How much of Nehru’s India will be undone by Modi and his cronies remains to be seen. A demoralised and broken Congress opposition means that they are here to stay for long.
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru would never have won a popularity contest in Pakistan quite simply because he did his best to oppose our country’s creation. But nowhere is he reviled more than in India’s current ruling circles and among those whose loyalty they command.
The accusations against Nehru are often breathtaking: that he was degenerate and dissolute; born in a brothel and eventually died of syphilis; impregnated a Catholic nun; claimed to be a Kashmiri Pandit but secretly ate onions; and from age 19 onwards would be drunk every day starting at 9 am. As with America’s alt-right which insists that Barack Obama is a closet Muslim, Hindutva activists allege that Nehru’s grandfather was Ghayas-uddin Ghazi, a Muslim kotwal serving the Mughal court.
If only anonymous internet nutters were making such attacks, they wouldn’t matter. But a concentrated attack by BJP-RSS sarsangchalaks is leading to the steady purge of Nehru from India’s history books. Betwa Sharma reported in 2016 that students of Class VIII in BJP-ruled Rajasthan are no longer learning that Nehru was India’s first prime minister or that Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist, assassinated Mahatma Gandhi. Nehru’s iconic tryst-with-destiny speech has already been removed from school syllabi and textbooks in some states, reminding one of how Jinnah’s famous Aug 11, 1947, speech was ‘disappeared’ in the Ziaul Haq era.
This campaign of personal vilification against Nehru is, in fact, a proxy war against the concept of India as a secular entity. Of course, here in Pakistan we never for a moment believed Nehru when he declared India’s intent to become a pluralistic, liberal, syncretic state whose strength would lie in diversity. For us, all these were just fine words justifying Hindu majoritarianism under the cloak of democracy. Only now that the BJP controls India with a viciously communal agenda have some Pakistanis realised what loss of secularism — even imperfect secularism — actually means.
But irrespective of what Muslims and Pakistanis may have thought in the past, or perhaps still think, the RSS always took Nehru at his word. It both feared and hated him for it. In particular, it has never forgiven him for banning the RSS after Gandhi’s murder and for fiercely opposing a Hindu rashtra (state). One Hindutva activist wistfully writes that had Nehru handed over charge of India after Independence to the deserving sanghis, India would have “attained ram rajya by now, with a hundred crore people chanting ‘hanuman chalisa’ a dozen times a day”.
Nevertheless, there are paradoxes and contradictions that Hindutva cannot escape as it seeks to banish Nehru. All Indians, including right-wingers, take great pride in their country’s scientific achievements. But imagine for a moment that Narendra Modi, not Jawaharlal Nehru, had been India’s prime minister in 1947. What might have today’s India looked like in scientific terms?
Instead of being noted for its exceptional space programme (Mangalyaan!) and brilliant string theorists (Ashoke Sen!), India would have become a garbage dump for every kind of crackpot science. Medical research would have concentrated on medicines made from cow urine and cow dung, the celibacy of peacocks would be under intense scrutiny, astrology would be taught in place of astronomy, and instead of teaching actual mathematics there would be Vedic mathematics. As in Pakistan, Darwinian evolution would be considered heretical and destructive of religious faith.
Nehru’s stamp upon Indian science can be seen across the length and breadth of India in the form of dozens of scientific institutes and universities that owe to him. India is probably the world’s only country whose constitution explicitly declares commitment to the “scientific temper” — a quintessential Nehruvian notion formulated during his years in prison. Briefly: only reason and science, not holy scriptures, provide us reliable knowledge of the physical world.
I was able to see the huge difference that Nehru had made to his country while on a speaking tour in 2005 before audiences in about 40 Indian schools, colleges, and universities in seven cities. Without Nehru there could never have been the huge and palpable mass enthusiasm for science. This was manifested in the many science museums within a single city, and countless scientific societies working to spread understanding of basic science among ordinary Indians. I do not know how much of this has changed under Hindutva. But most definitely not even a fraction of such enthusiasm was visible then, or can be seen now, in Pakistan.
