Post Independence Era

21F026 LOGESH S
21F027 LOGESHWARAN R
21F028 MARUTHA SHREE
 Introduction

Post
Independence Era

Modernization and Social Roots of Traditional

Traditional Knowledge Knowledge Activism
 Modernization and Traditional Knowledge
• During the Cold War era, the USA promoted modernization theory as an
alternative to the Soviet model
• It aims to present a model of economic construction to newly independent
countries.
• Modernization theory advocated Western economic development and
scientific methodology, with American writers contributing to its
establishment.
• However, not all scholars supported this theory
 Modernization Theory Proponents
• American writers like Lerner and Rostow promoted modernization theory.
• Lerner's book "The Passing of Traditional Society" asserted that statistical
arguments supported the subversion of ancient ways in favor of
modernization.
• Rostow's "The Stages of Economic Growth: A Non-Communist
Manifesto" proposed a fast track to Western economic development,
comparing it to an aeroplane taking off on a runway.
• Banuri criticized the simplification of progress and quantification of
development, as Rostow said it was linear rapid path towards growth.
• By reducing progress to a single measurable parameter or quantifiable
indicator, the modernization paradigm ignored the multifaceted nature of
development and the diverse factors that contribute to it.
 India’s Five-Year Plans
• Started by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951
• First Five-Year Plan declared: ‘In the planned economy of a
country, science must necessarily play a specially important
role’
• Indian First Five-Year Plan emphasized the role of science in planned
economy, but traditional knowledge was not rejected.
 Traditional Knowledge
• Singer and Jan Breman recognized that traditionalism in India was not
opposed to innovation and modernity.
• The government supported Indian System of Medicine and village
industries demonstrating a recognition of the value of traditional practices.
• Recognizing the importance of traditional handicrafts and cottage
industries in rural areas.
• Some remarkable successes were achieved in village industries like khadi
(handspun and handwoven cloth), gur and khandsari (traditional sugar
production), beekeeping, and more.
• Second Five-Year Plan proposed by economist P.C. Mahalanobis, allowed
for the development of cottage industries and small-scale
• Added restrictions on the growth of large-scale factory sectors.
 Rediscovering Traditional Knowledge
• The Congress of Traditional Science and Technology (CTST) was
organized by the Patriotic and People-oriented Science and Technology
(PPST) Foundation in collaboration with IIT Mumbai.
• Developed in 1993
• Its aim is to ‘Project to the modern audience, the traditional science and
technology have a potential to come back irrespective of its current state
of existence’
• CTST brought together scholars interested in various aspects of traditional
knowledge, such as agriculture, health care, textiles, and more.
• The CTSTs had a significant impact, leading to the establishment of the
Department of Indian Medicine (renamed AYUSH in 2003) and the Indian
Journal of Traditional Knowledge by CSIR in 2002.
• They promote and preserve traditional systems of medicine such as
Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Yoga.
 Social Roots of Traditional Knowledge Activism

• During the colonial rule, Indians actively contested colonial suppression

and made significant progress in science
• After independence, the first generation of scientists became involved in
various science-related activities, forming groups like the peoples' science
movement (PSM)
• PSM is unique to India and serves diverse needs, including popularizing
science, critiquing science policies, promoting alternate science and
technology efforts, and supporting sustainable livelihoods.
• PSM was made from the collaboration of:
1. Application of Science and Technology for Rural Areas 7. Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP)
2. Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti 8. Kishore Bharati
3. Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) 9. Medico Friends Circle
4. Delhi Science Forum 10. Navadhanya
5. Eklavya
11. Peoples Science Institute
6. Friends of Rural Society
12. Vigyan Siksha Kendra
QUESTIONS
 Which writer promoted Modernization theory?

A. Jan Breman.

B. Rostow

C. Banuri.

D. Mahalanobis.
 Who proposed the Second Five Year Plan?

A. Jawaharlal Nehru.

B. Mahatma Gandhi.

C. P. C. Mahalanobis

D. Indira Gandhi.
Congress of Traditional Science and Technology (CTST) was organized by ?

A. Patriotic and People-oriented Science and Technology

B. Peoples’ Science Movement.

C. Delhi Science Forum.

D. Medico Friends circle.

Khandsari industry deals with the production of ?

A. Hand spun and Hand woven clothes.

B. Traditional sugar production

C. Honey production.

D. Fertilizer production.
What was the original name for AYUSH before it was renamed?

A. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge.

B. Medico friends circle.

C. Department of Indian Medicine

D. Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad.

THANK YOU!