We are living in the twenty-first century, an era widely acknowledged as the age of science and technology. It is increasingly evident that artificial intelligence and its applications across almost every field are driving modern development and global competitiveness. AI is now deeply integrated into medical science, agriculture, healthcare, defense, scientific research, and nearly every domain of human activity. Nations that embrace advanced technology and innovation are shaping the future of humanity.
However, instead of aligning ourselves with this rapidly advancing world, many of our political leaders and segments of society attempt to drag our collective mindset back thousands of years—sometimes 2,500 years, sometimes even 10,000 years into the past. We are repeatedly told that space technology already existed during the time of the Ramayana, that Ravana was the first person to own an aircraft, and that ancient civilizations possessed technology far more advanced than what we have today. Some claim that Hanuman was the first space traveler, endowed with supernatural powers that allowed him to travel anywhere instantly. Others insist that the Vedas contained all possible knowledge of the universe long before modern science, including cures for every disease—even cancer—through Ayurveda.
There are also claims that foreign invaders stole ancient Indian manuscripts, translated them into their own languages, and then used that knowledge to develop modern science and technology. Some go even further and argue that missiles, aircraft, spacecraft, guns, bombs, and other advanced technologies originated from ancient spiritual literature. In some cases, people attempt to draw vague similarities between ancient descriptions and modern inventions, suggesting that our ancestors possessed scientific knowledge comparable to or even greater than what exists today.
It is entirely reasonable to acknowledge that ancient civilizations were intellectually advanced for their time and that our ancestors had a deep understanding of philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, and nature. Through historical texts, we know that they explored the universe in ways that were extraordinary for their era, and over time, many of them came to be revered as divine figures. However, the critical question remains: what is the relevance of these claims in today’s scientific context—especially when we focus strictly on empirical science rather than spirituality?
Should we continue living under the illusion that the modern world merely “stole” our ancient knowledge and repackaged it as science? This belief reflects a deeply flawed and intellectually lazy mindset. Every scientific discovery in the modern world is grounded in evidence—proofs, controlled experiments, validated theories, peer-reviewed research, and reproducibility. These achievements require mastery across multiple scientific disciplines, decades of dedication, and often a lifetime of sacrifice. Many scientists gave up personal comfort, family life, and even their health in pursuit of knowledge that has benefited all of humanity.
To suggest that their discoveries were simply stolen from ancient texts is to dismiss their dedication, intelligence, and hard work. If our ancestors truly possessed such advanced scientific knowledge—and if it was documented in our own languages—then why did we not independently develop modern technologies centuries ago? Why did we not build radios, televisions, spacecraft, computers, communication systems, or medical technologies long before the rest of the world?
With a population of over 1.4 billion people, how many globally transformative scientific contributions can we point to in modern times? One, two, perhaps a handful. That is not a criticism of our past—it is a reflection of our present priorities. While it is perfectly acceptable to admire our ancestors for their achievements, we must also ask what we have contributed to the world in the twenty-first century.
Nearly every technology that has significantly improved modern human life—radio, television, global communication networks, satellites, space exploration, submarines, mobile phones, computers, and software—has largely emerged from sustained scientific ecosystems in the Western world. Instead of acknowledging this reality and learning from it, some narratives reduce pioneers like Neil Armstrong and Yuri Gagarin to mere “drivers,” while elevating mythological figures as literal astronauts. Such comparisons are neither scientific nor meaningful.
If ancient figures truly performed advanced surgeries, as is often claimed about Sushruta, then India should have been at the forefront of every modern medical innovation, holding patents for complex procedures such as heart, brain, and plastic surgeries. Without a sure, Sushruta did in the past, but why didn’t we continue these breakthroughs and make a name for ourselves in the medical surgical industry? Yet, paradoxically, many political leaders and elites seek medical treatment abroad. If our healthcare system is the best in the world, why do those in power not trust it with their own lives?
The contradiction does not end there. For education, healthcare, research, and quality of life, people are encouraged—often implicitly—to go abroad. At the same time, the public is told that leaving the country is a disease and that foreign influence is inherently harmful. This double standard is both dishonest and damaging.
There is no doubt that our ancestors were remarkable in their own context. But greatness is not inherited; it must be continuously earned. What matters today is what resources, infrastructure, freedom, and support we provide to scientists, researchers, educators, and innovators so that future generations can lead the world. Instead of investing in laboratories, research funding, critical thinking, and scientific temper, we are offered mythological claims as substitutes for real progress.
Science and technology advance through rigor, evidence, experimentation, long-term vision, and sustained funding—not through vague speeches, exaggerated historical claims, or emotional appeals. The world moves forward with futuristic ideas, implementation strategies, and global collaboration. It does not progress by glorifying the past while neglecting the present.
India needs leaders with a scientific temper, positive thinking, education, and visionary planning—leaders who prepare the nation for the future rather than trapping it in an imagined past. Unfortunately, many leaders today prefer to divide society over ancient narratives instead of uniting it around modern challenges. Rather than competing with the world, we are encouraged to argue over events that allegedly occurred in the Stone Age.
This is not pride; it is denial. And denial, when combined with arrogance and false self-esteem, only pushes a society further away from reality—and further away from progress.
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