Nehru must also be credited with keeping a lid on his generals. In a democracy the army should be subordinate and answerable to civilian authority, not the other way around. And so, immediately after Partition, Nehru ordered the grand residence of the army chief to be vacated and instead assigned to the prime minister. This move carried huge symbolism — it said clearly who was boss.
When Ayub Khan’s coup across the border happened in 1958, it led to rules that further diminished the role of the Indian army in national affairs. Gen Cariappa, who had retired but praised the coup, was told to shut up. Officers, serving or retired, were strongly discouraged from commenting on matters related to public affairs and economics — and particularly their pensions and retirement benefits. There was no concept of army owned enterprises and businesses.
All this could now be changing. Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat, known for his bellicosity, has broken with the army’s tradition by freely commenting on many foreign policy matters — the Rohingya refugee problem, how India should deal with the Doklam crisis with China, and the need to call “Pakistan’s nuclear bluff”. Time will tell whether Rawat is an exception or, instead, the new rule characterising an interventionist army. Ominously for Indian democracy, criticising the army chief is being described by its media as anti-national.
How much of Nehru’s India will be undone by Modi and his cronies remains to be seen. A demoralised and broken Congress opposition means that they are here to stay for long.
Meanwhile, it is becoming easier by the day for Pakistan to recognise its mirror reflection across the border.
The writer teaches physics in Lahore and Islamabad
This article was originally published in Dawn. You can read the original article here.
This article is wastage of time and shows how saleable the print media is nowadays.
Whether it is nehru or modi the fact remains that even on advanced america there exists a creationism school of thought headed by senators and respectable folks
So such things will be there always
But they are not mainstream and their bullshit does not appear in school curricula.
That shows how little you know about America. School textbooks in the US have repeatedly downplayed evolution and given space to creationism. It is mainstream since the majority of the public in America doesn’t believe in evolution.
lol, funny how pakis suddenly have developed a soft spot of the indian left wing. get a life and concentrate on your own problems.
Spooning has no limit. Such writers tdon’t hesitate to criticize their ancestors for getting some petty from present.
Look who is speaking about secularism. A citizen of a country which prides in terrorism and a country where only one religion people are kept alive.
Pakistan and India are mirror images of each other. … in terms of citizens and their conducts.
And it’s perspective. Even God’s are liked and disliked and fought upon based on different religion. It’s what all religious fanatics do. Divide and praise!!!
Well said Shreyas Kulkarni
Suddenly the Pakistanis have developed an interest in the welfare India
They want to create a fear factor in the Indians and it’s a shame that Indian political parties are siding with the enemy to destroy the country from within
It’s ok to oppose govt policies and have an healthy opposition within but to join hands with Pakistani politicians is appalling
Pakistan will never wish good for India and will never stop exporting terrorism
They are a completely failed state with no sense of decency and propriety
Death of pluralism in India? Seriously? The best question to ask yourself in Pakistan, my dear learned author, is “Where are your minorities?”
Pakistanis are so concerned for the survival of India’s democracy and Nehruvian ideals, it’s touching ! I never knew they were such large-hearted, secular and liberal people !
No Indian would fall for this crap but yes there are many who will appear to “agree” with this paki lecturer cos it suits their low-down agendas.
Anyone who feels any Pakistani has India’s interests at heart needs to get his head examined !
LOL such desperation is really laughable.
*this article just made me take The Print off my list of sensible writers
A Pakistani giving Indians advise about “what we owe to Nehru” ??? Lol
Now we know who Nehrus real supporters are – people across the border and their agents in India.
This “Resurect Nehru” campaign based on some vague fantastic claims of his scientific temper and secular credentials didn’t prevent him from endorsimg homeopathy and watching the slaughter of 1.2 million Indians during partition because of his and Jinnahs back room deals.
The Last sentence of the article sums up its essence.
A desire to see India as what author’s country has become, ain’t happening Sir.
