Nehru’s Scientific Consciousness and its Impact on Post-Independent India

Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru undertook the policy to form India as a developing country using science and technology in every field of society. For Nehru, the term Scientific Temper was even broader than the traditional concept of popular science. According to him, science is akin to truth, and the truth is not attainable until the efforts, mistakes, and research approve it. This truth will give us a broad idea about the world as well as knowledge of Scientific Temper that will help us to deal with other problems too. After independence, it was necessary to change the mindset and to think of Indian people through the scientific method. Nehru followed two methods in the transformation of Indian society. The first was, to spread the scientific thinking among the Indian people and the second was to strengthen the Indian economy through the proper application of science and technology. Through the application of science, he wanted to eradicate poverty. He believes that Science is the only way to prevent famine, poverty, orthodoxy, illiteracy, superstition and various other hindrances the country is facing.