Colonial astronomy as an element of empire in British India

Article


Kapoor, R.C. and Orchiston, Wayne. 2023. "Colonial astronomy as an element of empire in British India." Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage. 26 (1), pp. 113-158. https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1440-2807.2023.01.07
Article Title

Colonial astronomy as an element of empire in British India

ERA Journal ID30599
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsKapoor, R.C. and Orchiston, Wayne
Journal TitleJournal of Astronomical History and Heritage
Journal Citation26 (1), pp. 113-158
Number of Pages46
Year2023
Place of PublicationThailand
ISSN1440-2807
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1440-2807.2023.01.07
Web Address (URL)https://www.sciengine.com/JAHH/doi/10.3724/SP.J.1440-2807.2023.01.07
Abstract

In this paper we outline the efforts made by the East India Company, the British colonial authorities, visiting astronomical expeditions and expatriate amateur astronomers to establish astronomical observatories in India during the three centuries prior to Indian Independence in 1947. The focus of this paper is therefore primarily on the emergence of Madras, Colaba, Calcutta, Dehra Dun, Hennessey and Kodaikanal Observatories. But we also discuss the accomplishments of the Trigonometrical Survey of India, and various total solar eclipse and 1874 transit of Venus expeditions.
The Trigonometrical Survey of India and the aforementioned observatories were primarily established to further Britain’s colonial ambitions, and some of the astronomical observations were made with that objective in mind. We refer to this as 'colonial astronomy’. However, other observations (including of solar eclipses and transits of Venus) were made—especially by expatriate amateur astronomers—as a result of innate curiosity or in a bid to further astronomical science. It is notable that some of the solar eclipse observations inspired the founding of Government-funded solar observatories in India, which were linked to an improved understanding of the climate and the monsoons and therefore to the economic development and prosperity of India. One way or another, astronomy was an important element of Empire in British India.

Keywords1761 and 1769 transits of Venus; Indian colonial astronomy; Madras Observatory; Trigonometrical Survey of India; Colaba Observatory; Calcutta Observatory; Dehra Dun Observatory; Hennessey Observatory; Kodaikanal Observatory; 1874 transit of Venus; amateur astronomers; solar eclipses of 1868
ANZSRC Field of Research 20205101. Astronomical sciences
Byline AffiliationsIndian Institute of Astrophysics, India
Centre for Astrophysics
University of Science and Technology of China, China
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