Hindus were trail-blazers: RSS

NEW DELHI, DEC. 31. Didn't you always believe that Newton discovered the force of gravity, Columbus discovered America and the famous Pythagoras theorem was formulated by Pythagoras? You were in the wrong if you did so, according to a booklet distributed by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh during its recent nationwide awareness campaign which has challenged several established facts of general knowledge.

The booklet, titled ``Garv se kaho hum Hindu hain'' (say with pride we are Hindus), says that Indian astronomers, Aryabhatta and Bhaskaracharya, who existed 1,000 and 500 years before Newton, were quite familiar with gravitational force. Similarly, before Columbus reached America, Indians had already landed there, the booklet says adding that the specimen of Indian art found in the temples of the Aztecs were ample proof in this regard.

The RSS gives credit to Bodhayan for defining in the sixth century, the geometrical principle, later presented to the world by the Greek philosopher Pythagoras and known as the Pythagoras theorem.

The organisation also discounts the story of discovery of electrical force by Benjamin Franklin while flying a kite, saying electricity, magnetism, sound and ether were all well-defined in the vedic times. Even the concept of nuclear fusion was known in those times, it says. The booklet also claims that Hindus invented the number as well as the decimal system besides giving the concept of `shunya'(zero). Though Aryabhatta used `shunya' in the sixth century, the concept was known thousands of years before him in pre-vedic times, it adds.

In the field of medical science too, it speaks of astounding achievements of Hindus. Sushruta, who existed 2,600 years ago, was a pioneer in surgery.

He is credited with surgical operations such as cataract, caesarean delivery and even organ transplant. The ancient Hindu scriptures also provided deep knowledge of genetics, considered a modern science the world over, the booklet says.

According to the RSS, the naval transport system also started in the Indus for the first time some 6,000 years ago.

The words `navy' and `navigation' were derived from the Sanskrit words `Nau' and `Navgati' carrying similar meanings, it says.

In irrigation technology, the first dam-based water reservoir of the world was built in Saurashtra region of Gujarat, it claims adding that a beautiful artificial lake, named `Sudarshan' was also made on the Raivatak hill during the time of Chandragupta Maurya.

- UNI

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