TECHNOLOGICAL DETERMINISM EMBODIED IN AN APPRO-TECH PROGRAM - SMALL SCIENCE IN A HIGH-TECH ENVIRONMENT

The review traces the evolution of ideas concerning the role of techno logy, in development, in the research programme of the Centre for the Application of Science and Technology to Rural Areas (ASTRA), of the I ndian Institute of Science. As the experience of the group with ''tech nologies in the field'' increased, the initial ''technological determi nism'' characterizing the group's efforts came up for revision, This c hange in perception, however, is still to be operationalized in shapin g the future development of technology.