Science, Society and Philosophy in ancient India with Reference to Devi prasad Chattopadhyaya

Abstract

This research paper explores the development of science, society and philosophy in ancient India through a Marxist lens, with particular reference to the works of Debiprasad Chattopadhyaya. It critically examines how philosophical and scientific thought in early India was shaped by material conditions and class structures. Chattopadhyaya challenged the dominant spiritualist and idealistic narratives by highlighting the existence of a robust materialist and rationalist tradition, especially as seen in the Lokayata (Charvaka) school. He argued that ancient Indian science, particularly in fields like medicine (Ayurveda), was deeply secular and empirical, often in tension with religious orthodoxy. The paper emphasises Chattopadhyaya’s view that the struggle between idealism and materialism in philosophy reflected the broader class struggle within society. It also explores how the decline of materialist traditions was linked to the consolidation of Brahmanical dominance and the suppression of critical, empirical and secular knowledge. By reconstructing the history of science and philosophy from this perspective, the paper aims to offer an alternative understanding of India’s intellectual past—one that values rational inquiry and challenges hierarchical ideology. This study also highlights the relevance of Chattopadhyaya’s work for contemporary discussions on scientific temper, secularism, and the role of philosophy in social transformation.