History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c82.165

v6.c82.165

I have purposely devoted some space to the subject of the astronomical knowledge of people in the Vedic age. Several European scholars that have written on the astronomical achievements of ancient and medieval India, have indulged in very disparaging and contemptuous statements about Indians not only in astronomy, but generally. To take only one or two instances Thibaut (Grundriss p. 3) is pleased to observe that what Indians knew before Greek influence is not much and is of a primitive character. This is how Whitney, a learned American scholar of Sanskrit, unburdens himself; 'there can be no question that, from what we know in other respects of the character and tendencies of the Hindu mind, we should not at all look to find the Hindus in possession of an astronomical science possessing so much of truth They have been from the beginning distinguished by a remarkable inaptitude and disinclination to observe, to collect facts, to record, to make inductive investigations' (J A. O S vol. VI p. 471) His coadjutor, Mr. Burgess, differed from him even in regard to astronomy (*ibid.* pp. 477-480).