From flight to birth: How India showed world the way to demystify science

By Devika Sharma

Since times immemorial, people have tried to address the missing link between modern technology and ancient mysticism. But rarely has anyone been able to explain the advanced concepts of engineering, astronomy, algebra, arithmetic, medicine, genetic technology and other scientific inventions mentioned in Sanskrit literature.

On December 17, 1903 the Wright brothers showed the world man can fly and the world was astound. But what about the description of flying machines called 'vimanas' mentioned in the Indian vedic literature.

According to a book written by sage Bhardwaj, titled "Vimana Prakaran" and translated in English by GS Josyer , ancient Hindus could navigate the air and not just navigate it but even fight battles. Now to be that perfect in the science of aeronautics, they must have undoubtedly known of all nitty gritties related to this technology including high end and rigid concepts like that of relative temperature, humidity, specific gravity of gases, also electricity, magnetism, heat etc.

India has had a treasure trove of high-tech warfare technology that even the mighty west does not possess till date. In our epics like Mahabharata there is mention of Agni baans (fire arrows), which can be compared to the missiles of today. We also have mention of the Brahmastra which is analogous to the modern day nuclear missiles. It is shocking to observe how even today, not all counties have been able to know the secret of nuclear technology when we had it millions of years ago.

The cloning of the first sheep in the world created a wave among science experts worldwide, causing them to think that this was a revolutionary advancement in their field. But cloning and test tube babies was something known to us since ages. Gandhari, in the Mahabharata aborted her baby and sage Vyasa took the flesh of the baby to put it in 101 pots thus leading to the birth of 101 children of Gandhari! What can be a better example of test tube baby technology in the history of mankind.

Sages could reach miles away in fraction of a second, this was way more advanced than teleportation, a concept that scientists are still trying to figure out completely. What other examples can be more instrumental and astounding in saying that our heritage was way more advanced than the so called "modern advancements in science and technology" present today.

There have been multiple theories and speculations about these issues but there is lack of concrete evidence to prove it, all beyond reasonable doubts. But it is important to remember that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. Along with expressing awe and admiration for the current advancements in science today it is vital to realize that there is a lot more to discover and present to the human kind. We must make all possible efforts to eradicate and unleash the truths of the universe from the great abyss of knowledge. If ancient Hindus did have these technologies then there is no way we cannot.