92 THE PLACE OF SCIENCE IN 



ment of a very carefully considered kind upon the subject. 

 But I will say this much, that I have serious misgivings ^.bout 

 a great deal of science that is being taught. It seems to 

 me that there is a great deal of science being taught which 

 is not likely to issue in anything practical or in anything 

 really intellectual. The demand at present in this country 

 for the highest science, the demand for the scientific expert, 

 is limited. It must grow. But I think it will only grow 

 in proportion to the industrial development of the country. 

 You must remember that in my own country science lagged 

 behind industry. Industry reached a high pitch of develop- 

 ment before science was widely taught. The result was 

 that when we began to teach science industries were already 

 waiting for it. But if you attempt at present to train a large 

 number of men in the highest kind of special science in India, 

 I am afraid you will find difficulty in giving them employment. 

 Well then, if that is so, you will wish to do something less. 

 Now how much less would be of value ? My opinion is that 

 the thing that would be most valuable to the country, the 

 thing that is most needed, is the sound teaching of the very 

 elements of science and the dissemination throughout the 

 schools of a realization of what science is and what it can 

 do. Until that knowledge is diffused, until the rising 

 generations of India realize very clearly what science is, 

 what it has done, what it can do, what it may do for this 

 country, the demand will not arise for the highly trained 

 scientist who is to take his place in the development of your 

 industries. Of all the things that I have done at Lahore or tried 

 to do, that which has given me most satisfaction has been 

 a small attempt that I have made to help the science teachers 

 in the schools. And I believe, if I had to prescribe for 

 India the action which I think would tend to the greatest 

 good at the present time, it would be the improvement of 

 science in your schools. Take more trouble in the prepara- 



