Description
Western science and biomedicine have, for long, been seen as symbols and agents of progress. Research in the last two decades has, however, revealed their close ties with the history of colonial conquest and rule - so much so that scientific discoveries such as guns, steamboats, and quinine have been seen as `tools of empire`. This module will, however, go beyond this fact and discuss much larger questions of equal relevance. It will, for instance, deal with the question of the `consumption` of science in the colonies, the role of the colonies in constituting western science, the role of medicine in furthering colonial hegemony, the `reinvention` of traditional sciences such as Unani and Ayurveda under colonial influence, the relationship between scientific centres and peripheries, and post-colonial developments with respect to medical and scientific administration. In exploring these themes, the module will not limit itself to any particular region, but will draw upon readings from South Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
