Book Details

• Author: Ashish Lahiri

• Publisher: Ababhash

• Language: Bengali

• ISBN: 9789380732633

• Pages: 176

• First Edition: October 2023

• Format: Paperback

About the Book
The mid-nineteenth century inspired the hope that science would usher in a humane world free from suffering and exploitation. Yet history revealed a more complex reality: while scientific truths may strive for objectivity, the practice of science often operates within political and imperial interests.

This compelling volume explores the tension between science and human values. Ashish Lahiri revisits the lives and ideas of visionary scientists such as Joseph Needham, Linus Pauling, and Dorothy Hodgkin—figures who sought to reconcile scientific pursuit with ethical responsibility. Their struggles are contrasted with the aggressive nuclear militarism associated with figures like Edward Teller.

Drawing extensively from scientists’ own words (translated into Bengali), along with detailed notes and scholarly introductions, the book offers a fresh perspective on the history of science and the intertwined anti-imperialist and anti-fascist struggles of the twentieth century.

Spanning 176 pages, this paperback presents a powerful reflection on the dual faces of science—its humane promise and its destructive potential.