Jan 05 2015 : The Economic Times (Delhi)
Celebrating Ancient Indian Inventions
Divya Rajagopal
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Mumbai:
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Indian Science Congress hopes to revive knowledge in ancient texts
Egg shells, cow dung and juice of cactus were used as polymers to build houses, knives used by ancient Indian surgeons were so sharp they could slit a hair strand into two, and much before Wright brothers invented aeroplanes Maharishi Bharadwaj wrote about it.These were some of the key points of discussion at a session on 'Ancient Indian Sciences through Sanskrit' at the 102nd Indian Science Congress held in Mumbai on Sunday. According to the organisers, the topic was introduced in an attempt to revive the “vast knowledge of science“ contained in the Puranas and Vedas.
“The objective of this event is to have a pure secular and scientific session,“ said Prakash Javdekar, the Union environment minister, who inaugurated the session.“Ancient Indian scientific theory, without much tools and machines, was based on observation, logic and that wisdom has relevance today,“ tronomy, it was ancient India that discovered that earth moves around the sun,“ said Dr SB Nimse, vice chancellor, Lucknow University, and an organiser of the event.
The session also focused on topics like engineering applications of ancient Indian botany, scientific principles of ancient Indian architecture and civil engineering, ancient Indian aviation technology and advances in surgery in ancient India.
Dr AS Nene, retired professor of civil engineering from VNIT College Nagpur, spoke about how a herbal paste prepared by grinding eleven types of seeds or roots in cow's urine, when applied to a person's feet helps in locating underground water. He, however, cautioned that the experiment couldn't be proven because of lack of availability of certain ingredients.
Captain Anand J Bodas, who had created a stir a few days before with his theory on ancient aviation technology, was undeterred by criticism and urged young Indians to explore the writings of sage Maharishi Bhardwaja.“In 21st century, we all should study and spread achievements of sages,“ Bodos said.“In ancient times, exhaust wipes were made of clothes and animal skin, which made it easier to wipe, we all should study that technique and manufacture such equipments for airplanes“ he said.
Reacting to criticism about mixing of science and mythology , Dr Gauri Mahulikar, head of Mumbai University's Sanskrit department, who put together this event, said that one should not form opinions without analysing, debating and justifying truths. “Debate has been integral part of our education,“ Mahulikar said.
“Sanskritists and scientists should come together for such interdisciplinary innovative projects. I would propose to all government bodies to incorporate primary introductory process of ancient Indian sciences in their science syllabi,“ she suggested.
This session on ancient Indian Sciences had created much furore in the last couple of weeks, with over 100 scientists rubbishing the idea as pseudo science. NASA scientist Ram Prasad Gandhiraman started a petition which asked the ISC not to give a platform for such ideas.
“The objective of this event is to have a pure secular and scientific session,“ said Prakash Javdekar, the Union environment minister, who inaugurated the session.“Ancient Indian scientific theory, without much tools and machines, was based on observation, logic and that wisdom has relevance today,“ tronomy, it was ancient India that discovered that earth moves around the sun,“ said Dr SB Nimse, vice chancellor, Lucknow University, and an organiser of the event.
The session also focused on topics like engineering applications of ancient Indian botany, scientific principles of ancient Indian architecture and civil engineering, ancient Indian aviation technology and advances in surgery in ancient India.
Dr AS Nene, retired professor of civil engineering from VNIT College Nagpur, spoke about how a herbal paste prepared by grinding eleven types of seeds or roots in cow's urine, when applied to a person's feet helps in locating underground water. He, however, cautioned that the experiment couldn't be proven because of lack of availability of certain ingredients.
Captain Anand J Bodas, who had created a stir a few days before with his theory on ancient aviation technology, was undeterred by criticism and urged young Indians to explore the writings of sage Maharishi Bhardwaja.“In 21st century, we all should study and spread achievements of sages,“ Bodos said.“In ancient times, exhaust wipes were made of clothes and animal skin, which made it easier to wipe, we all should study that technique and manufacture such equipments for airplanes“ he said.
Reacting to criticism about mixing of science and mythology , Dr Gauri Mahulikar, head of Mumbai University's Sanskrit department, who put together this event, said that one should not form opinions without analysing, debating and justifying truths. “Debate has been integral part of our education,“ Mahulikar said.
“Sanskritists and scientists should come together for such interdisciplinary innovative projects. I would propose to all government bodies to incorporate primary introductory process of ancient Indian sciences in their science syllabi,“ she suggested.
This session on ancient Indian Sciences had created much furore in the last couple of weeks, with over 100 scientists rubbishing the idea as pseudo science. NASA scientist Ram Prasad Gandhiraman started a petition which asked the ISC not to give a platform for such ideas.
