Indian Perspectives
India (along with China and Egypt) is home to one of the oldest and perhaps the most continuous cultural tradition on the earth. Although it occupies only 2.4 percent of the global land area, it is home to fifteen percent of the population, and by 2050 is projected to be the most populous country in the world. India spends approximately six billion dollars every year on science and technology; science and technology have been central to the country's development since its independence in 1947, while themselves being subject to distinctive assessments and adaptations.
Historical and Cultural Context
Knowledge enjoys sacred stature in Indian culture and civilization. Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, occupies a place of pride in the Hindu pantheon, while India's much-reviled caste system accorded the highest social status to Brahmins, whose profession was to create and disseminate knowledge. Ancient India's sometimes contested scientific contributions—including theories of gravity, the age of the universe, modern numerals, trigonometry, and the conception of zero—were often first described in religious scriptures. Utilitarian and empirical observations about agriculture and medicine that survived generations were often couched in idioms and expressions with religious connotations. Even during Mughal rule (1526–1707), respect for Indian mathematics was instrumental in its spread to places as far as Central Asia, Spain, and North Africa (Teresi 2002).
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