Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, said Saturday that India’s contributions to science, medicine, and astronomy came long before those of Persia and Western nations. Speaking at the Kashmir Literature Festival in Srinagar,he pointed out India’s historical role as a hub of knowledge and culture,claiming it shaped global civilization.
Sinha noted that India has rich history of over 6,000 years, making it a leader in many areas. He said, “Since the Vedic period, India has been the centre of the world’s economy, education, culture, and philosophy.” For centuries,he argued, India was the engine of global progress, laying the groundwork for socio-economic development around the world.
He criticized the colonial mindset, arguing that many Western narratives wrongly suggest knowledge flowed into India from Persia or during the Mughal era. He pointed out that Persia only started acquiring knowledge in science and mathematics in the 7th century,asserting, “It was from India, which had centuries of knowledge in these areas,that knowledge flowed into Persia. It’s a documented history.”
He also claimed India helped pull the Western world out of the Stone Age and played a key part in the European Enlightenment. “Europe’s first Renaissance in the 12th century drew on India’s treasury of knowledge,science,culture,and art,” he said. He backed this up by citing achievements of Indian civilization,which he argued had established itself as a scientific leader long before other nations.
In a historical context,Sinha recalled a speech by physicist Isaac Newton in the British Parliament, where Newton talked about water transport. He noted that India had developed advanced water transport systems centuries earlier, facilitating trade as far as South Africa. “We traded goods in exchange for gold with South Africa. We did not loot gold but earned it through trade. This history got buried during the colonial period,” he stated.
Sinha stressed the need to reclaim India’s historical narrative, calling for an end to colonial influences that distort the country’s past. He urged writers to correct misconceptions and present the truth to world. “There is an urgent need to restore history and convey its true form to every section of society so that India’s narrative is properly shaped,” he asserted.
He lamented that India’s ancestors had carefully recorded and passed down knowledge,yet the country struggles to share its rich traditions and achievements. “We failed to communicate our priceless traditions,culture,knowledge,and sciences,” he said, adding that this failure has led to misunderstandings about the origins of various advancements.
Looking ahead,Sinha stated that India’s story is not just historical but ongoing. He noted,“Despite centuries of subjugation and plunder, we have risen to become the world’s fourth largest economy,the fastest growing major economy for years, and by 2047 we aim for fully developed nation.”
The Kashmir Literature Festival also saw notable attendees, including Deepak Vohra,a retired ambassador,and Lt. Gen. D.P . Pandey, among others.
