Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel
Credit: PTI File Photo
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh governor Anandiben Patel claimed that an Indian sage had invented aeroplane but the credit for the same had gone to the Wright brothers.
Speaking at the convocation ceremony of a University here, Patel said that the sages in the ancient India had made many inventions and discoveries, which still benefitted the world.
"Rishi Bhardwaj had invented aeroplane but the credit for the same went to the Wright brothers," the governor said while speaking at the convocation of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University.
Bhardwaj was a Vedic era sage.
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, had flown the first self-propelled aircraft on December 17, 1903 in North Carolina, USA.
"Our ancient scriptures have treasure of knowledge hidden in them"' she said asking the University management to encourage the students to study and appreciate them.
"The students should be made aware of the unparalleled researches done by our ancestors," the governor said.
Earlier on several occasions, the BJP leaders had referred to the 'Pushpak Viman' (according to the Hindu mythology the demon king Ravana, who kidnapped Lord Rama's consort Sita, took her to his kingdom in Pushpak Viman) claiming that aeroplanes existed in the ancient India.
Earlier a research paper presented at the Indian Science Congress in 2015 had also claimed that aeroplanes existed in india Seven thousand years ago. The claim invited sharp criticism from the scientific community.
Patel also referred to the Raza Library at Rampur town in UP and said that it had a huge collection of ancient books. She asked the University management to get these books translated into different languages for the benefit of the students.
The governor presented medals and degrees to 1579 students at the ceremony.