‘Sawai’ Jai Singh II (1688-1743) is largely remembered today for establishing the foundations of Jaipur. His life-story is mostly told through a political lens - as is that of most rulers in medieval India - via conquests and loyalty (or disloyalty!) to the extant Mughal empire. However Jai Singh was a scholar of considerable talent and devoted considerable time, energy and resources to astronomy.

He developed and improved astronomical tables that tracked planetary motion as well as important stars. He is best known for building a series of observatories or ‘Jantars’-- called ‘Jantar Mantar’-- in Jaipur, Delhi, Ujjain, Mathura among others. Though they are in disuse, they are still testimony to the fact that some Indian medieval rulers contributed to advancing science and led quests to unearth new knowledge about nature. There is also the abiding mystery of how a man as scholarly as Jai Singh completely missed the news in 16th and 17th century of the emerging Scientific Revolution

The Rearview is a podcast where the hosts guide you on a scenic route through the history of science. Filled with fascinating anecdotes, deep archival dives, and a closer look at the quirky minds behind groundbreaking ideas.

Hosts: Jacob Koshy and Sobhana K Nair

Edited and produced by Jude Francis Weston

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