History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c39.4

v1.c39.4

Of course, only a conceptual framework or a paradigm may be provided, and we caution the readers that paradigms may not be immortal. History is a continuous re-assessment of the past and, like the physical science, the history of ancient India has been well-known to be a grave-yard of rejected paradigms. Fresh discoveries and thoughts on ancient India are of surprisingly modern vintage, and we would illustrate in this essay how our previous concepts on Pre-, Mature- and Post-Harappan history are undergoing metamorphosis. As new facts emerge, we must be in continuous search for fresh and more plausible paradigms (Biswas and Biswas, 1989). The ‘factors’ underlying the origin and growth of science and development of technology are complex and subjects evoking controversies. This article therefore should be treated as preliminary position-paper articulating the present author’s views on the interpretations of established facts, and raising questions rather than answering them decisively. We have drawn heavily from the writings of D.D. Kosambi, R.S.Sharma, Debiprasad Chattopadhyaya etc. and yet ventured very often to disagree with them, leaving the matter of drawing the final (?) conclusions to the future readership and posterity.