The comparison should have been Jinnah versus Nehru, bringing Modi into context it a sign of how much he dominates everyone’s mind. #burnolfraternity
Yes, the comparison is between Nehru and Jinnah and whether things might have been different for Pakistan should Jinnah have lived as long as Nehru. However, it is clear that Jinnah in his later years pandered to Muslim fundamentalism. Leading Muslim intellectuals, including Jinnah and Taseer, supported fundamentalist assassins – something that their Hindu counterparts, including Sardar Patel, never did. Pakistan’s trajectory was clear even before independence because it was built on an exclusionary creed. Hoodbhoy’s attempt at revisionism is more to do with sour grapes. The fact that he has survived in that radicalized society where critics have been routinely assassinated, harmed, or erased (Abdus Salam) suggests that he provides a useful service to the military leadership of this rogue state.
Fool work. Rubbish article.
This is the worst ever article and I tried to read it but hardly sit through. Writer has leveled all kind of nonsensical allegations that he may have read and heard about Nehru in his school or from his nationals. There may be few who have said so many untrue things about Nehru but never in history I’ve read such ridiculous things about JL Nehru that this so called journalist/writer wrote here.
You can’t take a few idiots view ( even if I assume someone had said such things) and make sweeping generalizations and paint a section with such view.
You Mr need to rethink and first go and talk to people on ground how they perceive their first Prime Minister.
In a democracy a handful of people misuse the freedom that they enjoy but that is part and parcel but you’ve understood if you had democracy in your failed state that you still call a country.
Seriously,Get a Life please.We all know what would have happened had someone else been the PM.Atleast J&K would have been completely in India
It is Modi who brought a movement called as Digital India, it is Modi who brought Make in India, it is also Modi who thought of clean India and providing LPG to poor women. Modi’s foreign policy and economic policy has made India superpower within 4 years. This is same Modi, who has taught Pakistan a lesson of life. This is same Modi who brought Gujarati on the Map of World for economic growth.
The author of this article forgets, the word secular was coined by Indira Gandhi and because of which Christian and Muslim appeasement in India had reached to the peaks. India can remain a pluralistic society only if It remains a Hindu majority country. Muslim culture teaches rape, murder and l9t whereas Hindu religion teaches World is a Big Family. Pakistan also wanted to be a pluostic country, but what has happened after70 years, it has killed, driven out or murdered Hindus and Christians in their country. India still being Hindu majority country, Muslims and Christians have prospered in India.
On religious front, Hinduism is the most scientific religion. Uses of cow have been recognised worldwide, whereas Pakistan used cow for eating.The author seems to be a crackpot having only a jihadi agenda. If such professors teach in Pak, no wonder it produces only Terrorists.
The article is laughable really – Modi is one of the most data driven PM’s we have had. Modi would have ensured universal education and also self belief and can do attitude to do great science. Democracy nourished us with new ideas (bad and good) that we sifted through them as people. Pakistan still believes that its fate was decided in 1947. We don’t.
Pakistanis seen to have a lot of interesr these days in what Modi does, what he eats, what he says, how he is a threat and so on. Suddenly they seem to have developed a soft spot for indian democracy and are losing their sleep over India losing its democracy or nehruvian values, their own nation being in absolute tatters notwithstanding. They seem to think indians are naive enough to pay attention to these crocodile tears.
On the contrary, if anything, all this noise (from across the border, as well as within) actually leads us indians to see a lot of value in Modi. So a piece of advice for you and your types: the more attention you shower on Modi, dearer he becomes to us. Stick to teaching physics. Your political comments are not subtle enough to hide your rear intentions.
And by the way, I was in splits after reading Pakistan sees India as it’s mirror reflection. How long are you guys going to keep deceiving yourselves? We are not equals. You know it deep within, so now accept it and move on. Rather than being so obsessed with India, set things right in your democracy. If there exists any vestige of it, that is.
modi unfortunately does not have a scientific mind. well intentioned but mis guided
This article should have never been published and certainly not good enough to be republish for Indian readers.
