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== Knowledge and Indian civilization ==

== Knowledge and Indian civilization ==

Most of the amazing science and technology knowledge systems of the modern world are credited to have started around the time of the Renaissance movement in Europe in ~ the 15th century. These knowledge systems are generally traced back to roots in the civilization of Ancient Greece, and occasionally, that of Ancient Egypt. Hence, most of the heroes we are taught about in school and college are European, or Greek.

Most of the amazing science and technology knowledge systems of the modern world are credited to have started around the time of the Renaissance movement in Europe in ~ the 15th century. These knowledge systems are generally traced back to roots in the civilization of Ancient Greece, and occasionally, that of Ancient Egypt. Notably both these civilisations were destroyed, their indigenous population decimated or converted to Christianity or Islam by the invaders and their knowledge digested and presented as ancient knowledge. Hence, most of the heroes we are taught about in school and college are European or Greek.

 As for India, or even China, it would appear that they have played a minimal role in this magical story. Hence, many (western) accounts of the “Ascent of Man” do not devote even a single line to India’s contributions.

 As for India, or even China, it would appear that they have played a minimal role in this magical story. Most Western accounts of the “Ascent of Man” do not devote even a single line to India’s contributions and the world is kept largely ignorant of India's great contribution to  the world in every aspect of knowledge. This is due to the creation of Indology, a system totally unique to colonial India, started by the East India Company to not only digest, but regurgitated as western marvels of science and technology. Post independence, this evil startegy was continued through a dedicated and well-paid bad of brown sepoys wh delineralely neglected any scholarly studies on our history and heritage and specialised in higlihting the <nowiki>''</nowiki>. Incidentally, this is in contrast to the attitude in almost any other country – people elsewhere have a keen interest and fierce pride and celebrate their own contributions to world knowledge and heritage. Several countries also make a living out of their past through tourism!

 The trouble of course is that few of us know what exactly the Indian contributions are. This is due to the utter neglect of organized, extensive, detailed, and scholarly studies of these in modern India. Incidentally, this is in contrast to the attitude in almost any other country – people elsewhere have a keen interest and fierce pride and celebrate their own contributions to world knowledge and heritage. Several countries also make a living out of their past through tourism!

 However, there does exist, thanks in part to valiant individual efforts, some kind of a background awareness that the Indian civilization is in fact one of the most ancient and glorious, and that India has contributed enormously, perhaps even predominantly, to the growth of world civilization and knowledge in practically every field, ranging from the mundane and practical to the unworldly and spiritual.

 However, there does exist, thanks in part to valiant individual efforts, some kind of a background awareness that the Indian civilization is in fact one of the most ancient and glorious, and that India has contributed enormously, perhaps even predominantly, to the growth of world civilization and knowledge in practically every field, ranging from the mundane and practical to the unworldly and spiritual.