Preface -- Abbreviations -- Chapter One. Introduction -- Science, War and Imperialism -- The Main Perspectives -- The Hurdles and the Riddle -- The Focus -- Chapter Two. Background: Science and Empire -- The Early Efforts -- Curzon and Swadeshi -- Impact of the First World War -- The Aftermath and Depression -- Imperialism vs. Nationalism -- Chapter Three. Science for War -- Technical Education -- Scientific and Industrial Research -- Agriculture and Allied Sciences -- Medical Science and Public Health -- Transport and Communications -- Chapter Four. The Sciences in the Doldrums -- The Surveys -- Energy -- Defence Research -- Operational Research -- Basic Sciences and Fundamental Research -- Chapter Five. Science for Reconstruction -- Imperial Initiative in the US Partnership -- Compulsions, Strategy and Measures -- Industrialization under Cloud -- Scientists Rise to the Occasion -- Reconstruction in Retrospect -- Chapter Six. Towards Organizing Science -- Efforts before the War -- Wartime Measures -- Rise of an Organizational Set-up -- Beginning of the Science Policy -- Chapter Seven. Conclusions -- India at the Crossroads -- Opportunities Lost -- Western Science Wins over the Orient -- An Elusive Transition -- From Bondage to Freedom -- Appendices -- Bibliography -- Index.