The critic I can say is comparing 4 years of Modi to decades of Nehru (+so called Gandhis but not actually related to Mahatma Gandhi at all) which is really not enough time given to Modi.
Another point why should a Pakistani’s point of view in this matters.
I agree. Writer is trying to scream so loudly and in order to take shots at Modi he gone on insulting Nehru too.
He could never in his 50 lifetimes can write half of this about his army chief and here he is teaching us civility.
Writer is trying to scream so loudly and in order to take shots at Modi he gone on insulting Nehru too.
He could never in his 50 lifetimes can write half of this about his army chief and here he is teaching us civility.
Pervez Amirali Hoodbhoy, please have a look at your country right now, it cannot even afford a begging bowl. China is treating Pakistan like their future parking space for their cars in mainland China, let alone the US.
Nobel laureate C.V. Raman himself hated Nehru for his stance about science and technology…. So u expect Nehru to be the one responsible for Mangalayaan….It’s neither Nehru nor Modi that ushered Science in India…it’s we the people of India…Stop making it political….
You are idiots
Hey Nehru haters beware enough is enough. Nehru was greatest asset for India and architect of India’s progress, does anyone know the economic growth of india during Nehru’s time was 4.8percent. He was a kashmiri Brahmin ,of Raj kaul family. To distort his ancestral history is the meanest act on part of his detractors.. It is not question of eating onions or patties, he was a democrat par excellence and believed in the oneness of india keeping religious bigotry at bay. In Gandhi’s terms ” Jawahar is jewel of india “.
It is to his credit that Kashmir with 96%population of Muslims (refer to census of 1944)became part of India ,Sardar Patel was bargaining Kashmir for Hyderabad and Juna Gargh . He was instrumental for putting India on the map of world.
The attempt to belittle him by Modiji and his cronies cannot change the achievements of the progress of India under his premiership. The world is laughing on us for demeaning a great leader like Nehru.
Agree with Hoodbhoy – see the crap that team Modi’s boys are talking – Satpal Singh, Harsh Vardhan, Tripura CM – even PM himself ( Ganeshji is example of plastic surgery! Utter unscientific nonsense) – Modern science started around 300 years ago with Galileo – to make these nonsense claims of internet and flying machines and atomic energy and astrophysics in our Sanskrit heritage is to mock those real geniuses Ancient India produced. It also shows an inferiority complex to show your own culture in good light using easily disprovable lies – while many excellent history departments are there in the country’s many Arts universities – to force Nehru’s IITs to study bullshit Sanskrit tech is a complete waste of the nation’s resources
For those ignorant trolls cursing Hoodbhoy – do note he is a rationalist and scientist who has called out the powers that be in Pakistan many times
Why write so long
Answer only one Question
Where all Hindus gone from Pakistan Bangladesh And All Minority from Islamic Countries.
In India Pakistan Bangladesh All Hindus are converted in the same way as Hindus are converted in Pakistan Bangladesh in last 70 Years.
The Writer himself is also victim of his own Religion.
Nobody Speaks about this Truth.
Writer is trying to scream so loudly and in order to take shots at Modi he gone on insulting Nehru too.
He could never in his 50 lifetimes can write half of this about his army chief and here he is teaching us civility.
Poor stuff.Pedestrian.I wonder why Print reprinted it.
Why U hv a comment box here when U have no guts to post my factual comment in the morning
At first, I couldn’t understand how print.in , a reputed site carried such an ignorant post. later i found out the author and also the statement that the article was originally published in the Dawn, a leading pakistani news site. and the entire agenda behind the post became clear. How much modi is giving a hard time to the pakis and the chinese is evident from such desperate attempts which seem to be caring for us soo very much… lol
Now I’ve posted two comments that denigrate the writer hoodboy who is obviously a pet of the dynasty. Let’s see if any are actually posted on this site which I presume is for freedom of press and freedom of expression, and not just a congie sponsored fraud site! Which I suspect it is!
Hoodboy is just one of many pets of the dynasty and as such is expected to be ignorant!
