (Harnessing natures gift for human health) -
Crucibles (shapers of metal technology) - This exhibit tells the story of the use of
crucibles in the metal extraction. It gives the idea of the heat resistant crucibles used
in the Indian metallurgy.
Harnessing metals - This exhibit tells us about the old method of mining used in
India. It introduces us the method of mining the ores.
Iron smelting (Exploiting the master metal) - This Exhibit has a model of furnace
used in extraction of iron. A model of Naikund furnace, one of the most ancient iron
furnace in India has been displayed here.
Delhi Iron pillar- The rustless wonder: This exhibit tells us about the making of
one of the rustless wonder in the world. It is 1600 years old .This exhibit introduces us
to the making of this rustless wonder

Legendary Indian wootz steel - This exhibit tells us about that special iron which
was used by Indians to prepare the swords in the olden periods.
This special steel had a great demand from Damascus, where the famous Damascus
swords were produced.
Zinc smelting (An Indian contribution) - This exhibit introduces us to the age old
method of smelting zinc in India.
Ancient Indians were the first to produce zinc on large scale. This exhibit consists of a
furnace used in smelting of zinc called ‘kosthi’.

Indian musical instruments - This exhibit consists of some musical instruments of

Indian origin. Music is very old to India.
Heritage quiz - This quiz programme can be attended by four participants. This
is software produced by Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum
(VITM), Bangalore.

Story of India - This exhibit consists of a TV in which the story of India will be
repeated continually. This story tells us about the Indian past traditions which are still
alive.
Glimpses of science and technology in India - This exhibit is operated by CPU the
visitors can use the mouse and study about the traditional technology of India.
Pottery - The exhibit consists of a still model of making pottery in the past which is
still followed in India.

Pottery (preserving for posterity) - This exhibit tells us the story of pottery which
evolved in Harappan period in India which is still used in the country side.
Architecture - This exhibit is controlled by CPU the visitor can study the various
architecture styles used in India. viz, Jain style, Islamic, Rock cut………etc
Weights and measures - This exhibit tells us about the weights and measures system
used in Harappan period.

Yarghu (The portable cannon cleaner) - This exhibit is a miniature model of the
portable canon cleaner used in the Akbar’s regime. This was invented by Shiraji.
The art and technology of cannons - This exhibit introduces us to the art of making
canons and the use of multi-barrel canons in the past.
Architecture of temple - This exhibit is controlled by CPU the visitor can study the
various architecture styles used in India. viz, Jain style, Islamic, Rock cut………etc

Qutub minar - This is a miniature model of Qutub Minar situated in Delhi.

Ram yantra - This is a model of Ram yantra in Jaipur, which was used to study the
altitude
of the celestial objects in the past

Samrat yantra - This is a model of the Yantra present in Jaipur which was used to
measure time and the position of the stars.
Konark wheel - This is a small model of the wheel in the temple of sun god in konark.
Sun temple of konark - This is a small model of sun god temple in Konark, carved in
stone.

Sun god - This is the miniature stone sculpture of sun god present in Konark Temple.
Excellence in Indian crafts (Traditional knowledge from the past)
Heritage video corner - This is a place for the visitors to sit and relax while watching
the Heritage video of India.
Gharat - This is a model showing the use of hydel power to grind the grains.
Noria and saquia (The art devices of Indian origin) - This is the model of a water
pumping system used in Egypt which was copied from India.
Gharat (Harnessing energy from nature) -This is a model showing the use of
hydel power to grind the grains.
Ancient Indian glass - This exhibit tells us how the use of glass was used in ancient
India since the period of Ramayana.
Metallurgy Heritage - This exhibit tells us the use of metals in various ways in ancient
India like gold, copper, silver, zinc, brass, iron etc.
Techniques of coin making - This model tell us the method used in minting coins in
the olden periods