The purpose of this book is fourfold :(i) to stress in a nutshell the origin and growth of knowledge from the remote past to the present day; (ii) to highlight the contribution made by numerous inventors , discoverers , philosophers and political thinkers to the growth of knowledge; (iii) to emphasise the role played by the growth of nationalism, various revolutions, counter-revolutions , religions and political movements towards the advancement of knowledge ; and (iv) to emphasise India's contribution to the field of knowledge.