The Institution That Shaped Modern Indian Science

A journey from Mahendra Lal Sircar's vision to global scientific excellence. The year 2026 marks the sesquicentennial of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Kolkata, the oldest institution in India devoted exclusively to fundamental scientific research. Founded on 29 July 1876 by the visionary physician and educationist Dr Mahendra Lal Sircar, IACS emerged when India lacked institutions dedicated to experimental science. Convinced that scientific inquiry was...

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The Institution That Shaped Modern Indian Science

A journey from Mahendra Lal Sircar's vision to global scientific excellence. The year 2026 marks the sesquicentennial of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Kolkata, the oldest institution in India devoted exclusively to fundamental scientific research. Founded on 29 July 1876 by the visionary physician and educationist Dr Mahendra Lal Sircar, IACS emerged when India lacked institutions dedicated to experimental science. Convinced that scientific inquiry was indispensable for national progress, Sircar established an institution to nurture original research by Indians while promoting scientific knowledge among the public. One hundred and fifty years later, IACS remains one of India's foremost research institutions, its history closely intertwined with the evolution of modern science in the country. The genesis of IACS reflected the intellectual ferment of the Bengal Renaissance. Trained in Western medicine yet deeply committed to India's intellectual emancipation, Sircar argued that science should be cultivated through experimentation and discovery rather than merely imported through textbooks. Inspired by institutions such as the Royal Institution of Great Britain, he envisioned a publicly supported national laboratory where Indians could pursue independent scientific research. At a time when such opportunities were scarce under colonial rule, IACS became the country's first permanent home for fundamental scientific investigation. During its early decades, the Association combined public lectures and scientific demonstrations with laboratory research, fostering an interdisciplinary culture spanning physics, chemistry and the natural sciences. Though modest in resources, it established an enduring tradition of curiosity-driven research. The defining chapter in IACS history began with the arrival of Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman in 1907. While serving in the Indian Finance Department, Raman spent his evenings and holidays conducting experiments at IACS on acoustics, optics and the scattering of light. On 28 February 1928, he and his collaborators announced the discovery of the inelastic scattering of light by molecules—the Raman Effect—creating a powerful spectroscopic technique that transformed the study of molecular structure. Today, Raman spectroscopy is indispensable across chemistry, materials science, biology, medicine, pharmaceuticals, environmental monitoring and planetary exploration. For this achievement, Raman received the 1930 Nobel Prize in Physics, becoming the first Asian to win a Nobel Prize in the sciences for work conducted entirely in India. His success demonstrated that world-class scientific research could emerge from Indian laboratories. Yet IACS's scientific legacy extends far beyond Raman. Kedareswar Banerjee advanced crystallographic research through pioneering X-ray crystallography, while Satyendra Nath Bose's association with IACS enriched the intellectual environment that fostered advances in quantum physics. Meghnad Saha's theory of thermal ionisation transformed astrophysics, and together Raman, Bose and Saha established Kolkata as one of Asia's leading scientific centres. The institution also made major contributions to chemistry through Jnan Chandra Ghosh, whose work in physical chemistry laid foundations for modern chemical research in India. Following Independence, IACS expanded into chemical sciences, materials science, biological sciences and theoretical physics, reflecting the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of scientific inquiry. Among its distinguished scientists was Asima Chatterjee, whose pioneering research on natural products chemistry and medicinal plant alkaloids transformed phytochemistry and contributed significantly to pharmaceutical science. Ajoy Ghatak further strengthened IACS's reputation through his work in fibre optics, waveguides and laser physics, while his textbooks educated generations of physicists and engineers. More recently, IACS researchers have advanced ultrafast spectroscopy, nanomaterials, renewable energy, molecular electronics, quantum materials and computational biology. Today, IACS functions as a deemed-to-be university under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. Its interdisciplinary research spans the chemical, physical and biological sciences, supported by advanced facilities in spectroscopy, microscopy, X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, computational modelling and materials characterisation. Its doctoral and postdoctoral programmes continue to produce scientists who contribute to universities, research laboratories and industry worldwide. The institution's enduring strength lies in its commitment to curiosity-driven research. Unlike organisations established primarily for technological development or industrial applications, IACS has consistently recognised that transformative innovation begins with fundamental scientific understanding. This philosophy, articulated by Mahendra Lal Sircar nearly 150 years ago, remains especially relevant in an era defined by quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, sustainable energy and molecular medicine. The sesquicentennial of IACS celebrates not only a remarkable institution but also the evolution of Indian science. From its modest beginnings in colonial Calcutta to its emergence as an internationally respected research institution, IACS has nurtured Nobel laureates, pioneering physicists, eminent chemists and generations of young researchers who continue to expand the frontiers of knowledge. As IACS enters its second century and a half, it carries forward Mahendra Lal Sircar's vision that science should be pursued with intellectual freedom, experimental rigour and an unwavering commitment to the advancement of humanity. Its 150-year legacy remains a powerful reminder that the greatest scientific discoveries begin with curiosity and flourish in institutions dedicated to excellence. (The writer is the Chief Executive for National Centre for Science Communicators, Mumbai. Views personal.)

