The histrionics of Manoj Kumar, along with the dulcet tones of singer Mahendra Kapoor passionately informed us how “देता ना दशमलव भारत तो/यूँ चाँद पे जाना मुश्किल था” in a film song made nearly 50 years ago. To be sure the invention of zero in ancient India made future scientific and mathematical advancements possible; which would otherwise have been difficult. However in recent times, Indian leaders seem anxious to ascribe various inventions and discoveries to ancient Indians; based purely on conjecture – including gravity now!
The Rajasthan Education Minister Vasudev Devnani had some exciting news to share at an event at Rajasthan University recently; something few or no scientists or historians had any inkling of, hitherto. According to the minister, it was Brahmagupta II who propounded the theory of gravity about a thousand years before Issac Newton. He also wanted that this ‘fact’ be included in the curriculum.
The Sushruta Samhita is an ancient text on surgery and medicine acknowledged for the advanced effective procedures described in it. This is widely acknowledged by experts the world over. However our Prime Minister, as well as other, have claimed that we have more ‘evidence’ of plastic surgery: the divine myth of Lord Ganesh acquiring an elephant head is apparently proof of a ‘plastic surgeon’ who affixed an elephant’s head upon a human body.
The PM and others who subscribe to these views also believe that our ancient mythology provides ‘proof’ of stem cell procedures and genetic engineering. The story of the Kauravas’ birth and that of Karna’s immaculate conception are apparently evidence of such great medical advancements in ancient India.
Carrying forward the same theory of trying to explain ancient beliefs and myths by conflating these with modern realities, we are also presented ‘evidence’ of the ancients having harnessed nuclear power and inventing flying machines. Apparently, Ravan’s Puskpak Viman is evidence that ancient Indians had managed to fly. References to powerful weapons such as the Brahmastra in our epics is proof that nuclear energy had then been harnessed.
There is also now an unabashed rewriting of history to conform to a majoritarian agenda. Unwelcome historical facts that sit ill with the concept of Rajput valour and other glorious narratives are conveniently changed. There is enough evidence of the Mughal side having won the Battle of Haldighati in the 16th century; but of being unable to capture Maharana Pratap, who escaped. However, the Rajasthan Education Board has approved changes in the Class X history books that will reflect just the opposite: that it was Maharana Pratap and not Mughal King Akbar who won the historic battle.
Sometimes the pronouncements of those who subscribe to the right-wing agenda are so bizarre as to be utterly laughable. Earlier, Rajasthan Education Minister Vasudev Devnani had pronounced that the “cow is the only animal that exhales oxygen”. Justice Mahesh Chandra Sharma (coincidently also from Rajasthan) said that the “peacock is a Bramhachari and it does not have sex with a peahen. The peahen gets pregnant drinking the tears of the peacock”. The member of an organisation affiliated with the RSS also said that cow dung can absorb radiation – as ‘proof’ he produced his phone, the back of which was encrusted with dried dung.
Proponents of the view that India had this glorious, hugely advanced past feel that there must be some factual basis for the stories quoted by ancient epics. Ancient mythology the world over is replete with such stories: in Greek mythology, Athena sprang from Zeus’s head fully armed, Hera kept restoring her virginity, Apollo turned into a Dolphin and steered a ship to safety. Ancient Egyptian myth also depicts a number of part human, part animal personages, many with some extremely strange abilities. This does not mean that we equate myth with actual occurrences.
Those wishing to rewrite history feel that they are entitled to do so based on the popular sentiment of the majority. They feel that history can somehow be altered to uphold some erroneous, antiquated notions of caste and valour. Instead of harking back to a probably (or probably nonexistent) glorious past, how about concentrating on creating a glorious, inclusive, realistic, progressive future?
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