Communication of Science & Technology in Ancient India and its Relevance in Contemporary Scenario

Abstract

Communication is an essential part of all social beings and humans especially have been successful in fighting adversities throughout their evolutionary history because they could communicate and invent necessary tools and procedures to help their survival. It goes without saying that a group as a whole can prosper only if it is able to think of ideas and communicate among them as well. Discovering and inventing concepts is something that falls under the domain of science whereas sharing it with others for them to be applied and executed comes under communication. Science and communication have come together to make great strides in our history of development. India’s contribution is also unparalleled when it comes to science and communication. It is quite evident from old texts that our ancestors had exemplary communication skills. The knowledge of mathematics, medicine, and complex philosophy was majorly communicated through chants and verses. The oral tradition transitioned to written texts on copper plates, on barks and on leaves and eventually using paper by the end of 12th and 13th centuries AD. From verses and hymns, they turned to prose explaining Astronomy, Mathematics, Medical Science, Technology and Agriculture. Communication in the ancient past of India was abundant with discussions and debates adhering to rules and regulations. All these rules are quite applicable to the communication of science and technology, even in the modern era. Therefore, more research in ancient Indian communication pattern might actually be quite helpful in uncovering rich tradition of knowledge sharing.