IIT Bombay

MUMBAI: Students of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay have slammed the institute’s decision of inviting HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ to chair the recently-held graduation ceremony. The minister had said at the convocation that Charak Rishi had discovered atoms and molecules and that NASA had confirmed that talking computers would be based on the foundation of Sanskrit.

In an article headlined, “The Fault in our Convo Again,” students questioned the choice of the chief guest. They stated that an individual who recognized, endorsed and embodied the scientific and moral values associated with IIT Bombay was certainly not too big of an ask, considering that there are several alumni who would be apt for chairing the convocation.

“In claiming that Sanskrit is the only scientific language in the world, Dr Pokhriyal has twisted facts in order to stoke the students’ patriotic feelings. One tends to wonder how a person can misquote academic literature in one of the premier technical institutions which produce, according to him, some really sharp scientific minds. It is a mild form of scientific blasphemy ,” said the article in the students’ publication ‘Insight.’ Students said that while their college did not endorse the HRD minster’s statements, it did not do anything to discredit them either. About the Sanskrit issue, the MHRD said that the minister was referring to former NASA scientist Rick Briggs’ paper from 1985, which demonstrated that a natural language could serve as an artificial language also, and that much work in AI has been reinventing a wheel, millennia old. Sanskrit has been cited as one such language.

“Hence, it is presumable that he made these statements to kindle a sense of pride in the cultural identity of Indians and advocated the concept of modern development rooted in traditional values. However, facts and feelings should not be intertwined,” said the article.

Pokhriyal had said in his speech on the occasion earlier this month, “NASA has confirmed that if talking computers were to become a reality, it will only be based on the foundation of Sanskrit. Sanskrit is a scientific language, incomparable to any other. It is the only language where the words are written exactly the way they are spoken.” He had also said, “Who did research on atoms and molecules? The one who researched on atoms and molecules, discovered them, was Charak Rishi.” Later, on August 28, the HRD minister, speaking at IIT Kharagpur, said the Ram Setu was an “engineering marvel.” He noted, “Is there any disagreement that our engineers buitl the Ram Setu? No one from America, Britain and Germany came to build it.” He further said the Vedas were the world’s first book.

