There were so many reasons that slowed down the progress of Science in Inia between 800 and 1200 AD. The growth of science in India slowed down during the period so that in course of time it was no longer regarded as a leading country in the field of science.
Surgery declined because the dissection of dead bodies was regarded as fit for people of low cast only. In fact the surgery became a profession of barbers.
Society was religiously orthodox, Brahmans thought they were superior and discouraged others from gaining knowledge. Al-Biruni, a noted scholar from Central Asia who lived in India for about 10 years during the early part of the 11th century despite being a great admirer of India wrote: “that insular attitude of the learning people of India who called themselves Brahamans are haughty, foolish, vain, self-conceited and stolid. Brahmanas are by nature niggardly in communicating that which they know, and they take the greatest possible care to withhold knowledge from men of another cast among their own people still much more of course from any foreigners. According to the belief of Brahamans they are all knowing, know everything about science and there is no one who can compete with them.”