It seems this site protests against comments that disagree with its presstitutes who seem to be loyal pets of the dynasty! Else they would have let my comment appear which said HOODBHOY is ignoorant of the destruction Nehru brought to the country. With a PM like Modi we wouldn’t still be beggars but equal to China or even surpassed China!
This presstitute obviously has no idea of what destruction Nehru has brought to India but I guess hired pets of the dynasty are chosen for their blindness or ignorance!
Its nice to see Islamabad so impressed with Modi…. And so enamoured with Nehru….
I noticed one vital point . Yes , the present Generals of all three forces do open their tight lips and say things that are relevant to topics. Nehru did not want a strong Army Power. He saw the neighbour chief in a total military uniform and military control , attending the parliament! He worried he also would have to don a similar dress if wanted to remain in power! Then his great dream to make his daughter the next PM would be rendered futile.
Not that BJP was / is the right ruler for this country . Very less Modi as the PM. It is because of Modi and his qualifications in general knowledge of administration , the Army chief is taking initiative to keep up the tradition of this country during Independence Day and Rday . The last PM MMSingh was highly vocal and knowledgeable like Nehru. He has read the Ecomomics and History of this country in and out. He knew where the dents were in the economy. Our present 10thclass genius cannot even know the connection between growth and population. He knows the colour and texture of rupee notes. Of course we use crisp notes now.
Good job guys well done. You are a true secular Indian. Well done again to ur skills of using someone else’s article to portray your views. You are using the “freedom of speech” expression to the fullest. When the whole world is looking towards India you looking towards a nation who cannot even stand on its own. You are giving importance to the view of such a country who is trying to kill its own citizens or converting them to terrorist. You are giving importance to the view of such a country which has not grown economically since independence. If you cannot fight face to face then please don’t even try proxy war.
“Whole world is looking towards India”
Care to substantiate your ludicrous claim with a few examples of countries that do do ? Perhaps you missed the protests that PM Modi faced in London recently? Or the questions that NRIs have to answer about rapes, lynchings, sale of cow urine as health drink, the gang rape of an 8 year old girl. Not to speak of Internet and Satellite rants of the BJP yokel in Tripura ..
Clearly, the jingoism of bhakths like you knows no bounds
Don’t you have no other job to do.
And talking of cow urine, it definitely has not as wide applications as it is touted to have, and you’re right on condemning and dismissing it as pseudo science. Where you have gone wrong is, when you also try to mock it, and absolve it of any of it’s benefits whatsoever, which entails it’s you who really needs to read a bit.
Next up, rapes are always disgraceful, and it pains me to say that there was also a rape case in UP a couple years ago, that seculars like you ignored.
Numerous cases around the country, that you’ve repeatedly ignored, in order only to highlight one particular case, because you’ve got nothing else to protest about. I don’t stand by that priest, Pandit, or whatever, but it is hypocritical of you to not stand for other rape victims. Get a life,read a bit more,respect your opponent’s opinion,and learn something about dignified debate. You really want to debate about science,why not make it sound sane.
7488291328 is my number if you want to take it on,and even though I support this government, my allegiance is not undying.
Stupid article by equally stupid paki..
Your disrespectful, disgraceful and abusive response, devoid of any reasoning or counter-argument hurts India’s image a tad doesn’t it Ms Manisha?
Stupid comment from equally stupid bhakt.
There is no doubt that there were certain positive contributions by Nehru which ascertained the direction of India’s growth, lots of Indians dislike him for the enormous problems he created and left behind for the country which may not be solved even in another hundred years. While this article is well written, the writer’s conclusion that if Modi was the PM during 1947 India would have been a dump of crackpot sciences is not only incorrect but also indicates his prejudiced and skewed feelings. For one thing, all should know that India has become a scientific power not because of Nehru but because of many great scientists like Homi Bhabha, C V Raman, Vishweshwaraia and others under a blossoming political system of democracy. And Indian Generals never even thought of usurping power like Pak Generals not because of Nehru but because of the cultural background in which they grew up which was lacking with men like Zia.
