IIT Roorkee Unveils India's Historical Engineering Excellence with Metallurgical Marvels Exhibition

IIT Roorkee's alumni, Satya Narain and Navin Chandra, have marked a significant milestone with the publication of "Archaeometallurgy of India from Rigveda to Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa". This dives into ancient texts, uncovering the secrets of India's ancient metallurgical practices. Know details here 

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has made a significant contribution to the study of India's ancient metallurgical heritage with the release of "Archaeometallurgy of India from Rigveda to Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa." This book, written by IIT Roorkee alumni Shri. Satya Narain and Shri. Navin Chandra dives into the ancient texts from the Rigveda to the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa to reveal the secrets of ancient Indian metallurgy.

The authors have provided a bridge to ancient knowledge by presenting original Sanskrit texts with English translations, inviting readers to explore the depths of time and discover the scientific brilliance of ancient Indians. This book will be soon available on the IIT Roorkee's IKS website and other online platforms. 

Prof. K.K. Pant, Director of IIT Roorkee, expressed enthusiasm for the book's release, he mentioned, "Not only does the book shed light on the advanced metallurgical practices of ancient India, but it also serves as an invitation for scholars to delve deeper into our rich heritage by bridging the gap between traditional Sanskrit texts and modern analysis, we hope to inspire a new generation of researchers to explore the depths of India's ancient knowledge systems and honour the enduring legacy of India's intellectual heritage."

Archaeometallurgy of India from Rigveda to Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa

The meticulous analysis of over 400 "textual metal evidence data" through conceptualised frameworks offers a structured approach that leads to understanding how the six metals of antiquity were discovered, occurred, sourced, produced, and shaped into the metallic objects in the Vedic Civilization. Through their research, the authors shed light on how Ancient India entered into the "Metal Age” by discovering hiraṇya (gold) as the first metal and āyas as the second metal, and Ancient India transitioned from the "Neolithic Age" to the "Metal Age" during the Early Rigvedic Period.   

The Rigveda, the oldest text in the World, uses the term "āyas" about which various perspectives exist regarding its meaning. Interpreting the term "āyas" in the Rigveda as referring to “meteoric ironstone” reveals an enlightening insight which challenges conventional narratives about the timelines at which iron first appears in the archaeological record of India 

This work also unveils an enigmatic fact: despite its discovery, copper remained unused for crafting domestic objects like beads, vessels, ornaments, and tools. The conspicuous absence of copper objects throughout the Vedic Civilization was not a matter of chance but a significant evidence of high chronological significance in the history of ancient India.

IIT Roorkee Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems

The release of the book "Archaeometallurgy of India from Rigveda to Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa" coincides with IIT Roorkee's broader initiative to integrate Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) into contemporary education and research. IIT Roorkee's commitment to leveraging ancient wisdom for addressing contemporary challenges is underscored by ongoing projects such as the “Adaptation of Indigenous and Local Knowledge Systems and Fintech Solutions for Comprehensive Tribal Development in Chhattisgarh State.”

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