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Now, after so many years, we must shamefully admit that in this age of religious ostentation, hypocrisy, superstition, and orthodox thinking—where priests of all faiths are gaining influence and receiving political patronage for their opinions—a deep gap exists between the Nehruvian understanding of a scientific approach and its practical application in the Indian context.
Nehru’s vision has come a long way, yet he remains as relevant today as he was then. While there is now a deluge of superstitious clerics and leaders across the country, approximately seventy years ago, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had the foresight to emphasize: “Politics led me to economics, and from that, I was inspired by science and knowledge to adopt a scientific approach to problems and life. Only science can solve the problem of hunger and poverty. Science is the only medium that can eradicate hunger and poverty.”
Jawaharlal Nehru’s concept of a scientific mindset embodies a rational approach, which he believed should be an integral part of thought and action. There was no confusion or contradiction between science and religion in his mind. He saw science as distinct from religion, which he viewed as based on intuition and emotion. Nehru believed that science could help people reevaluate traditional beliefs, while religion often led to intolerance, superstition, and irrationality. For Nehru, a scientific approach was a way of living, thinking, and working. It involved openness to new evidence, a willingness to change conclusions, and reliance on observable facts. Nehru believed that the spread of scientific ideas would diminish the influence of religion and emphasized the importance of scientific thinking at individual, institutional, social, and political levels.
Even before independence, Nehru, speaking at the Indian Science Congress in 1938, said: “Science is the true form of life. Only with the help of science can we solve the problems of hunger, poverty, illiteracy, superstitions, and dangerous customs and stereotypes, as well as our waste of vast resources and the inequities of prosperity. A more prosperous future belongs to those who strengthen their relationship with science.”
In “The Discovery of India’ (1946), Nehru described the scientific approach as a means of achieving public welfare and truth. This approach emphasizes objective analysis of root causes. Its core features include curiosity, observation, experimentation, qualitative and quantitative analysis, mathematical modeling, and prediction. According to Nehru, the scientific method could be applied to all aspects of life because it stems from a curiosity inherent in everyone. He believed that anyone, scientist or not, could adopt a scientific perspective, which would deepen their understanding of daily life phenomena. Embracing this approach, Nehru argued, could free individuals from superstition and prejudice.
On page 512 of “The Discovery of India”, Nehru wrote that “the application of science to all countries and peoples today is inevitable and unavoidable. But there is more to it than just application. This scientific approach, the adventurous and serious nature of science, the search for truth and new knowledge, the refusal to accept anything but trial and error, the ability to revise conclusions with new evidence, reliance on observed facts rather than preconceived notions, and the disciplined mind—are necessary not only for science but for the solution of life’s problems.” Nehru valued the development of a scientific approach even more than the mere application of science, believing that societal advancement and the growth of new sciences were impossible without it. He envisioned an India where people, freed from preconceptions and religious dogmas, could use scientific methods to improve their lives and address social issues.
Emphasizing science and its application to meet the country’s needs, Nehru defined science and technology as a critical approach to thinking and reasoning, a “way of life” and the “nature of a free man.” He recognized the tangible benefits of science and technology for national development and strongly advocated for science as a philosophical approach to life. Nehru’s appreciation of science extended beyond material success; he also valued its role in culture and intellectual development. Frequently using terms like “scientific temperament” and “scientific spirit,” Nehru’s understanding of science was philosophical, grounding his social ideals and political beliefs in rationality. At the Science Congress in 1951, he remarked, “My interest is primarily in making the Indian people and the Government aware of the necessity of scientific work.” He asserted that science was essential to counter religious bigotry and regressive conservatism, an approach that enabled him to oppose Hindu and Muslim communalists and keep these elements from gaining government influence.
As Prime Minister, Nehru fostered scientific establishments in line with his vision. In August 1947, he created a central government portfolio for scientific research, later establishing the Ministry of Natural Resources and Scientific Research in 1951, which evolved into the Department of Scientific Research. Nehru chaired debates on scientific issues in Parliament, addressed annual Indian Science Congress meetings, and led the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. His close relationship with prominent scientists like S.S. Bhatnagar, P.C. Mahalanobis, and Homi J. Bhabha facilitated advancements in nuclear energy and underscored India’s scientific modernity. Under Nehru’s guidance, the government did not promote pseudoscience.
Nehru introduced the term “scientific temper” into Indian discourse. In “The Discovery of India”, he wrote, “It is imperative and inevitable that all countries and peoples use science today. But what matters more than the application of science is the scientific method, which is adventurous yet critical, encouraging a search for truth and new knowledge, an aversion to accepting untested beliefs, a willingness to revise old conclusions based on new evidence, and a reliance on observed facts rather than theory. This disciplined direction of the mind is essential not only for science but for navigating life’s complexities. The scientific approach guides one on their journey.”
Nehru made many efforts to develop the scientific approach in India. One of these efforts was in the year 1958 in the country’s parliament (Lok Sabha) when he presented the science and technology policy, he gave special importance to the scientific approach. He described the scientific approach as a way of thinking, a way of doing and a way of finding truth. This was the first time in the world that a science policy proposal was approved by the Parliament of any country. He said that the scientific approach is not just about looking in a test tube, mixing this thing and that thing, and making something big or small. Scientific approach means training the mind and the whole structure of life to work with the methods and procedures of science. Scientific approach is related to rationality. According to the scientific approach, only that which can be proved by experiments and results, in which a cause and effect relationship can be established, is worthy of acceptance. Discussion, reasoning and analysis are an important part of the scientific approach. Scientific approach is also effective in creating fairness, humanity, democracy, equality and freedom etc.
As part of the 42nd Constitutional Amendment in 1976, ‘Development of scientific temper, humanism and spirit of discovery and improvement’ was declared as one of the ten fundamental duties of every citizen under Article 51A(H) of the Indian Constitution. It is also necessary to combine science and technology with the spirit of humanism because ultimately the goal of every kind of progress is human development and quality of life and its relationships. Inculcating this scientific approach in our children and society will be a true tribute to Nehruji.
