The Case for Reason: Volume Two: A Scientific Enquiry into Belief

by Narendra Dabholkar

The Renaissance agitated Europe for a few centuries. It was a multipronged approach. Scientific discoveries openly challenged religious tenets. Criticism of religion began with the rebellion by the Protestant sect. Communication with other countries increased with the spread of capitalism. A new attitude of global thinking, self-assessment and willingness to change developed. Philosophers offered different worldviews. No such thing happened in India. There were no scientific discoveries. Nobody questioned the caste system. Religious injunctions prohibiting crossing the ocean disrupted communication with the world beyond. Because of the lack of trade, one could only raise capital through moneylenders, brokers and feudal lords. Science in the country developed only as technology to suit the convenience of the British Raj. The Indian psyche was never so thoroughly shaped and stirred as it happened in Europe. People belonging to a country known for Charvaka, the Lokayata tradition and Buddha completely forgot how to ask questions until centuries later. We finally learned the principles of science and causal connections but only used them to create technology. Many of us remain miles from a liberating, scientific outlook. So, we fail to notice the incongruity of finding the ‘auspicious’ time to open a shop or perform a Satyanarayana puja.