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{{Short description|Indian historian of science}}
{{Distinguish|text=the Indian historian of medieval India, [[Irfan Habib]]}}
{{promo|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox historian
| image = File:Irfan Habib Syed.jpg
| caption = Prof. S. Irfan Habib
| occupation = Historian
| discipline = Modern Indian history, ideology and programme of revolutionaries in the 1920s freedom struggle
| workplaces = [[Meerut University]]
}}

'''Syed Irfan Habib''' (born 1953) is an Indian [[Science and technology studies in India|historian of science]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nuepaeduplan.nic.in/researches/staff_details/75|title=Staff profile of S Irfan Habib|website=nuepaeduplan.nic.in}}</ref> and public intellectual.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/up-front/story/20180108-india-nationalism-s-irfan-habib-book-review-1118041-2017-12-29|title=Irfan Habib's new anthology aims to remind Indian nationalism is inclusive|last=Dasgupta|first=Shougat|date=29 December 2017|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2019-11-04}}</ref> He was the former Abul Kalam Azad Chair at the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration.

His intellectual collaboration with [[Dhruv Raina]] as historians at the [[National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies|National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies (NISTADS)]], New Delhi in the 1990s culminated in the publication of a series of research articles (collected as a volume titled ''Domesticating Modern Science'', 2004) on the cultural redefinition of modern science in colonial India. They also edited a volume together on [[Joseph Needham]] (''Situating the History of Science'', 1999), the section on "Science in Twentieth South and South-East Asia" for volume 7 of [[UNESCO]]'s History of Mankind Project, and a reader on social history of science in India (''Social History of Science in Colonial India'', 2007). As an author, his works have been subject to mostly positive critical reception.

== Education ==
Irfan did his post graduation in modern Indian history and went on to receive a doctorate on the ideology and programme of revolutionaries in the 1920s freedom struggle.<ref name=":0" />

== Career ==
Habib taught at DAV (PG) College, Bulandshahr ([[Meerut University]]) for four years before joining the [[National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies]] (NISTADS), New Delhi (1984–2009).<ref name=":0" /> He held the [[Abul Kalam Azad]] Chair at the [[National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration]], New Delhi during 2009–2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nuepa.org/new/Irfan_Habib.aspx|title=Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Chair|website=nuepa.org|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109153113/http://nuepa.org/new/Irfan_Habib.aspx|archive-date=9 November 2018}}</ref>

== Works and reception ==

=== ''Situating the History of Science: Dialogues with Joseph Needham'' ===
The book was subject to mixed receptions. A review in ''[[The American Historical Review]]'' deemed it to be a carelessly edited book with shoddy introductions and unresolved dissonance across the participating authors.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sivin|first=Nathan|date=2001|title=Review of Situating the History of Science: Dialogues with Joseph Needham|journal=The American Historical Review|volume=106|issue=1|pages=131|doi=10.2307/2652231|issn=0002-8762|jstor=2652231}}</ref> A review in ''[[Technology and Culture]]'' noted it to be an exciting and enriching volume.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Bray|first=Francesca|date=2004|title=Review of Situating the History of Science: Dialogues with Joseph Needham|journal=Technology and Culture|volume=45|issue=1|pages=173–175|issn=0040-165X|jstor=40060592|doi=10.1353/tech.2004.0009|s2cid=110736508 }}</ref> A review in ''[[Indian Economic and Social History Review]]'' disagreed with the excessive put down of [[J. D. Bernal|Bernalism]] and other aspects but went on to note it as a very important volume in affirmation of the enduring relevance of [[Joseph Needham]]'s school of thought.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Tyabji|first=Nasir|date=2016-07-26|title=Book Reviews|journal=The Indian Economic & Social History Review|language=en|doi=10.1177/001946460003700408|s2cid=143702531 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Barrow|first=Ian|date=2016-08-13|title=Book Reviews|journal=Science, Technology and Society|language=en|doi=10.1177/097172180100600110|s2cid=154370055 }}</ref>

=== ''Domesticating Modern Science: A Social History of Science and Culture in Colonial India'' ===
The book contained a collection of essays from various journals and prominent publications that focused on how the first generation of scientists in post-[[Bengali Renaissance|Renaissance]] India responded to and appropriated the theories and practices of modern science into their cultural traditions, often conflicting among themselves but yet working towards a common goal of achieving freedom from colonialism.<ref name=":4" /> A review in ''[[Social Scientist]]'' was positive and noted the work to be an impressive collection of informative and conceptually agile essays from a multitude of disciplines.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal|last=Mallick|first=Sambit|date=2006|title=Review of Domesticating Modern Science: A Social History of Science and Culture in Colonial India|journal=Social Scientist|volume=34|issue=7/8|pages=96–98|issn=0970-0293|jstor=27644159}}</ref>

=== ''To Make the Deaf Hear: Ideology and Programme of Bhagat Singh and His Comrades'' ===
Syed's work on [[Bhagat Singh]] and his comrades focuses on the range of ideological processes which led to Bhagat Singh's thought-school of revolutionary philosophy and corresponding political manifesto.

