In India, the relationship between science and spirituality has always been complex. Our civilization inherited the Vedas, Upanishads, Yoga, Tantra, Ayurveda, and a vast body of knowledge that combined inquiry with contemplation. The rishis of ancient India were not blind believers but seekers, experimenting with consciousness, health, and the natural world. Yoga is not ritual but vidya—an applied discipline of body and mind. Tantra is not occultism but a science of energy. Mantra is not magic but frequency and vibration. These treasures deserve rigorous study, open inquiry, and global research.
Yet in recent decades, particularly under the
influence of BJP and RSS leadership, this balance has tilted dangerously.
Instead of respecting the difference between knowledge and belief, they confuse
religion with science, and mythology with technology. The result:
pseudo-science dressed as heritage, and politics dressed as culture.
The Hanuman as Astronaut
Narrative
A few days ago, Union Minister Anurag Thakur told
school students that Lord Hanuman could be considered the first “space
traveler.” Soon after, Shivraj Singh Chouhan claimed that India had the
“Pushpak Vimaan” long before the Wright brothers invented airplanes. These statements
were made not in folklore festivals but in educational contexts—where
impressionable children look for guidance about history and science. The
problem is not faith; the problem is the attempt to pass mythology as
scientific fact. It creates confusion, erodes scientific temper, and dilutes
the seriousness of genuine Indian contributions to knowledge.
From Ganesha to Genetic Science
This is not new. In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi famously suggested that the story of Lord Ganesha’s elephant head was
proof that India mastered plastic surgery thousands of years ago. A few months
later, then Home Minister Rajnath Singh declared that “quantum mechanics” had
already been explained in the Mahabharata. Another minister, Satyapal Singh,
argued against Darwin’s theory of evolution, claiming that “no one saw an ape
turning into a man.”
Such claims trivialize both science and scripture.
The rishis wrote allegories, metaphors, and philosophical insights—not literal
textbooks of genetics, aviation, or quantum mechanics. By forcing religious
myths into scientific molds, leaders do a disservice to both traditions.
Ayurveda vs. Coronil
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the danger of this
confusion. The promotion of “Coronil” by Baba Ramdev, supported by certain
political circles, was marketed as a cure for the coronavirus. It was later
clarified by the WHO and India’s own Health Ministry that no such claim was
scientifically valid. Ayurveda is a sophisticated knowledge system of healing,
but exaggerating its reach without clinical validation undermines its
credibility. Instead of encouraging systematic research, leaders rush to make
spectacular announcements for political applause.
Western Validation vs. Indian
Misuse
Ironically, much of the world’s respect for Indian
wisdom comes not from our political leaders but from Western research. Yoga has
been globalized through American and European scientific studies proving its
benefits for stress, heart health, and immunity. Mantra meditation has been
analyzed by neuroscientists to show its effects on brain waves. Even Ayurveda
finds recognition in integrative medicine when subjected to clinical trials.
Meanwhile, back home, many BJP and RSS leaders
dismiss such studies when they are inconvenient, yet loudly claim cultural
superiority without evidence. Their own children study in Ivy League
universities abroad, learning critical thinking and research methods, while in India
they encourage students to replace inquiry with blind belief.
The Spirit of Inquiry in Our
Tradition
Swami Vivekananda had once said: “It is wrong to
believe blindly. Open your eyes and see for yourself. That is the essence of
our Vedas. Each must see the truth for himself, and not rely on others.” He
insisted that religion in India must walk hand in hand with science, not as its
enemy but as its complement.
Similarly, Jawaharlal Nehru, in The Discovery of
India, wrote: “The scientific approach, the adventurous and yet critical
temper, the search for truth and new knowledge, the refusal to accept anything
without testing and trial, the capacity to change previous conclusions in the
face of new evidence… all this is the temper of science.” He went on to
declare that a scientific temper was essential for India’s progress.
These voices remind us that genuine pride in Indian
heritage comes not from exaggeration but from rigorous inquiry.
