HISTORY OF SCIENCE IN INDIA 63 the basis of theoretical propositions) because "theory was not sufficiently disengaged from practical operations". A scientific and rational reconstruction of the evolution of scientific ideas in ancient India would, therefore, be a painstaking and long-drawn-out process. D P Chattopadhyaya, as in his earlier work, forcefully argues in his introduction against the "Euro-centric" view of science whereby a "tacit equation between global science and science in European history is made". To resurrect spontaneous materialism in the ancient thought of any civilisation, more particularly in one that has been portrayed as being purely spiritual and a false pride is taken in its overt spirituality, is a task that is of immense value. The source material contained in the two volumes clearly demonstrates that as in other contemporary civilisations the advance of human knowledge in Indian civilisation was not inferior or qualitatively different. With its own specificities, the ancient Indian civilisation made as much contribution to the growth of human knowledge as any other. P G Ray, who found no reason to be ashamed of the contributions of the ancient Indians to the science of chemistry, succintly grasps this feature. In an address delivered before the Madras University in February 1918, he said: "It should, however, be borne in mind that Experimental Sciences such as we now understand them are of very recent origin and growth, even in Europe. "The controversies of the Schoolmen in the Middle Ages lend colour to the theory that in approaching the discussion of the most evident truths of nature the learned men of Europe always avoided the test of appealing to experiments. As some of you are aware, a solemn discussion arose among the foundation members of the Royal Society founded in 1662 by Boyle, Hooke, Gristopher Wren and other students of Nature, Hobbes sneered at them as 'experimentarians'*. If such was the respect for accurate knowledge even in England in the 17th century, we should not be justified in applying a rigid test to the knowledge of India in the past ages." Recognition of the universalist spirit in scientific matters is perhaps as ancient as human civilisation itself. Al-Biruni, whose vision of science as an international endeavour led him not only to make Indian works on astronomy available in Arabic but also to make Greek works of science available to Indians in Sanskrit, had observed: "If a science or an idea has once conquered the earth, every nation appropriates part of it.55 A number of writings in the volumes bring out the cross-cultural influences on the development of scientific ideas of that period, a trend that has become more pronounced at the present level of development of human civilisation. P G Sen Gupta traces the influence of Babylonian astronomy on the growth of Indian astronomy. Hoernie argues that the Arabs borrowed from Hindu algebra. Chin-Keh-Mu provides details of exchanges between India and China. In science and a study of its history there is no room for isolationism and chauvinism. The arguments against the "Euro-centric55 view, however, should