Bhubaneswar, April 17: Continuing its efforts to promote awareness of Indian Knowledge Traditions, Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar organized a session on ‘Indian Traditions of Science and Technology: Their Past, Present and Future’.
The session included a talk and interaction by Dr. M. D. Srinivas, Ex-Professor, Madras University and currently working as the Chairman, Centre for Policy Studies. It may be mentioned that Dr. Srinivas has been selected for Padma Shri for the year 2025 in the field of Science and Technology. The session marked the inauguration of the‘Udayagiri Hall of Learning,’ which is the third state-of-the-art infrastructure available at IIT Bhubaneswar for providing a high standard of teaching-learning experience for the students and faculty members. It may be mentioned that IIT Bhubaneswar has been promoting active and collaborative methods of learning over the traditional lecture.
Speaking on this occasion, Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar, Director, IIT Bhubaneswar said, "A strong foundation in one's cultural roots plays a vital role in shaping thoughtful life decisions. While science and technology are universal, the identity and context of scientists deeply influence how knowledge is pursued. It is, therefore, essential to explore Indian traditions of science and technology, which offer valuable perspectives often absent from mainstream narratives."
In his talk and interaction, Dr. Srinivas offered a selective overview of the evolution of Indian science and technology, tracing its roots to the Vedic period and emphasizing its foundation in core civilisational values and the Indian belief in the interconnectedness of all life. It highlighted how, until the early 19th century, Indian scientific and technological practices were widely taught, innovated upon, and contributed significantly to India’s global prestige and economic strength.
“The decline began during British rule, largely due to the imposition of a colonial education system that disrupted traditional learning. While Indian scholars have since made efforts to revive this knowledge, much of it remains fragmented and outside mainstream academia,” he informed.
He advocated for a resurgence rooted in these indigenous traditions, calling for urgent institutional efforts to document, research, and integrate India’s scientific heritage into both higher education and school curricula to ensure its relevance and application in modern times.
The programme was coordinated by Dr. Vijayakrishna Kari, Professor-in-Charge (Seminar). Students, faculty members, staff and residents of IIT Bhubaneswar campus attended the talk and joined in the interactive session after the talk.
