Posted on 01/26/2007 2:44:05 PM PST by blam
Metallurgy in ancient India was advanced
HT Correspondent
Varanasi, January 25
EMINENT METALLURGICAL engineer and former rector of the Banaras Hindu University Prof TR Anatharaman said that ancient India contributed a lot in the field of metallurgy.
He was delivering a lecture on Metallurgical Marvels of Ancient India on the third-day of four-day seminar on History of Indian Science and Technology at Swatantrata Bhawan in BHU here on Thursday.
Prof Anatharaman, also former director of Institute of Technology (IT-BHU) and presently Chancellor of Ashram Atmadeep (Gurgaon) said that recent historical studies and scientific researches have thrown considerable new light on the status of metal extraction and working in Indian sub-continent during the ancient period (1700BC to 1000 AD).
He said that the world-famous ancient Damascus Swords had its origin in India.
The Damascus Swords were fabricated from Ultra-high Carbon Steel, known commercially as Wootz, was produced in South India particularly in the state of Andhra Pradesh around 400 BC, he said.
Fabrication of the Iron Pillar, seven-ton heavy and seven meter tall at Delhi known for its amazing corrosion resistance despite exposure to the Sun, wind, dust and rain in the open for more than 16 centuries is another metallurgical marvel of ancient India, he added.
Dr K Krishnan of Archaeology and Ancient History Department at The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (Vadodara) delivered a lecture on Ceramic Technology: Its Beginning and Advancements in The Indian Sub-Continent. He said that ceramic technology develops with the emergence of the first agricultural communities, designated by the cultural phase Neolithic, which had a wide distribution in the sub-continent in space and time.
The Iron Pillar from Delhi 7.3 m tall, with one meter below the ground; the diameter is 48 centimeters at the foot, tapering to 29 cm at the top, just below the base of the wonderfully crafted capital; it weighs approximately 6.5 tones, and was manufactured by forged welding.
Another Muslim "invention" stolen from antother culture.
And...
Appears they got lost along the way somewhere.
From the 4th Century, pretty amazing. It's before that pervert, pedophille thug was born.
Yes, this thing is amazing, because it never rusts and you can't damage it with hammers, etc. People try to reach behind their backs to encircle the pillar--if they can, it's supposed to bring them good luck or something.
(My husband and I went sightseeing in Delhi years ago and saw this in person.)
Arabs stole our current number system from india, It doesnt surprise me that they stole "damascus" steel either.
BTW did you know that Turbans have origins as "helmets" meant to buffer sword blows?
Thanks. I didn't know that.
Back in the day, they really knew how to git-r-done.
Mystery of Delhi's Iron Pillar unraveled
Press Trust of India | Sunday, July 21, 2002 | Editorial Staff
Posted on 07/21/2002 4:15:49 PM EDT by vannrox
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/719966/posts
More research needed on Delhi Iron Pillar: Experts
Press Trust of India | March 13, 2005
Posted on 04/09/2005 4:26:50 AM EDT by nickcarraway
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1380309/posts
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I am a well wisher of India and I have this to say...
India and people of India should learn to stop living in the past and start to work on today's problems. The illusions of past grandeur are to be rejected. People of India should concentrate on building good road, creating meaningful employment, potable water, reasonable infrastructure. Saying that we were great thousand years ago should not a substitute for I am great today...
Years ago, when I was in grad school studying metallurgical engineering, the department was over 1/2 Indian. The rest consisted mainly of Chinese and Taiwanese. There was a Frenchman, and a married couple from Poland. The husband was studying metallurgical engineering; the wife, materials engineering. And then there was me and one other fellow, the only Americans in a department of about 30.
There's a lesson to be learned from this.
Whats has this got to do with the article we are discussing?
Ok, now get off it...the roads in India are no better than the Harappan days, the sewage system is behind what the Harappan's had...it's damn sickening and discouraging!
I find "the illusions of past grandeur" very interesting. In fact, I find it far more interesting than the present illusion.
One must know where he has been to understand where he should be.
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