RSS’ JNU Mahotsav to discuss ‘Modern Science in Sanskrit Scriptures’
, ET Bureau|
Feb 20, 2018, 08.29 AM IST
NEW DELHI: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh will host a Sanskrit Mahotsav in Jawaharlal Nehru University’s convention hall, where 500 college students will discuss ‘how modern inventions in science, robotics and war strategies already exist in Sanskrit scriptures’.
The two-day event that will begin on Wednesday with recitation of shlokas, will also see a special exhibition ‘Sanskrit Vigyan Pardarshini’ to ‘show ancient Indians were miles ahead of the world in science, technology and medicine’ and ‘it is time for Indians to step out from the orbit of the West’. Divided in 29 categories, contributions of ancient Indians to astronomy, medicine, politics, botany, aeronautics, engineering, warfare, functions of the brain and manuscript wealth will be explained to students.
Officials at Samskrita Bharati, an RSS affiliate, said it was an attempt to “drill positivity in a university that is being spoiled by a few students.” The event will display the “knowledge buried in Vedas, Vedangas and Puranas, said Kaushal Kishor Tiwari of Samskrita Bharati. “These are positive aspects of our ancient culture which are beautifully documented in Sanskrit, which is the soul of the country. We want this to bring positive changes in the university that for many years had some people riding the anti-national line,” he said. The 59-page note of the event talks about how ‘Aryabhata demystified the eclipse eons ago, but stands eclipsed because of misplaced credits’ and that Indians invented several astronomical devices. Saint Sayanacharya’s findings on the speed of light is also discussed in the Rig Veda, also the origin of matter and types of magnets, such as dravakam, romakam, brahamakam, in the Puranas.
“That the sun is the source of all energy was well known in the Vedic period. Even the concept of Trinabchakaram, the elliptical movement of the planets. Both Suryasidhanta and Rig Veda discuss many features of the earth, including its circumference. These came to be known in the west several years later,” it said. Senior leaders of the RSS such as Manmohan Vaidya and Dattatreya Hosabale have earlier alleged that “urban Naxalism was prevalent in the university” and it was an “un-Indian,” university. Professors of the university such as Nivedita Menon have, however, said that the RSS was trying to ‘change the social and cultural ambience’ of universities.
The two-day event that will begin on Wednesday with recitation of shlokas, will also see a special exhibition ‘Sanskrit Vigyan Pardarshini’ to ‘show ancient Indians were miles ahead of the world in science, technology and medicine’ and ‘it is time for Indians to step out from the orbit of the West’. Divided in 29 categories, contributions of ancient Indians to astronomy, medicine, politics, botany, aeronautics, engineering, warfare, functions of the brain and manuscript wealth will be explained to students.
Officials at Samskrita Bharati, an RSS affiliate, said it was an attempt to “drill positivity in a university that is being spoiled by a few students.” The event will display the “knowledge buried in Vedas, Vedangas and Puranas, said Kaushal Kishor Tiwari of Samskrita Bharati. “These are positive aspects of our ancient culture which are beautifully documented in Sanskrit, which is the soul of the country. We want this to bring positive changes in the university that for many years had some people riding the anti-national line,” he said. The 59-page note of the event talks about how ‘Aryabhata demystified the eclipse eons ago, but stands eclipsed because of misplaced credits’ and that Indians invented several astronomical devices. Saint Sayanacharya’s findings on the speed of light is also discussed in the Rig Veda, also the origin of matter and types of magnets, such as dravakam, romakam, brahamakam, in the Puranas.
“That the sun is the source of all energy was well known in the Vedic period. Even the concept of Trinabchakaram, the elliptical movement of the planets. Both Suryasidhanta and Rig Veda discuss many features of the earth, including its circumference. These came to be known in the west several years later,” it said. Senior leaders of the RSS such as Manmohan Vaidya and Dattatreya Hosabale have earlier alleged that “urban Naxalism was prevalent in the university” and it was an “un-Indian,” university. Professors of the university such as Nivedita Menon have, however, said that the RSS was trying to ‘change the social and cultural ambience’ of universities.
