'Kauravas were test-tube babies' comment gets slammed by science body
What's the story
Andhra Pradesh University Vice-Chancellor G Nageshwar Rao's statement at Indian Science Congress, where he said the Kauravas of Mahabharata were test-tube babies, has drawn criticism from Breakthrough Science Society. The body committed to propagating science in a statement opined it was wrong to mix mythology and science. The ISC event is underway at Lovely Professional University in Jalandhar, Punjab. Here's what went down.
Context
Backstory: Rao had an explanation for all things scientific
Rao's statements on science gained attention. He claimed ashtra and shashtra used by Lord Ram and the sudarshan chakra of Lord Vishnu returned to them after hitting the target. This showed guided missiles were a thing thousands of years ago. He also said demon king Ravana had several airports and that stem cell research made it possible for Gandhari to give birth to Kauravas.
Statement
Such statements don't help science, says body
Breakthrough Science Society said such statements discredited the works of great scientists and should be avoided. "Puranic verses and epics are poetic, enjoyable, contain moral elements and rich in imagination, but not scientifically constructed or validated theories. [They are] chauvinistic claims about ancient India," the statement read. That the audience constituted of teachers and young students made the statements more problematic, the body noted.
Details
Body reminds what ISC's presidents stood for
The organization reminded previous presidents of ISC, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray (1920), Sir Ram Nath Chopra (1948) and P Parija (1960), saw science in an 'objective and educative' manner while crediting acknowledgment of science in ancient India. "It is important to note that no technological accomplishment can be made without the relevant scientific theoretical foundation," the statement added.
Quote
Body says there's no evidence to support guided missiles' existence
"Building of a guided missile requires electricity, metallurgy, mechanics, projectile motion, radars, optics, motion sensors, wireless communication and there is no evidence for the existence of these underlying pillars of scientific knowledge in ancient India," the statement read.
Incidents
Such blunders are not new to ISC events
The organization drew attention to fact that this blunder isn't a first. At an ISC event in 2015, claims were made that aircraft existed in ancient India. In 2016 in Mysore, it was said Lord Shiva was the first environmentalist. The ISC still hasn't learned, the body claimed. "It is time the scientific community speaks up again and in a stronger voice," the organization added.