Sir

In the wake of Harry Collins's Essay 'We cannot live by scepticism alone' (Nature 458, 30–31; 2009) and the Correspondence it stimulated from several Western scholars (Nature 458, 702–703; 2009), I think it is also important to consider an Eastern viewpoint. Because of the notably different social set-up in India, Collins's call for studies to counter scepticism about science is irrelevant in this part of the world.

In an Indian context, my sense is that, in the significant segment of society for which such issues matter, science is neither the ultimate form of knowledge nor a victim of scepticism. Here, religion is the way of life. Even for many scientists and scholars of other disciplines, traditional religious values and philosophy are the unshakeable pillars in every domain of their lives, including science. Religion is a guard against the fear of future unknowns.

My observations as a research scientist of more than 30 years' standing suggest that most scientists in India conspicuously evoke the mysterious powers of gods and goddesses to help them achieve success in professional matters, such as publishing papers or gaining recognition. This is probably because factors outside their control come into play: religious endeavours offer comfort as well as being seen as a prerequisite for success.

In general, Indian society is not sceptical of science either — the common belief is that the boons of science outweigh any ill effects. After all, it has solved some of the toughest problems of humankind and has ushered in the era of technology-driven economies. It also addresses our curiosity and infuses a rational way of thinking into our societies. Acknowledging that uncertainty is an innate component of science should raise the standards and accuracy of scientific investigation, rather than increasing scepticism.