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.)

Beyond the Raj

Manisha Chitale
6 hours ago
3 min read

Besides redrawing the political map, British rule in India altered the rhythms of everyday life, introduced new social habits and, perhaps most significantly, influenced the way Indians viewed themselves. The end of colonial rule in 1947 brought political independence, but the deeper process of decolonisation — of institutions, cultural instincts and inherited assumptions — has continued well into the 21st century.

Indian civilisation, one of the world’s oldest, evolved around a social philosophy rooted in concepts of duty, harmony and righteous conduct. The Vedas, Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita reflected a worldview where individual action was linked to larger social and cosmic responsibilities. Yet Indian society was never static. It absorbed influences from successive encounters including Islamic kingdoms, regional upheavals, economic changes and political transformations.

The British intervention, however, was different in scale and character. Beginning with the East India Company’s consolidation after the Battle of Plassey in 1757 and continuing under direct Crown rule after 1858, colonialism penetrated deeply into India’s administrative structures, education system and social imagination.

Enduring Legacy

One of the most enduring legacies was the creation of a new elite culture. British administrators established exclusive clubs in cantonment towns and cities, spaces that symbolised status, hierarchy and Western notions of leisure. Over time, these institutions moved beyond colonial enclaves and became embedded in urban Indian life. Even today, clubs remain associated with prestige and social mobility, reflecting an inheritance from the colonial era.

The British also popularised the idea of seasonal migration to hill stations. Places such as Shimla, Nainital, Dalhousie, Mahabaleshwar and Ooty were developed as retreats where colonial officials could escape the heat of the plains. What began as a practical arrangement for British administrators gradually became a cultural aspiration among Indians as well.

The education system introduced by the British further reinforced these patterns. The academic calendar, particularly in convent schools, was structured around examinations before the onset of summer and extended vacations thereafter. The arrangement suited colonial officials who travelled to cooler regions during the hottest months, but it also created a template that continues to shape Indian schooling nearly two centuries later.

Perhaps the most profound transformation came through the introduction of industrial-era work patterns. Traditional Indian society, largely agricultural and artisanal, followed seasonal cycles influenced by monsoons, harvests and festivals. Colonial administration and modern industries introduced fixed working hours, weekly holidays and a year-round work calendar. These systems represented a significant departure from older rhythms of social life.

The colonial period also accelerated India’s exposure to Western consumer culture. Urban lifestyles increasingly began to mirror European ideas of leisure, aspiration and social organisation. These influences created a cultural tension between inherited traditions and adopted frameworks.

Confident Synthesis

Decolonisation, therefore, is not merely about removing symbols of British rule. It is about creating a confident synthesis - retaining useful aspects of global modernity while rediscovering India’s own intellectual and cultural foundations.

Since 2014, the process has gained renewed momentum through a series of initiatives aimed at revisiting colonial-era symbols and institutions. The construction of the new Parliament building represents one such effort. Unlike the old structure designed by British architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, the new building incorporates Indian architectural motifs and indigenous symbolism. The installation of the Sengol, a ceremonial sceptre associated with Tamil tradition, was presented as a reminder of India’s civilisational continuity.

Similarly, the transformation of Rajpath into Kartavya Path sought to shift the symbolism of public space from imperial authority to civic responsibility.

Another step is the Indian Navy’s adoption of a new ensign in 2022, incorporating the national emblem, an anchor and the naval motto “Sam No Varuna”, drawn from a Vedic invocation to the god of oceans. Its design also acknowledges the maritime legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who built a formidable naval presence.

The process has extended to education and literature as well. Greater emphasis on Indian languages under the National Education Policy reflects an attempt to reduce dependence on colonial linguistic hierarchies.

Yet decolonisation should not be misunderstood as a rejection of everything Western. Modern India’s achievements in science, technology, industry and higher education have emerged through a combination of indigenous talent and global knowledge.

The real challenge is psychological — moving from imitation to confidence. A nation of India’s civilisational depth need not choose between tradition and modernity. It can absorb the best of the world while remaining anchored in its own heritage.

(The writer is an independent researcher. Views personal.)