So cultural background is what determines whether the army generals usurp power ? That is a bloody novel theory mate !
Sir,u have tried a lot to put forth your understanding and ideas about Nehruvian & Modi brand ideas..but due to the lack of deep and mind-immersing knowledge of India,Indianness,Hindutva,Vedas n science oriented treasury of Vedas ..u have failed to appropriately compare both the ideas.
One more thing is that Vedas dont contain any ambiguous non scientific fact..Vedas always gives us the room of thinking freely and logically. Anyone who wish to comment over the Vedas ,first be possessed with the deep n fair understanding of Vaidic Sanskrit’s Grammar ..then only he will be entitled to make any comment on its content and the meaning of the same.
Second thing is that Modi’s conviction is not entirely RSS’s conviction( though he has emerged out of RSS), and so far everything is going on in a right way in India except a few exceptions,this is why N.Modi is still on the top as far as popularity of any politician is concerned.
Another thing that had Modi/Modi-RSS mindset been the P.M in 1947 instead of Nehru, India wont have achieved so much scientific advancement is merely a day-dreaming,bcz Modi himself is a technique n science loving person.
Did the Vedic period have satellites and Internet as one of your fellow travellers from Tripura has claimed?
Tumor infused brain dead Retard spotted.
Sir,
You have every right to compare Nehru to Pakistani leaders and preach for Pakistan. Leave it at that. Sitting in Pakistan, you may not understand our ground realities. To start with encourage birth control in Pakistan
I still fall to see any reasonable counter-argument in your post – merely a puerile attack on the author’s nationality.
Look around, how demographic changes are happening because of non uniform practicing of family planning.
May be one step backward for two step forward! May be to appreciate Nehru and his legacy, we needed a clearer heart, not the convoluted and hypocritical indian intellectuals generally are. I am sure Nehru would not have approved what is done in his name today. Another thing is to respect and realise the value the first boy in the class – the British – brought to India, long since a dead civilization. Mohammad Abdus Salam, the greatest physicist from the Indian subcontinent, is not a product of Jinnah or Nehru, but a tradition cultivated by the first boy. May be, a continuation for another 100 years of their rule could have cemented “scientific temper” deep in our stupid head.
Your article reeks of ignorance. You should stick to teaching physics.
I disagree.
The author makes quite a few valid observations and indeed laments the fact that Pakistan did not have a man of Nehru’s stature and vision. But was instead cursed with a militarised mullacracy that has given it a downward trajectory.
Suggest you stick to your shakha and its silly calisthenics. Or did you belong to the Bajrang Dal ?
Your comment reeks of ignorance. You should stick to posting comments when paid by BJP IT Cell. Oh wait…
You are replying to each criticism and accusing others of paid comment. LOL.
Suresh and Kumar needlessly resort to ad hominem political attacks.
Had Nehru’s promoting ‘Dynasty’ wud hv been not there, the democracy wud have been matured in India ! The hollowness our democracy is his contribution ! He is a western Plant planted in Indian soil. He first killed his mentor Mahatma Gandhi’ s all teaching. The death of Subhas Bose, Gandhiji n Pateljiade him uncrowed Maharaja ( King) of India. He blindly followed Westminster system which is mother of all corruption ! Never in the history, in changes of power follow the old system of governance, but Nehru followed British system with dott n commas ! His Jammu Kashmir formulae is the greatestblunder of all. It isnthe ORIGINAL SIN which the Nehru-Gandhi have paid back by shedding their blood twice ! Indians can not forgive him for in investing disappearance of Netaji Subhas just after assuming power, rather he help to destroy Netaji’s crucial files. Regarding progress of Science n Technology in.India is a natural phenomenon in post ‘Industrial Revolution’ days when India wins freedom. After Atlee’s sayings in Raj Bhavan, WB ie to Phani Bhusan Chakravarty , the then acting Governor n Chief Justice of Calcutta High court that there was no effect of Gandhi’s Non-operation Movement in 1946-47. It is due to disappearekce of Netaji (Death of Netaji), failure of Lalkilla trials, death of Bhagat Singh n his friends mutiny in navy ocurred in Bolbay, Madras, Vizak n Calcutta, the British force to give us independence ! Atlee also says Netaji is the real liberator of India. Unfortunately Nehruji distorated true history of independence n wrote his own
‘his-story’ in the name of history !
