Hyderabad: Union science and technology minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday defended a paper presented at the recently concluded Indian Science Congress that claimed aviation technology was developed in ancient India between 6,000 and 7,000 BC.
This despite the scientists from the Indian Institute of Science having long debunked the claim saying the book “Vyamanika Shastra”, referred to in the paper, cannot be dated earlier than 1904. Mr Harsh Vardhan claimed there was nothing wrong in eulogizing the past, and said, “We must be proud of our great achievements.”
The minister had earlier claimed that the Pythagoras theorem was discovered in India. The paper was presented by a retired pilot, Captain Anand Bodas. He claimed that the science of aviation was recorded by Saint Bharadwaj in his work *Vyamanika Shastra* and said jumbo airplanes flew in ancient India as early as in 6,000 to 7,000 BC.
Speaking to reporters here, Mr Harsh Vardhan said ?We shouldn?t be ashamed of our ancient glory. There is a perception that in the Indian Science Congress, they are only
discussing the history of science.
You see, we should not feel ashamed of our glorious past. We have to accept it. It has been accepted even by the West in documents and in Vedas.?
IISc scientists, however, had debunked the text several years ago. Mr Harsh Vardhan also said India was once a superpower in every imaginable field and not just science. ?We must be proud of our achievements.
At the same time, we should not forget that we have to make our future brighter than our glorious past,? the minister said. He added that the country was using the highest scientific acumen and most advanced technologies and not just basking in past glory.
Several other claims have been made at the Indian Science Congress, infuriating many scientists. Claims ranged from humanoids, trade links with America, sharp knives that cut through hair and so forth.
Several scientists have criticised the indulgence of the Science Congress in Vedic history over current progress.
The Science Congress had a session titled ?Ancient Indian Sciences through Sanskrit?, which had discussions on various claims of technology in ancient India.
Presentations on claims of advanced technology in ancient India were made in other sessions as well. An online petition was also started by an Indian origin Nasa scientist Dr R.P. Gandhiraman calling for the cancellation of the lecture of Captain Bodas.
The minister also said that scientific research in the country will be made the engine for ? Make in India? initiative.
