ABSTRACT
This chapter identifies several distinct phases of discourse and shows that when the consensus builds around the notion of 'building a scientifically tempered society' was broken among the scholars, the authority of science was undermined in India. In the initial phase, the reformist contributed very significantly in preparing grounds for the acceptance of modern scientific ideas originating in the west and percolating among some sections of Indian population. The second phase is almost synchronous with the freedom movement. In the last phase as the consensus around the idea of 'Scientific Temper' was broken virulent anti-science sections gained strength from the discourse unleashed by the romantic intellectuals. In the Indian subcontinent, the debate generally known as discourse on Scientific Temper can be looked at as a pan-India project undertaken by scientific and political leadership for establishing the authority of science.