A Quiet Warning to China

Dr. V.L. Dharurkar
8 hours ago
3 min read

The Quad is evolving from a strategic conversation into a practical partnership aimed at preserving a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific without becoming a formal military alliance.

The Indo-Pacific has become the centre of gravity of global geopolitics. Its vast maritime routes carry a significant share of world trade, its waters connect major economies, and its stability determines whether Asia can continue its remarkable economic rise. In this contested space, the Quad - the grouping of India, the United States, Japan and Australia - has emerged as one of the most consequential strategic partnerships of the 21st century.

Firm Signal

The recent Quad foreign ministers’ meeting in Manila carried an unmistakably firm message: attempts to alter the regional status quo through coercion will not be accepted. Although the gathering was not a formal summit, its timing and location gave it particular significance, especially amid growing tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea.

The Quad’s central argument is straightforward. A peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific requires rules, restraint and respect for international law. Without stability in this region, the wider global economy faces uncertainty.

The grouping’s evolution is itself a reflection of changing Asian realities. The Quad began as a response to a humanitarian crisis rather than a geopolitical confrontation. After the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, India, Japan, the United States and Australia coordinated relief operations, demonstrating the potential of collective action among democracies. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe later became one of the earliest advocates of a broader strategic framework linking the maritime democracies of Asia.

The initial momentum, however, did not last. In 2008, Australia withdrew from the arrangement, partly due to concerns over its relationship with China. But the strategic environment changed dramatically over the next decade. Beijing’s increasingly assertive behaviour in the South China Sea, military expansion and growing influence across the Indo-Pacific convinced Australia to return to the grouping in 2017.

Since then, the Quad has matured considerably. What began as an informal dialogue has developed into a leaders-level partnership focused on maritime security, critical technologies, resilient supply chains, disaster response, climate cooperation and health security. It remains deliberately different from a traditional military alliance such as NATO. Its strength lies in flexibility and cooperation rather than treaty obligations.

Changing Role

The Manila meeting highlighted this changing role. The foreign ministers of India, the United States, Japan and Australia reiterated their commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. The discussions came against the backdrop of repeated confrontations between Chinese vessels and the Philippine Navy, particularly around the Second Thomas Shoal, a disputed area in the South China Sea.

The Quad’s response was significant because it challenged a pattern that many smaller countries in the region fear: the use of economic and military pressure to impose unilateral changes. The message from Manila was that disagreements must be resolved peacefully and that no country should be allowed to change facts on the ground through intimidation.

Yet the Quad’s purpose is not simply to contain China. A mature Indo-Pacific strategy must recognise that China is both a competitor and a major economic partner for many countries. The challenge for the Quad is to balance deterrence with engagement, ensuring that strategic competition does not become permanent confrontation.

The partnership’s broader agenda reflects this reality. Maritime security is only one pillar. The four countries are also cooperating on emerging technologies, cybersecurity, infrastructure, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. These areas address the everyday challenges faced by nations across the region, from natural disasters to supply chain disruptions.

The Quad’s greatest contribution may lie in providing an alternative model of regional cooperation based on transparency, sovereignty and shared interests. Many Indo-Pacific countries do not want to choose between major powers. They seek an environment where they can pursue economic growth without political coercion.

The Manila message, therefore, was both a warning and an invitation. It warned against aggression and unilateralism, while inviting regional countries to participate in a cooperative framework for stability and development.

The Indo-Pacific’s future will not be determined only by military strength. It will depend on whether nations can build institutions capable of managing rivalry and encouraging cooperation. The Quad, once a tentative experiment, is now an important part of that institutional architecture.

Its success will depend on whether it can remain united, practical and inclusive. A free and stable Indo-Pacific is not merely the strategic objective of four countries; it is a shared interest of the entire region.

(The writer is a foreign affairs expert. Views personal.)