Indian scientists dismiss Einstein theories
Scientists in India have hit out at speakers at a major conference for making irrational claims, including that ancient Hindus invented stem cell research. Some academics at the annual Indian Science Congress dismissed the findings of Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein.
Hindu mythology and religion-based theories have increasingly become part of the Indian Science Congress agenda. But experts said remarks at this year's summit were especially ludicrous.
The 106th Indian Science Congress, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ran from 3-7 January.
The head of a southern Indian university cited an old Hindu text as proof that stem cell research was discovered in India thousands of years ago. G Nageshwar Rao, vice chancellor of Andhra University, also said a demon king from the Hindu religious epic, Ramayana, had 24 types of aircraft and a network of landing strips in modern day Sri Lanka.
Another scientist from a university in Tamil Nadu told conference attendees that Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein were both wrong and that gravitational waves should be renamed "Narendra Modi Waves". Dr KJ Krishnan reportedly said Newton failed to "understand gravitational repulsive forces" and Einstein's theories were "misleading".
Critics said that while ancient texts should be read and enjoyed - it was nonsense to suggest they represented science. The Indian Scientific Congress Association expressed "serious concern" at the remarks.
"We don't subscribe to their views and distance ourselves from their comments. This is unfortunate, "Premendu P Mathur, general secretary of Indian Scientific Congress Association, told AFP. "There is a serious concern about such kind of utterances by responsible people."
(Courtesy BBC)