Irfan did his post graduation in modern Indian history and went on to receive a doctorate on the ideology and programme of revolutionaries in the 1920s freedom struggle.

[1] Habib taught at DAV (PG) College, Bulandshahr (Meerut University) for four years before joining the National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies (NISTADS), New Delhi (1984–2009).

[6][7] The book contained a collection of essays from various journals and prominent publications that focused on how the first generation of scientists in post-Renaissance India responded to and appropriated the theories and practices of modern science into their cultural traditions, often conflicting among themselves but yet working towards a common goal of achieving freedom from colonialism.

[8] A review in Social Scientist was positive and noted the work to be an impressive collection of informative and conceptually agile essays from a multitude of disciplines.

[2] C P Bhambri, former dean of the School of Social Sciences, JNU noted the book to provide a plethora of insights about the idea of nationalism in India and deemed it to be a necessary read in light of the current climate.

[21] Irfan Habib noted it to be a thoughtful collection and deemed Syed's introduction to be insightful, identifying the core elements of Bhagat Singh's ideology in a clear manner.

[22] This is a book-length intellectual biography of the freedom fighter, statesman and Islamic scholar, Dr. Maulana Abulkalam Azad, who was the first educational minister of independent India.

Moreover, as it was a voice that spoke only in Urdu, Arabic and Persian, S. Irfan Habib’s work in translating the evolution of thoughts in English to the lay reader (as against academics) stands as an outstanding contribution to national integration.