Only our self-reliance in the field of science will prove the resolve of a developed India.

India has been a country of sage tradition. The era is divided into four parts – Satyayuga, Tretayuga, Dwaparayuga and Kaliyuga. All these eras are known for their special techniques and technology. Science had already developed in ancient India by then. The people of ancient India had a deep interest in science. It is mentioned in the Upanishads that ancient Indian people were very eager to acquire knowledge. Why can’t air remain stable? Why does the human brain not rest? Why does water flow and in search of whom? The people of ancient India had a close relationship with philosophy. Philosophy is related to experience. The sages of ancient times gave birth to new inventions through their experiences. An example of this is the Pushpak Vimana of Tretayuga.

According to Rishi Valmiki’s Ramayana, the design and construction method of Pushpak Viman was created by Brahma Rishi Angira. The credit for the efficiency of Pushpak Viman and its construction goes to Lord Vishwakarma. After that Lord Vishwakarma handed over the Pushpak Vimana to Lord Brahma as a gift. After that Brahma gave this plane as a gift to Kuber. Ravana had forcefully taken away his golden city Lanka and Pushpak Viman from his younger brother Kuber. According to mythology, this plane used to move with the help of mantras. This aircraft was a type of spacecraft. It was made of gold metal. It could be operated unlimitedly at the speed of one’s mind. This aircraft could increase or decrease its size according to the number of passengers and the density of air. Modern Vimana appears insignificant compared to the power and capability of Pushpak Vimana. The electromagnetic effect of Pushpak Vimana was so powerful that if it were to fly today, systems like electricity and communication would collapse. Recently a 5000 year old plane has been found in the caves of Afghanistan.

It is claimed that this is Pushpak Vimana. Where it was found, the effect of electromagnetic wave was very strong due to which no person went near this vehicle and returned. According to mythology, Pushpak Vimana was surrounded by strange energy. Even in Sri Lanka, the Archeology Department has discovered Ravana’s golden Lanka and 50 places of Ramayana period have been identified. This proves that indigenous technology was very developed in Tretayuga. The modern airplane was invented by two American brothers (Wright Brothers) Orville and Wilbur on December 17, 1903. The history of India begins with the Indus Valley Civilization which we also know as the Harappan Civilization. This civilization spread in the western part of South Asia around 2500 AD, which is currently known as Pakistan and Western India. The Indus Valley Civilization was more advanced than the four largest ancient urban civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, India and China. In the year 1920, two ancient cities namely Harappa and Mohenjodaro were discovered from the remains obtained from the excavation of Indus Valley by the Archaeological Department of India. Harappan civilization was discovered by Dayaram Sahni in the year 1921. It is located on the banks of the Ravi River in Montgomery District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Sandstone sculptures of human bodies, granaries and bullock carts are important discoveries of the Harappan civilization. Mohenjo Daro which is also called the Mound of the Dead. It was discovered by Rakhaldas Banerjee in the year 1922. It is located on the banks of the Indus River in Larkana district of Punjab province of Pakistan. The huge bathhouse, granary, bronze statue of a dancer, seal of Pashupati Mahadev, stone statue of a bearded man and woven clothes are important discoveries of Mohenjodaro civilization. What this means is that ancient Indian sites are evidence of technologies like craftsmanship, building construction or architecture etc. In ancient India, all the technologies used to be indigenous. Indigenism can be promoted by using technology in items obtained from nature. The best example of this is Ayurveda. Ayurveda science was developed in the later Vedic period.

Ayurvedacharya Charak had written ‘Charak Samhita’. In this, Ayurvedic medicines for the treatment of various diseases have been explained. Tips to use them in the right quantity and manner have also been given. Indigenous technology can be used through Ayurveda. Rigveda contains a collection of hymns, chanting which makes the body healthy and energetic. One can also become Swadeshi with the knowledge of Rigveda. Samveda is a collection of music which gives you innovation. Yajurveda contains details of rituals like Yagya etc. which purify the environment and society. Therefore, we can say that the four Vedas of Hindu religion are a good example of being indigenous. The best examples of powers gained on spiritual strength are Pushpaka Vimana and our Vedas. The goods, ideas, spirituality and nature etc. manufactured in one’s country reflect the factors of being indigenous. Ancient India developed only on the strength of spiritual philosophy and today it is developing on the strength of material philosophy. When spiritual philosophy in India will keep pace with material philosophy, then India will transform from developing to developed India. Spirituality increases your work efficiency. Science is a discovery. Discovery is not possible without spirituality. Spirituality strengthens science. Vasco da Gama discovered India in May 1498. He was the first European to reach India via the Atlantic Ocean. Vasco da Gama discovered India. This is part of science.

Edison invented the bulb. This is part of technology or technology. What I mean to say is that science is based on discovery. Technology is based on invention. Science is the exploration and application of knowledge and understanding of the natural and social world following a systematic methodology based on evidence. Technology is the use of scientific knowledge for practical purposes or applications, whether in industry or in our everyday lives. So, basically, whenever we use our scientific knowledge to achieve a specific purpose, we are using technology. Thomas Edison is known as the father of technology. Galileo is called the father of science. The development of science leads to the development of technology because many technologies are based on scientific principles. On 28 February 1928, Indian scientist Sir Chandrashekhar Venkata Raman announced the discovery of the Raman Effect. Therefore, National Science Day is celebrated on 28th of February every year. The theme of National Science Day 2024 is – Indigenous technology for developed India. Swadeshi, self-respect and self-reliance are symbols of independence. Indigenous technology means using or getting technology made in one’s own country. When we use any indigenous technology with our spiritual perspective, there is full potential for development. Development without spirituality leads to destruction. India is a spiritual country. Therefore, use of indigenous technology here will put India in the category of fully developed India. India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission is the most living example of indigenous technology. Chandrayaan-3 was an ambitious lunar mission of India that on August 24, 2023, according to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the Chandrayaan 3 rover touched down on the Pragyan lander and India walked on the Moon. India has become the first country to land on the south pole of the Moon. Chandrayaan-3 was India’s second attempt to make a soft landing on the lunar surface.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s use of indigenous technology for developed India will prove to be a panacea for India. Most recently, three indigenously developed technologies – thermal cameras, CMOS cameras and fleet management systems – were transferred to 12 industries in India on 4 February 2024. This is a step towards the Innovation, Science and Technology theme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Develop India @ 2047 initiative. First Technology – The thermal smart camera has an inbuilt DPU to run various AI based analytics. The application of indigenous technology is targeted for smart cities, industries, defence, health and various other functional areas. Field implementation, testing and validation of this camera was carried out for road traffic applications. The technology was simultaneously transferred to the following eight industries. Second Technology – Industrial Vision Sensor IVIS 10GiG is a CMOS based vision processing system with a powerful on-board computing engine to execute next generations of industrial machine vision applications. This technology has been transferred to M/s Spookfish Innovation Pvt. Ltd. The third technology – Fleet Management System, which includes operational strategies for FlexiFleet, Personalized Transit Route Guidance System. FlexiFleet aims to optimize operations and increase efficiency for fleet operators and transit agencies. Apart from vehicle location tracking, it provides alerts for various conditions like overspeeding, geofence, ignition, idling, stopping and rash driving. Personalized Transit Route Guidance System is a mobile app that aims to improve the travel experience for passengers as it provides passengers with the option to choose the most efficient or personalized route of their choice. This technology was transferred to three industries simultaneously. Therefore, we can say that indigenous technology is synonymous with developed India. The use of indigenous technology from a spiritual perspective will reflect a developed India.

-Dr. Shankar Suvan Singh

Academician and senior columnist