Time to Reconnect with Heritage

We are celebrating Amrut Mahotsava (75th year) of independence. Our culture and customs are rich and unparalleled in the world, but even after 75 years, our colonial hangover is not over. We still look towards the West. We are obsessed and aping them, despite the fact that Macaulay is nowhere in the scene.

Though the historical facts have been distorted by the vested interests, we should have rediscovered them and reconnected with our rich heritage, but we have forgotten to reclaim what is our rightful share.

National Gallery of Modern Arts (NGMA) has the richest collection of contemporary arts, but we have only 30 K footfalls, while Louvre in Paris has 2.5 million and Tate in London 4 million.

We have lost out the rich legacy. Though we had been using turmeric since ages for its healing properties, the patent was granted to American researchers in 1995. When India challenged, the patent was cancelled. Same thing happened with Neem for neem based biopesticide. Even now, patents filed by India is negligible compared to countries like US, China, Japan and South Korea.

Our culture of science dates back to 5000 years. Steel was made in India in 400 BC by binding the perfect amount of carbon to iron. Baudhayan who lived in 800-740 BC, calculated what came to be known as Pythagoras theorem (570-495 BC).

Acharya Pingla developed the binary numbers in the form of short and long syllables in 2nd century itself.
Acharya Kanada born in 600 BC is believed to have formulated the theory of atoms around 2500 years before John Dalton’s discovery.

Aryabhatta who lived between 476 to 550 AD, calculated the diameter of the earth and moon. He also calculated the value of Pi upto four digits after decimal. He proposed the heliocentric theory about the solar system. He said, “The earth is round and rotates on its axis.”

Zero was defined by Brahmagupta in 628. The Fibonacci numbers (sum of the two preceding numbers) was described by Hem Chandra way back in 1150 fifty years before Fibonacci himself.

The modern brick binding is inspired by Indus Valley Civilization. We had the earliest known dock in the world in Lothal, the focal point of Harappan civilidation in Gujarat. The first seamless celestial globe was made in Kashmir in the Mughal Empire by Ali Kashmiri ibn Luqman.

Even in surgery India was well ahead of others. Sushrut, father of surgery and plastic surgery, who lived around 800 BC in Kashi, carried out cataract removal, and in Sushrut- Samhita, he documented rhinoplasty, and described more than 120 surgical tools and 300 surgical operations. He also used herbs before operations to prevent sepsis.

Indian philosopher, Swami Vivekananda had said that the purpose of human life is to attain knowledge and the result of knowledge is humility. India is the birth place of 4 religions- Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, and all of them show the exemplified tolerance. India has never invaded any country.

Has there been any example of freedom struggle in this world, where the main weapon used was non-violence? It shouldn’t have been construed as our weakness, but we gave in on several occasions, despite being correct.

When we were using cowdung as manure and fertiliser, we were asked to use chemicals and pesticides to increase productivity. Now everybody is talking of organic farming.

In a shloka in Skanda Purana, it was advised to plant saplings of Peepal, Neem, Banyan, Tamarind, Wood Apple, Amla and Mango that not only provide fruits and medicinal leaves, but also absorb 80 to 90% carbon dioxide, thus increasing the amount of oxygen, but we started planting eucalyptus trees that grow quickly but reduce the water level of the earth and thus damage the environment.

When we used to worship mountains, rivers, plants and trees as our Gods and Goddesses, this belief was  stamped as the reminiscence of primitive society. But now the whole world is shouting from the rooftops to preserve the nature.

Yoga and meditation, first practised in India, more than 2500 years ago, were earlier regarded as Hindu religious activities, but now the whole world accepts them as cure for so many ailments including pain, weight loss, fitness and well-being.

So India should be proud of its culture  and customs. In the 75th year, it’s time to reconnect with our heritage for the benefit of the whole world, as the whole world is a family (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam).

–Kaushal Kishore

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