[[K. N. Panikkar|K.N. Panikkar]], in his review of the book, praised the meticulous documentation and scholarly analysis.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-bookreview/Beyond-the-stereotype/article15410546.ece|title=Beyond the stereotype|newspaper=The Hindu |date=5 February 2008|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>

=== ''Social History of Science in Colonial India'' ===
A collection of twelve essays on the topic of colonialism and science in India, it was intended to serve as a general introduction to a reader.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last=Chakrabarti|first=Pratik|date=2008-09-01|title=Social History of Science in Colonial India. Edited by S. Irfan Habib and Dhruv Raina.|journal=Cultural and Social History|volume=5|issue=3|pages=368–369|doi=10.2752/147800408X331461|s2cid=163996792 |issn=1478-0038}}</ref> Critical reception was mixed.

A review in ''[[Cultural and Social History]]'' noted the work to provide a useful overview but criticized multiple aspects; many of the essays ran along parallel themes with non-optimal selections, there was an acute lack of intersection with social history ''contra'' the stated purpose of the book and that the language was often too sophisticated and abstract, for the intended audience.<ref name=":3" /> A review in the ''[[Indian Journal of History of Science]]'' was scathing; it noted the sole endeavor of the book to demonstrate western efficiency and Indian deficiency in the progress of science.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Palit|first=Chittabrata|date=2008|title=Book Review|url=https://insa.nic.in/writereaddata/UpLoadedFiles/IJHS/Vol43_1_11_BookReview_CPalit.pdf|journal=[[Indian Journal of History of Science]]|volume=43|issue=1|pages=119–120}}</ref>

A review in ''[[Current Science]]'' praised multiple aspects of the volume and went on to note it as a valuable and impressive addition to the field esp. to potential students.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Raman|first=Anantanarayanan|date=10 October 2008|title=Book Reviews|url=https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Downloads/article_id_095_07_0967_0969_0.pdf|journal=[[Current Science]]|volume=95|issue=7|pages=967–969|issn=0011-3891}}</ref> A review in ''[[Journal of Social History]]'' admired the multitude of viewpoints in the collection of essays and noted it to be an indispensable contribution to the field.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Harrison|first=Mark|date=2009|title=Review of Social History of Science in Colonial India. Themes in Indian History|journal=Journal of Social History|volume=43|issue=1|pages=238–240|issn=0022-4529|jstor=20685377|doi=10.1353/jsh.0.0223|s2cid=142738117 }}</ref> A review in ''[[Indian Historical Review]]'' noted all the selected essays to be products of insightful analyses and that the work will serve as a valuable introduction to graduate students in the domain.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ramanna|first=Mridula|date=2017-07-27|title=Book Review: Social History of Science in Colonial India|journal=Indian Historical Review|volume=35|pages=276–279|language=en|doi=10.1177/037698360803500121|doi-access=free}}</ref> A review in ''[[Contributions to Indian Sociology]]'' noted it to be a useful work, as well.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2008-10-01|title=Book Reviews|journal=Contributions to Indian Sociology|language=en|volume=42|issue=3|pages=499–501|doi=10.1177/006996670804200307|s2cid=220852841 }}</ref>

=== ''Jihad Or Ijtihad: Religious Orthodoxy And Modern Science In Contemporary Islam'' ===
''[[The Hindu]]'' reviewed it as a timely scholarship which shone a spotlight on longstanding scientific discourses and rational thought schools in Islam.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/Ziya_Us_Salam/the-god-is-in-details/article7900642.ece|title=The god is in details|last=Salam|first=Ziya Us|date=2015-11-20|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-11-05|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Author and literary critic Us Salam Ziya deemed it to be a brilliant work with insightful scholarly arguments.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-reviews/Freedom-in-scientific-pursuit/article12399505.ece|title=Freedom in scientific pursuit|last=Rehman|first=Shaikh Mujibur|date=2013-03-25|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-11-05|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

