Vedic Science Exhibition at Eloor - Apr 5, 2009

Visited the Vedic Science Exhibition at Elenjikkal Temple Hall, Eloor on Apr 5, 2009. As an effort of the normally inactive people, it merits some credit for putting up this show. A lot of flex boards were arranged in sequential order, starting with themes such as birth of the universe, life of a star, gravitation theory, calculus, distances between planets, speed of light, avionics, and marine sciences. The society claims that each of these concepts was realized by Indian sages eons ago. Some claims are outright controversial and without a valid basis. Beneath an obscure Sanskrit verse, a scientific rule is written and is claimed that the discovery was anticipated by the rishi's works. Some of the claims were for the formulation of calculus, gravitation, laws of motion (all by Newton). A curious thing which we'd notice is that all inventions which are already made are claimed while not a single event which will come true in the future is not even mentioned! In such a case, what's is the difference between Vedic science and Nostradamus' prophesies?

One must admire the sheer nerve of the originator to simply copy scientific concepts and attributing retrospective origin to it. Often it verged on the ridiculous. For gravitation, a verse is shown in which a poet says that the earth attracts all things. He then claims that this was the discovery of gravitation. In fact, Newton's intellect lies not in discovering that there is a force of attraction between earth and a falling body. It is to the formulation of the gravitational equation that we admire him. By a single stroke of sweeping claim, these people try to rob him off the credit which is due to him.

Except for such unsubstantiated claims, there was nothing useful for the common man. For a person who hasn't studied science, some of the claims may appear to be legitimate, but those claims will not even stand half a chance of critical examination by an expert.