Abstract
Composed of four books known as the Rigveda, the Yajurveda, the Samaveda, and the Atharvaveda, the Vedas are considered the oldest Hindu religious writings in existence. This position grants them significant status in many sects of Hinduism, which count the Vedas a prime source of religious authority and interpret their stories and teachings literally even today. Their authority and integration into contemporary life became a significant part of the Hindu nationalist movement from the 19th century onwards, which interpreted certain passages of the Vedas and other ancient Hindu writings as describing the existence of modern technology thousands of years ago in India. These claims, which alleged the existence of everything from genetic engineering to flying machines, were used as evidence that India was the birthplace of science and technology to create Indian, and more specifically Hindu pride in the middle of colonization. Cited in 2014 by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the theories did not die out with independence. Despite the continued lack of any actual archaeological evidence to back them up, interpretation of the Vedas alone has been considered evidence enough for these ideas to remain a focal point in the modern Hindu nationalist movement. This paper will aim to disprove these hyper diffusionist fallacies which once played a role in nation-building but which now support dangerous forms of Hindu nationalism.
Recommended Citation
Geraci, Dorian
(2025)
"Guns, Bombs, and Flying Machines: Assessing Claims of Modern Technology in Ancient India,"
Proceedings of GREAT Day: Vol. 16, Article 11.
Available at:
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/proceedings-of-great-day/vol16/iss1/11