=== ''Indian Nationalism: The Essential Writings'' ===
The book was subject to widespread positive reception. [[Irfan Habib]] noted it to be a comprehensive but careful selection of writings that represented all the major ideological schools of the National Movement; Irfan's introduction and biographical sketches were especially admired.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Habib|first=Irfan|date=2019-06-01|title=Book review: S. Irfan Habib, ed., Indian Nationalism: The Essential Writings and Inquilab: Bhagat Singh on Religion and Revolution|journal=Studies in People's History|language=en|volume=6|issue=1|pages=97–98|doi=10.1177/2348448919834810|issn=2348-4489|doi-access=free}}</ref> A review at Kitaab.org noted its immense topical relevance at a time, when a muscular, hyper-patriotic and jingoistic band of nationalism is being increasingly thrust upon the citizens and noted Irfan to have perfected the near-impossible task of summarizing a diverse set of pluralistic ideas, with appropriate commentary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kitaab.org/2018/11/05/book-review-indian-nationalism-the-essential-writings-ed-s-irfan-habib/|title=Book review: Indian Nationalism – The Essential Writings, ed. S. Irfan Habib|last=Bhat|first=Kamalakar|date=2018-11-05|website=Kitaab|language=en|access-date=2019-11-04}}</ref> Syed expressed similar motivations, upon the launch of the book.<ref name=":2" /> [[C.P. Bhambri|C P Bhambri]], former dean of the School of Social Sciences, [[Jawaharlal Nehru University|JNU]] noted the book to provide a plethora of insights about the idea of nationalism in India and deemed it to be a necessary read in light of the current climate.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/many-faces-of-nationalism-118010901316_1.html|title=Many faces of nationalism|last=Bhambhri|first=C. P.|date=2018-01-09|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2019-11-04}}</ref>

The book was translated into Hindi under the title ''Bhartiya Rashtravad: Ek Anivarya Path'' ([[Rajkamal Prakashan]], New Delhi, 2023).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://rajkamalprakashan.com/bhartiya-rashtravad-ek-anivarya-paath.html | title=Bhartiya Rashtravad : Ek Anivarya Paath }}</ref>

=== ''Inquilab: Bhagat Singh on Religion and Revolution'' ===
Consisting of a selected collection of Bhagat Singh's writings, the work located them in the context of contemporary nationalism.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/know/the-sage-rebel/article25797210.ece|title=The sage rebel|last=Najib|first=Rihan|website=@businessline|date=21 December 2018 |language=en|access-date=2019-11-04}}</ref> [[Irfan Habib]] noted it to be a thoughtful collection and deemed Syed's introduction to be insightful, identifying the core elements of Bhagat Singh's ideology in a clear manner.<ref name=":1" /> C P Bhambri, former dean of the School of Social Sciences, [[Jawaharlal Nehru University|JNU]] noted the volume to have done yeoman's service in correcting stereotyped notions about Singh's philosophy and in showing the need for widespread assimilation of his thought school instead of the token gratitude, bestowed on Singh, as a revolutionary martyr.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/bhagat-singh-s-real-legacy-119010100017_1.html|title=Bhagat Singh's real legacy|last=Bhambhri|first=C. P.|date=2019-01-01|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2019-11-05}}</ref>

=== ''Maulana Azad: A Life'' ===
This is a book-length intellectual biography of the freedom fighter, statesman and Islamic scholar, Dr. Maulana Abulkalam Azad, who was the first educational minister of independent India.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dUerzwEACAAJ | title=Maulana Azad: A Life | isbn=978-93-93852-18-2 | last1=Irfan Habib | first1=S. | date=2023 | publisher=Aleph }}</ref> [[Mani Shankar Aiyar|Mani Shankar Aiyer]] noted in his review of the book that "[i]n these times of spreading hate, it is balm for the soul to hear the voice of reason, for Maulana Abul Kalam Azad's voice was the voice of reason infused with compassion. Moreover, as it was a voice that spoke only in Urdu, Arabic and Persian, S. Irfan Habib's work in translating the evolution of thoughts in English to the lay reader (as against academics) stands as an outstanding contribution to national integration."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aiyer |first=Mani Shankar |date=15 August 2023 |title=Review: Irfan Habib's 'Maulana Azad: A Life' Is a Voice of Reason and Unity in Times of Hate |url=https://thewire.in/books/review-irfan-habibs-maulana-azad-a-life-is-a-voice-of-reason-and-unity-in-times-of-hate |access-date=22 November 2023 |website=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]]}}</ref> In the review that appeared in ''The Hindu'', Faizur Rahman also emphasizes the significance of the book while stating that it "has come at the right time. It not just reminds us of Azad's selfless sacrifices for the cause of a united India, but highlights the continued relevance of his iconoclastic views on religion and politics".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rahman |first=A. Faizur |date=21 April 2023 |title=Review of S. Irfan Habib's Maulana Azad — A Life: The azadi of Abul Kalam Azad |url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-reviews/abul-kalam-azad-biography-maulana-azad/article66746839.ece |access-date=22 November 2023 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Science and technology studies in India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Habib, S. Irfan}}
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian historians]]
[[Category:Historians of science]]

S. Irfan Habib - Revision history

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