Rudolf Noronha: The History of Science and Technology in Tulunadu During the Colonial Period
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Frederick Noronha
Apr 15, 2025, 9:12:00 AM4/15/25
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Welcome to GRN's new member Rudolph Noronha.
His doctoral thesis is on The History of Science and Technology in Tulunadu During the Colonial Period, done at the Department of Studies and Research in History and Archaeology, Tumkur University.
This work explores how Western scientific knowledge made its way into Tulunadu, the region along the south-western coast of India, under various colonial powers. These included the Portuguese, British, Dutch, and French, with a notable contribution from German missionaries based in the Swiss town of Basel. The thesis examines how foreign influences introduced new forms of science and technology, while also revealing how local communities adapted to—or resisted—these changes.
A key area of focus is the colonial education system, which established Western-style schools that taught subjects like science and mathematics. This shift in teaching methods reshaped how people in Tulunadu perceived learning and knowledge. At the same time, industries such as the Mangalore tile production benefited from Western technology, demonstrating how colonial policies promoted economic growth but also served imperial interests. Noronha shows that Western science and technology functioned as both a tool for development and a way to extend colonial control.
The thesis also investigates the planning behind these colonial endeavours, questioning whether the arrival of modern science was a natural result of global exchange or part of a deliberate strategy guided by imperial objectives. Through an analysis of trade, agriculture, infrastructure, and healthcare, Noronha highlights how colonial practices reshaped Tulunadu’s social and cultural landscape. Often, Western ideas combined with local traditions, creating unique blends of innovation and heritage.
Noronha points to the varied outcomes of these encounters. While new opportunities arose, local knowledge systems were frequently overshadowed or dismissed. Some elite groups profited, but many ordinary people experienced disruptions to their livelihoods and cultural identity. Mangalore’s development into a colonial urban center exemplifies broader transformations in transportation, communication, and city planning.
Noronha’s work paints a picture of how Western science and technology influenced Tulunadu’s evolution during the colonial era. It underscores the delicate balance between external forces and local realities, showing how sweeping global changes can reshape a region’s identity, even as they add new layers to its historical narrative.
A key area of focus is the colonial education system, which established Western-style schools that taught subjects like science and mathematics. This shift in teaching methods reshaped how people in Tulunadu perceived learning and knowledge. At the same time, industries such as the Mangalore tile production benefited from Western technology, demonstrating how colonial policies promoted economic growth but also served imperial interests. Noronha shows that Western science and technology functioned as both a tool for development and a way to extend colonial control.
The thesis also investigates the planning behind these colonial endeavours, questioning whether the arrival of modern science was a natural result of global exchange or part of a deliberate strategy guided by imperial objectives. Through an analysis of trade, agriculture, infrastructure, and healthcare, Noronha highlights how colonial practices reshaped Tulunadu’s social and cultural landscape. Often, Western ideas combined with local traditions, creating unique blends of innovation and heritage.
Noronha points to the varied outcomes of these encounters. While new opportunities arose, local knowledge systems were frequently overshadowed or dismissed. Some elite groups profited, but many ordinary people experienced disruptions to their livelihoods and cultural identity. Mangalore’s development into a colonial urban center exemplifies broader transformations in transportation, communication, and city planning.
Noronha’s work paints a picture of how Western science and technology influenced Tulunadu’s evolution during the colonial era. It underscores the delicate balance between external forces and local realities, showing how sweeping global changes can reshape a region’s identity, even as they add new layers to its historical narrative.
Interestingly, Rudolf is an engineer, but has been passionate about history, literature and philosophy. After his degree in engineering, he did a Master's in History, and then his PhD on the topic above.
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William Robert Da Silva
Apr 18, 2025, 1:46:31 PM4/18/25
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Is a copy of the thesis available online? Please send me a link. I have earlier work on this and I would like to compare the two.
Thank you,
William Robert Da Silva
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