India’s Real Scientists vs.
Pseudo-Science
If we truly wish to celebrate India, we need not
invent stories of Pushpak Vimaan or plastic surgery through Ganesha. Our real
scientists have already given us plenty to be proud of.
- C.V.
Raman,
the Nobel laureate, discovered the Raman Effect, a breakthrough in
light scattering that revolutionized physics. His work was based on
experimentation and mathematical precision—not mythological
interpretation.
- J.C.
Bose, a
polymath, proved that plants have life and respond to stimuli. His
experiments with crescographs showed how plants “feel,” combining biology
with physics. This was Indian genius in action—bridging tradition and
modern science with proof.
- A.P.J.
Abdul Kalam,
India’s “Missile Man” and beloved President, epitomized the fusion of
spirituality and science. A practicing devotee, Kalam also lived by hard
data, research, and innovation. His humility and devotion coexisted with
his commitment to space technology, missiles, and education.
These figures embodied true scientific temper—open
to faith but grounded in fact. They are the heirs of our rishis far more than
any neta shouting about Hanuman’s space journey.
Why Pseudo-Science Persists
There are several reasons this confusion thrives:
1. Political Symbolism: By claiming that “everything was
already in the Vedas,” leaders tap into nationalist pride, appealing to voters
who want to see India as superior to the West.
2. Cultural Anxiety: In a globalized world, there is
insecurity that Indian knowledge systems are being ignored. Instead of engaging
with science, politicians weaponize tradition to assert identity.
3. Lack of Science Education: India’s school system often
teaches rote learning, not critical thinking. This makes it easy for
pseudo-science to slip into classrooms and political speeches.
Real Contributions Overlooked
Ironically, while leaders celebrate Hanuman as the
first astronaut, they ignore India’s actual contributions to science and technology.
The decimal system, zero, Aryabhata’s astronomy, Sushruta’s surgical
techniques, Charaka’s medical insights—these are verifiable achievements that
changed the course of global knowledge. Instead of celebrating these, we turn
epics into engineering manuals.
Similarly, Yoga, Tantra, and Vedanta deserve to be
recognized as frameworks of mental and spiritual health, not reduced to
campaign talking points. Science and spirituality can and should coexist, but
only when both are respected on their own terms.
The Danger of Confusion
When politicians confuse religion with science, the
danger is twofold. First, students lose the ability to separate metaphor from
fact, weakening the culture of inquiry. Second, India risks becoming a global
laughingstock. It is one thing to practice faith, but quite another to tell the
world that ancient Indians flew jet planes or performed organ transplants
without evidence.
More importantly, it stifles innovation. No society
can progress if it tells its young that “everything has already been
discovered.” The true spirit of the Vedas and Upanishads was to question, to
seek, to experiment—not to declare prematurely that we already know it all.
A Better Path Forward
To truly honor our heritage, India must invest in
serious research. Ayurvedic formulations should undergo clinical trials. Mantra
chanting should be studied with neuroscience. Yoga must continue to be analyzed
through medical science. Tantra, long misunderstood, deserves to be examined as
a system of consciousness and energy.
At the same time, political leaders must practice
restraint. Pride in culture should not mean exaggeration. Patriotism should not
mean pseudo-science. Spirituality should not be reduced to sloganeering.
Conclusion
The BJP and RSS often claim to be the guardians of
Indian civilization. But civilization is not protected by distortion. It is
protected by truth, inquiry, and respect for both science and spirituality. If
India is to be a Vishwa Guru in the 21st century, it will not be because
Hanuman was the first astronaut or Ganesha proved plastic surgery. It will be
because we have the courage to respect tradition while embracing scientific rigor.
That is the real legacy of our rishis. That is the
wisdom India owes to the world.
Author’s
Note:
Siddhartha Shankar Mishra is an Advocate at the Supreme Court of India and
writes on law, politics, and society. He can be reached at
ssmishra33@gmail.com.
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