Scientific Temper of Brahmo leaders

[jagannath Chatterjee]

A scholarly paper on scientific research in the period from 180-1950,
sponsored by the Indian National Science Academy, was published in the
Indian Journal of History of Science, 24( 1 ) : 8—66 (1989. Not surprisingly
we find that it starts with Rammohun Roy to say he

"was the pioneer to introduce scientific approachfor a proper evaluation of
socio-religious conditions through observation ofnatural phenomena. A little
known Persian pamphlet—the Tuhafalul Mawahiddinor Gift to Deist—published in
1803-04 was the gateway of the age of reason inIndia in the 19th century.'
Rammohun believed that any individual could realisethe existence of the
Supreme Being "without instruction and guidance of any onesimply by keen
insight into, and deep observation of, the mysteries of nature suchas
different modes of life fixed for different kinds of animals and vegetables,
andthe propagation of their species, and the rules of the movement of
planets andstars..." Rammohun strongly asserted that nothing was miracle ;
there must be acause and effect relation behind any phenomena however
wonderful, and,moreover, anything proved by knowledge gathered by external
senses, whichunder certain conditions gave positive knowledge was more
acceptable. Thus long before August Comte, Rammohun conceived positive
knowledge, and,applied scientific logic to examine the prevalent religious
practices to conclude that *falsehood was common to all religions*"
Prassana Coomar Tagore is mentioned for his work on mensuration
Bhümipariman.

We then find references to the next great Brahmo leader Hemendranath Thakur
to find that in addition to his many books on science such as *Präkrtik
Vijñáner Sthülamarma, *1879, on Physics he had previously also published 4
articles in 1873 on Chemistry

Rasáyana Vijñáne Jader Laksana Vol.19, No.892, 1839 Saka, p. 198,
Rasäyana Vijñáne Paramänur Äkrti Vol. 19, No.893, 1839 Saka, p.240,
Rasäyana Äkarsana Vol.20, No.923, 1842 Saka, p.69, and
Rasäyana Äkarsana TäpOTadit Vol.20, 1842 Saka, p. 127.

It appears that Hemendranath summarised Dalton's concept of atom *(paramänu)
*
in describing the structure of matter. Atom was then the ultimate limit of
divisibility.
The properties of matter were rooted in the properties of atom. Another
property
of matter was its stretch or expansion by occupation of space to obtain a
shape.
The space was reflected in shape but the shape was also a reflection of
atom.
Ingredients might combine without any proportion to each other in course of
molecular attraction *(yogäkarsana), *but in case of chemical combination,
they must have a definite proportion when a new material was created.

The next references are to other well known Brahmos
Prabhat Kumar Roy Choudhury and his cousin
Kshirode Chandra Roy Choudhury.

"A. *Theory of Evolution : *
*(1) Vibartanaväd by Kshirode Chandra Roy Chowdhuri*
*Vol.2, No.l,Vaisakha 1291 BS, 1884 AD, p.1-10. *
*In this article the author discussed the formulations of scientists*
*like Charles Robert Darwin (1809-1882),  Henry Charlton Bastian
(1837-1915), etc*
*about the theory of evolution of living beings and nonliving things using
some examples.*

*(2) Mänabajanma by the same author Vol.2, No.5, Bhidra 1291 BS, 1884 AD, p.
193-200.*
*The author compared human beings with other animals and tried to establish a
chronology"*

Kshirode Chandra Roy Chowdhuri was excommunicated from the Sabarna Roy
Chowdhury
family for joining the Brahmo Samaj, suffering great privation before
finally becoming Principal
of the Ravenshaw College of Cuttack (Orissa)

J.C.