Vedic stealth bomber

http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/nov02/ibomb.asp

A glass-like material based on technology found in an ancient

Sanskrit text that could ultimately be used in a stealth bomber (the

material cannot be detected by radar) has been developed by a

research scholar of Benaras Hindu University.

Prof M A Lakshmithathachar, Director of the Academy of Sanskrit

Research in Melkote, near Mandya, told Deccan Herald that tests

conducted with the material showed radars could not detect it. "The

unique material cannot be traced by radar and so a plane coated with

it cannot be detected using radar," he said.

The academy had been commissioned by the Aeronautical Research

Development Board, New Delhi, to take up a one-year study, `Non-

conventional approach to Aeronautics,' on the basis of an old text,

Vaimanika Shastra, authored by Bharadwaj.

Though the period to which Bharadwaj belonged to is not very clear,

Prof Lakshmithathachar noted, the manuscripts might be more 1,000

years old.

The project aims at deciphering the Bharadwaj's concepts in aviation.

However, Prof Lakshmithathachar was quick to add that a

collaborative effort from scholars of Sanskrit, physics, mathematics

and aeronautics is needed to understand Bharadwaj's shastra.

The country's interest in aviation can be traced back over 2,000

years to the mythological era and the epic Ramayana tells of a

supersonic-type plane, the Pushpak Vimana, which could fly at the

speed of thought.

"The shastra has interesting information on vimanas (airplanes),

different types of metals and alloys, a spectrometer and even flying

gear," the professor said. The shastra also outlines the

metallurgical method to prepare an alloy very light and strong which

could withstand high pressure.

He said Prof Dongre of BHU had brought out a research paper

Amshubondhini after studying Vaimanika Shastra and developed the

material. "There have been sporadic efforts to develop aeronautics

in the country's history. There has never been a holistic approach

to it. Vaimanika Shastra throws up many interesting details that can

benefit Indian aviation programme," the director added.

Prof Lakshmithathachar rubbished the tendency among certain scholars

to discount such ancient Sanskrit texts and said, "Why would our

scholars want to cheat future generations? Unless it was important,

nothing was written in the old days. The fact that there exists

manuscripts indicates the significance."

The academy has also embarked on other projects including `Indian

concept of Cosmology' with Indian Space Research Organisation, `Iron

& Steel in Ancient India — A Historical Perspective' with the Steel

Authority of India Limited, and `Tools & Technology of Ancient

India.'

....krishnam vande jagad gurum...