A controversial paper presented at the recently concluded Indian Science Congress here on ancient Indian aviation technology will not be made public, the organisers of the session told The Hindu .
For the first time in its 102-year history, the congress included a session on “ancient Indian sciences through Sanskrit” on its agenda. Many delegates hailed it as a belated but welcome decision.
But it soon became controversial because of the tall claims made in some of the papers presented at the session. One of them was on ancient Indian aviation technology, presented by Captain Anand Bodas, a retired Principal of a pilot training centre, and Ameya Jadhav, a lecturer.
“We had earlier decided to upload all the presentations on our website. But we have changed our minds. We will only upload a report on the session,” Uma Vaidya, chairperson of the session and Vice-Chancellor of Kavikulaguru Kalidasa Sanskrit University, Ramtek, told The Hindu .
The paper had already sparked a controversy. “Why add to it,” she asked.
Gauri Mahulikar, Head of the Sanskrit Department of Mumbai University, said there were copyright issues as well. “We fear that others who have nothing to do with this research will claim it as their finding,” she said.
Captain Bodas, too, refused to share the presentation. When approached for a copy at the Indian Science Congress, he redirected the correspondent to the organisers, who said they had to seek his permission. “If he has redirected you to us, he does not want to share the copy,” one of the organisers said.
The paper had said Maharshi Bharadwaj had given detailed guidelines for making aircraft. “Maharshi Bharadwaj has narrated guidelines for making aeroplanes. There are 97 reference books for aviation. In Brihatvimanshastra , he has given 500 guidelines,” Captain Bodas had said at the presentation.
