AbstractThis paper, published with the authors' permission, is an edited version of the Foreword and Introduction to S.A.I. Trimiz's book,A Guide to Records Relating to Science and Technology in the National Archives of India: A Ramp study. (Published by Unseco and NISTADS, New Delhi, India, 1983.) The Foreword, written by Professor Rahman, explains why this field has, up until recently, been neglected in India. In the section ‘Background to research’, Professor Trimizi, explains the problems in approaching this subject.