The recent online petition by a NASA scientist to prevent a
lecture titled Ancient Indian Aviation Technology shows the steep disgrace of
the scientific attitude. Scientific attitude is accepting the possibility of every
incomprehensible observation, thing or event. Scientific attitude is as much about
challenging one’s beliefs as those of others. Making everything around us
comprehensible to the limited understanding of human mind is not science.
Science is not even about evidence based proofs which are translated into
facts. Unless Science imagines, it cannot grow. Imagination is beyond rational,
evidence or comprehension. It is important for science to get foot loose,
interact with mysterious, encounter surprise and go beyond its horizons in
order to discover and invent. No scientist with right scientific attitude and
aptitude will be intimidated by opinions and propositions from others. This
incidence of Opposing and Stopping a scientific presentation by means of online
petition reminds of the theologians who opposed Galileo’s heliocentric model as
‘foolish and absurd’ and who were not ready to listen to any theories other
than their geocentric ones.

If these modern scientists feel that ancient Indian science
is out of context, then they should make a paper presentation giving details
about its non relevance. Also, advising to make modern education independent
from ancient Indian science is taking away the important source of History of Science.
Even if the history has failed experiments, it is important to understand the
reasons. Every attempt of past has paved way for the future. It is as important
to make students get exposed to failures as successful inventions.

It is unfortunate that a country like India with strong
ancient knowledge legacy is inheriting and feeding its future generation with
limited & relatively naïve Western education in terms of time and
resources.

A right scientific attitude is fearless. The only threat it
faces is from its own complacence and conceit.