If India had a Mount Rushmore, Pandit Nehru’s aristocratic visage and profile would have been the first to be etched on it. Others must work hard and with vision to claim an equal honour.
Considering the number of public institutions, building, spaces, and avenues that are named after Nehru and his progeny, one doesn’t need a Mount Rushmore to promote the dynasty.
Compare the ages and ideology. Modi would still have need better than RAGA and Kejriwals at that time too.
Better at turning India to Pakistan, yeah sure. The article says the same thing.
It’s biased report it’s totally shit
Anything that doesn’t conform to your twisted BJP biased world view is totally shit.
Well said !
This article is a big BS and so is your understanding of World affairs!
You liked the article, that’s a story different altogether…
Any Tom, Dick and Harry would like to read an article that defames the current Governmental setup
So you like it! Enjoy
By the way; the DICK in tom, dick and harry is you Mr. Desouza
I am damn sure you are a fast follower of Mr john ‘the junk’ Dayal
So, grab a bowl and start begging with minority agenda….
Barack Hussein Obama is a closet Muslim. What is commonly called a crypto-Muslim. Read more about him and you will realize that this has nothing to do with America’s “crazy right”.
Otherwise, the article is well written and fairly factual. Kudos !!
That is just ALT Right propaganda Carlos. There is no proof.
I remember, when I was a child (45 years ago), my educated father in some odd casual family discussions (during festival visits) with his equally educated siblings had these arguments about the possibility of existence of science and high tech in ancient India’s Aryan civilisation. There was a general consensus that perhaps hi tech did exist (Sanjay, Garuda, Astras).
What was then a casual talk in awe of the scriptures is now becoming mainstream, institutionalised and official.
And unproven …
Unproven is irrelevant in the larger scheme of things. In the West the lay public largely believes in astrology, aliens, and Biblical miracles, but what really matters is that the scientific establishment nearly unanimously disregards these notions. Even staunchly Christian scientists like the NIH Director are able to reconcile their non-scientific faith with evolution. The same is true in India, but not so in Pakistan. Belief in ancient science does not negate scientific progress today unless leading Indian scientists were to emulate their Pakistani counterparts in believing that djinns could be harnessed for energy. There is no evidence for this level of incredulity in Indian science. At the worst there is government sponsored funding of fringe science in India, but this is in addition to funding regular science. In the West, there is in fact active government funding to downplay the science of climate change or to undermine evolution in textbooks or to undermine abortions regardless of women’s health. Marxist group-thought led to Lysenko and other setbacks in the Soviet Union. None of these anti-science positions are being pushed by the current Indian government, which is why Hoodbhoy’s revisionist assessment of Indian science and politics can be dismissed. On the other hand, Nehru’s affinity for socialism, and his heirs pandering to these failed policies, clearly set back India’s economic growth by nearly half century.
This one is a difficult read as it swings from being evidence based to plain opinions and perceptions in a matter of lines. One wonders when you can publish such rubbishy articles with absolute freedom why the big fuss about freedom of speech.. funnily enough freedom of speech and channel offered to voices from a state blatantly aggressive towards India!
Wish Nehru would have been Pakistan PM and sardar Patel Indian PM we would have been top 5 world powers by now, a Pakistani journalist praising Nehru and Indian media printing it also seems an ANTI BJP positioning to me
The first line of this comment is PRAISEWORTHY. How I hope it would have been true!
Wow you well full ret*rd. Not surprising from a bra!ndead Sanghi.
Vikramjit, one thing your fertile imagination cant change is the time a mortal has on this planet. Sardar Patel was a great man, a great Indian but even if he was our first PM, he would still have passed away in 1950, three years after independence. Basically, your prediction is imaginary.