The minister was reportedly speaking at an event organised by an RSS-affiliate body at IGNOU campus.
Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' on Sunday claimed that ancient Indian scriptures contain vast scientific knowledge and the concepts of gravity, atoms were first invented in India.
The union minister said that Sanskrit is the only scientific language as he lashed out at those who criticise him for making such claims.
He was addressing an event in Delhi on Saturday when he made the remarks. The minister was reportedly speaking at Gyanotsav, an event organised by RSS-affiliate Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas, at IGNOU campus.
Here are some claims made by Nishank in his address:
1. 'Indian sage Kanada introduced atomic theory'
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"Some people feel pain in their stomach when we say that sage Kanada introduced the theory of the atom. They question me because they are not aware of the ancient Indian knowledge," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
2. Those who unaware of ancient Indian knowledge question me: Nishank
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Nishank said some people criticise him as they are not able to digest his highlights about ancient Indian inventions and knowledge.
He said that some people do not have faith in the ancient Indian knowledge because the country committed the mistake of not undertaking research.
"The only mistake that we committed is that we did not undertake research. Ask American scientists - where did they find formulae (of their inventions)? They will admit that they found it in Indian texts," he said.
3. 'Ram Setu example of our capabilities in engineering'
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He said the Ram Setu in Rameshwaram is a fine example of "our capabilities in engineering during ancient times."
4. 'Indian scriptures mentioned gravity before Newton'
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According to a report in The Print, he said Indian scriptures mentioned the concept of gravity long before Isaac Newton proposed his theory.
“We need to prove that all that we keep talking about like Charaka, Aryabhata, they all existed and that our scriptures mentioned the concept of gravity much before Newton discovered it,” he said.
5. 'NITs, IITs shouls undertake researchs to prive Sanskrit is most scientific language'
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At the event, which was also attended by the directors and chairmen of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and National Institutes of Technology (NITs), the minister asked the top institutes to undertake research to prove that Sanskrit is the “most scientific language" and also the “most appropriate language” for talking computers - if they become a reality in the future.
"We are questioned only because we are unable to prove Sanskrit's ability. I want to request the Vice-Chancellors and Chancellors of IITs and NITs that we should prove this," the minister was quoted as saying by IANS.
