PSST! I am reminiscing
Recently, amongst stacks of papers at home, I was looking for a text I wrote way back in 2004 – 2008. That was when I was teaching undergraduates of Chemical Engineering and Technology, at the then Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT). The text was a set of typed notes pertaining to a subject named “Perspectives of Society Science and Technology”, abbreviated PSST. Discovery of that 200+ page collection launched me into the past, near as well as distant. It was but natural to remember and acknowledge. So here I go.
I acquired a drive to understand and learned to enjoy languages, thanks to my mother. I took to buying books and reading thanks to my father, despite our JAPL – Just Above Poverty Line – status. I used to enjoy history and geography in school, and wonder how and why about many facts and events. Unfortunately available answers often left one dissatisfied, especially in matters of history. Perhaps that was the reason I was attracted to science, where such questions form the very bedrock, core as well as building blocks of its edifice. During pre-university education in science, history was almost forgotten.
At UDCT, as an undergraduate in Chemical Engineering, I learnt “History of Technology” from Late Prof. J. G. Kane. The subject was fondly called HOT. In reality, it was a cool introduction to history of growth of science and technology in ancient societies. It was enough to kindle an interest in that subject. Like in science, it encouraged questions like how and why. I am grateful to Late Prof. Kane for this introduction. But pursuit of a career in research again pushed the interest in history to the backburner.
After Prof. Kane retired, the subject was reintroduced by Prof. S. B. Chandalia. He named it “Perspectives of Society Science and Technology”, abbreviated PSST. He explicitly brought the element of society in focus. I did not learn PSST from him, but did enjoy discussions with him. I do remember him fondly for what else he taught us. I must confess that the stories of his Industrial experience have been one of the factor that drove me to a career in industrial research. I am grateful to him for keeping the subject alive, adding the element of society to it, and driving me to industrial research.
In 2004, my friend and guide Prof. J. B. Joshi, then director of my alma mater (since renamed ICT) offered me a Reader’s post sponsored by Dr. Gharda with an aim to teach PSST among other subjects. I am grateful to both Prof. Joshi and Dr. Gharda for that opportunity to study history of science and technology, which I exploited. Students were often lectured out of my notes, nearly always fresh or updated, from books mostly, as journals of this discipline are rarely subscribed in India. When students demanded written notes, I hurriedly converted my notes to elaborate text. Ultimately, the text grew into 200+ pages. I gave these to students at the cost of Xeroxing.
History of Science and Technology is a deep and enamoring subject. So even after I retired, my interest in the subject persisted. I could pursue it, thanks to my wife. She allowed me to buy a number of costly books, tolerated the disorder at our home, and me spending more time with books. I do acknowledge her for her support in many ways.
Since 2009 I have faced many distractions, avoidable as well as unavoidable, and did succumb to some of the avoidable ones. The most prominent was a digression into a study of knowledge in general, and defining it in particular, and writing about it in Marathi. But less than an year ago Prof. Pandit (Director ICT) asked if I was publishing on PSST. That was when I set out to search those notes. Recently when Prof. Samant (Professor of Chemistry, ICT), also enquired about publishing. It was refreshing to know that a twelve year old creation is still believed to be useful. I too agree that they can still be useful, with some due revision. However, instead of publishing them in print, I am choosing to publish them on my website as a series of essays. Interested persons are free to use them after registering at the website and with proper acknowledgement.
The original notes provided to the student did not cite any references. This was primarily for the sake of brevity, and urgency. I chose not to bother the first year students with an overwhelming detail, in a subject somewhat removed from hard core engineering and technology. After all they were not studying PSST to be historians of science and technology, but better engineers and technologists. I will continue to refrain from citing references here, with the hope that plagiarists may be deterred. Wherever new information is at hand, I have revised the old text. Even if not revised for obvious reasons, I want to assure the readers that even the old text is genuine information backed with references, albeit old and just not cited. I do take responsibility for my conclusions, as well as any errors of omission and commission.
Over the decade, I have misplaced many of my notes from original references. Yet, I do intend to reconstruct the list of references at the backend, whether revised or otherwise. Like any other individual researcher, I too face limitations on resources. So I request the enlightened resourceful readers to offer any new information, or references, wherever necessary, through their comments or communications. I would gratefully acknowledge that, while updating my text.
Bloggers often follow a rule of not altering a text once published. That may be a proper rule for blogs describing one’s personal opinion and experience. However, I believe that texts in science and technology should be honorable exceptions to this rule. Science and Technology are constantly growing bodies of knowledge. Updating them is a part of the game. Accordingly, I would like to keep this text updated.
Interdisciplinary subjects like this one, require use of various concepts, terminologies, and definitions from different disciplines, often alien to one’s own. In due course of time, subject to availability of an appropriate plugin, I intend to create a useful dictionary for readers of these essays, categorized as “POSTS”.
But, why was PSST renamed PoSTS? Read about that in the next post.
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