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Ancient 'scientific' theories need research
Panaji, Feb 3
Ancient 'scientific' theories,
similar to the one referred to by Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently,
need to be researched, said the organiser of a three-day national-level
science conference due to be held in Goa later this week.
Modi had said plastic surgeons had fitted an elephant's head on the decapitated body of Ganesha.
Addressing
a press conference here, Jayant Sahasrabuddhe said that one did not
need the Ganesha analogy to prove plastic surgery existed in ancient
India, because "throughout the world, people have accepted Sushruta as
the father of modern plastic surgery".
In October last year, Modi
during a speech in the national capital had linked Lord Ganesha, a
revered Indian deity with a human body and the head of an elephant, to
the science of plastic surgery.
"We worship Lord Ganesh. There
must have been some plastic surgeon at that time who got an elephant's
head on the body of a human being and began the practice of plastic
surgery," Modi had said.
When asked if ancient science concepts
similar to the one presented by Modi needed to be invested in and
researched, Sahasrabuddhe, an Indian Institute of Technology (Bombay)
alumnus, said: "Yes, certainly."
"I don't know about what
happened with Ganesha, but it is common knowledge in all text books, not
only in our country, but throughout the world that the father of
plastic surgery is (sage) Sushruta."
Sage Sushruta was a medical practitioner, who practised the craft around 6 BC.
The
three-day conference "Bharatiya Vigyan Sammelan and Expo", which begins
in Goa Feb 6, will have scientists from over 24 states and two union
territories converging here to discuss both ancient as well as modern
sciences.
The conference will also exhibit Defence and Research
Development Organisation manufactured missiles, a Mars model, radar
technology, robots used for security purposes at the venue.