Histories of the Sciences and the Politics of History: Essays in Honour of S. Irfan Habib

The history and politics of the pursuit of the numerous disciplines of the sciences is enmeshed with debates about the impact of colonialism and decolonization, their relationship with emerging 'global' concerns, popular and state-driven science policies of governments, as well as their linkages of languages and cultural expressions. All these have been concerns for research in the academic life of Professor S. Irfan Habib. In his honour, Histories of the Sciences and the Politics of History presents contributions by scholars who have associated and worked with him or have been his friends in his intellectual journey. This volume covers a range of subjects from the history of science in South Asia to the trends of science policies in different eras in independent India. Other themes which relate to the scientific and democratic ethos evaluated here include the role of princely states in anti-democratic impulses in South Asia and the problems of terms such as 'global history' in history writing. This volume presents us with fresh insights into emerging fields of inquiry in the history of sciences as well as the political nuances of history making and history writing.