Breaking the Chain: Colonialism and the Suppression of Indian Science

India’s ancient knowledge systems, particularly in science, medicine, and philosophy, flourished for millennia before being systematically targeted and undermined by waves of invaders and colonial powers. From the destruction of great centers of learning to the deliberate dismantling of indigenous education, the legacy of this suppression continues to cast a long shadow over India’s intellectual heritage.

The Invaders and the Destruction of Knowledge:

Turko-Afghan invader Bakhtiyar Khilji’s assault on Nalanda University in the 12th century stands as one of the most catastrophic acts against Indian scholarship. The university, a beacon of advanced learning in medicine, astronomy, mathematics, and philosophy, was burned to the ground, with its libraries—housing millions of priceless manuscripts—reduced to ashes over months. 

The Mughal era, while producing some syncretic scholarship, also witnessed the decline of many traditional Indian institutions and the suppression of Hindu and Buddhist knowledge systems.

Colonialism and the Macaulayan Education System:

The British colonial regime institutionalized the destruction of India’s knowledge traditions through the Macaulay Minute of 1835. Thomas Babington Macaulay’s education policy deliberately marginalized indigenous systems, replacing the Gurukul and Sanskrit-based learning with English-medium schools focused on Western curricula. 

Traditional sciences—such as Siddha medicine, Ayurveda, Vedic mathematics, and Indian astronomy—were labeled as “unscientific,” while British institutions became the sole arbiters of knowledge.

The Macaulayan system created a class of anglicized Indians, severed from their cultural roots, and instilled a sense of inferiority toward native knowledge. State support for Sanskrit, Pali, and Persian colleges was withdrawn, and indigenous scientific thought was suppressed, leading to a cultural and intellectual disconnect that persists today.

Suppression of Tamil and Regional Sciences The Tamil Siddha tradition, with its roots in ancient medicine, alchemy, and astronomy, was particularly vulnerable to colonial policies. Siddha medicine, metallurgy, and herbal sciences were dismissed and marginalized, while British medicine and Newtonian science became dominant.

 The Portuguese, French, and other European powers also contributed to this erosion by imposing their own systems and suppressing local scholarship in their territories.

Legacy and Revival : Despite centuries of systematic destruction, fragments of India’s scientific heritage survive in oral traditions, manuscripts, and the continued practice of Siddha and Ayurvedic medicine. There is now a growing movement to revive and integrate traditional Indian knowledge with modern science, recognizing the value of these ancient systems for holistic and sustainable development.

The dark shadow of Macaulayan education and the destruction wrought by various invaders has left India with a fragmented intellectual landscape. 

However, by reclaiming and honoring its ancient scientific legacy, India can begin to heal this cultural wound and build a more inclusive, holistic approach to knowledge and education.