AGARTALA, April 18 - Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has claimed that Internet and sophisticated satellite communication system existed in the days of the Mahabharata, drawing sharp ridicule from his opponents, academicians and social media users alike who termed his contention �unscientific�, �illogical� and �retrogressive�.
Governor Tathagata Roy, however, came out in support of Deb, saying his observations are topical. While a section of the Twitterati used humour to ridicule Deb�s claim, others took a swipe at him with tweets loaded with sarcasm.
Deb, a graduate in Humanities from the Tripura University, traced the genesis of the Internet and satellite communication during the age of epic Mahabharata while addressing a regional workshop on public distribution system, computerisation and reforms here last evening.
He said in the Mahabharata, it has been mentioned that Sanjay (the charioteer of Dhritarashtra) gave a live commentary of the war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas to the blind King.
�The communication was possible because our technology was sophisticated and developed during those times. We had Internet and satellite communication system. It is not like media or Internet was not available in the age of the Mahabharata,� he said.
Today, he defended his stand on the sophisticated communication technology in the age of the Mahabharata.
�They want to belittle their own nation and think highly of other countries. Believe the truth. Do not get confused and do not confuse others,� Deb told reporters this morning in his reaction to his statement yesterday.
However, the main Opposition CPI-M sharply criticised the observations of Deb and Roy as �retrogressive thoughts�.
Tripura Congress vice president Tapas Dey said, �History does not speak like this � neither modern history nor mythological history. This is nonsense and shows the Chief Minister�s lack of knowledge. It is also the way of diverting the attention of the people from the real problems of the State.�
Deb�s assertion drew sharp reaction from scientists and academicians too. In Kolkata, former Director of the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics Bikash Sinha said it has become a trend of some people to make �useless comments�.
�The 48-year-old Deb, who assumed office on March 9, is the latest in a list of BJP leaders who have often come up with bizarre theories about science in ancient India and Hindu traditions. � PTI
