Thakkura Pheru And Popularisation Of Science In India In 14th Century

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This text, Thakkura Pheru and Popularisation of Science in India in 14th Century by Sreeramula Sarma, argues that while Indian science generally stagnated during the middle ages due to a reliance on tradition, elitist language (Sanskrit), and a disconnect between theory and practice, the Jainas offered an exception. Jainas, particularly those in the mercantile class, played a significant role in preserving and disseminating knowledge, often simplifying language and actively engaging with society.

The paper highlights Thakkura Pheru as a prominent example of this Jaina contribution to the popularization of science. Pheru, born around 1270 into a prosperous Jaina banker family in Haryana, served four successive Sultans of Delhi: Alauddin Muhammad Khalji, Shihabuddin Umar, Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah, and Ghiyasuddin Tughluq. His career spanned roles in the royal treasury, including as an assaymaster in the mint.

What makes Pheru remarkable is his extensive scientific writing in a vernacular language, a mix of Prakrit and Apabhramsa, which was closer to the spoken language of his time. This broke from the tradition of Sanskrit-only scholarly works and aimed for wider accessibility among professionals like bankers, jewelers, traders, architects, and masons. While he retained the metrical form for memorization, he also incorporated practical elements like tables and diagrams.

The author details Pheru's six scientific works:

• Vastusara (Architecture and Iconography): Written in 1315, this work covers astrological considerations for construction, Jaina iconography, and temple architecture. It's noted for its pragmatic inclusion of astrological elements within an architectural text and is considered a potential handbook for architects of the period.
• Jyotisasara (Astrology and Astronomy): Also written in 1315, this work covers standard astrological topics and includes computational tables. It shows influence from earlier Jaina astrological writers like Haribhadra and Padmaprabha Suri.
• Ratnapariksa (Gemmology): Written in 1315 for his son, this work demonstrates a "modern scientific approach" by combining theoretical knowledge from Sanskrit texts, practical experience from handling gems in Alauddin's treasury, and apprenticeship under experts. Pheru innovated by including a price tariff and was the first Indian gemologist to accurately describe gems imported from Persia.
• Ganitasara (Arithmetic): Though undated, it predates 1318. This work is innovative in its application of arithmetic to various professions, providing insights into the economic and social conditions of the time through its examples and units of measurement. It includes rules for calculating the volume of complex architectural features, some of which were new introductions by Muslim rulers.
• Dhatutpatti (Metallurgy and Perfumery Trade): This undated work is a heterogeneous collection of topics, including the origin and extraction of metals and the properties of perfumery articles. It is believed to contain extracts from a lost larger work and offers valuable material on metal technology.
• Dravyapariksa (Assay and Money Exchange): Written in 1318, this work is based on Pheru's direct experience at the Delhi mint. It details techniques for refining gold and silver and determining their fineness. Its most valuable contribution is a coin catalogue describing approximately 260 types of coins from the 13th and 14th centuries, including detailed information on their provenance, weight, metal content, and exchange rates. This work is crucial for understanding the monetary history of the period, as some coins described are no longer extant. Pheru's work also indicates his involvement in the diverse coin types and minting improvements during the reign of Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah.

The paper concludes that while Pheru's attempt to popularize science was significant, its direct impact was limited. The tradition of writing in Sanskrit metrical forms remained strong, and Pheru's example of writing in vernacular languages was rarely followed. However, his work stands out as a unique and versatile effort to make scientific knowledge accessible to a wider audience in 14th-century India, particularly in the fields of architecture, gemmology, arithmetic, metallurgy, and numismatics.