भारत का स्वर्णिम अतीत - Rajiv Dixit Ji

We are made to think that we are citizens of a greenfield startup country, India,started in 1947. This is something, We should all know this not to spread hatred for our past rules, but to appreciate the land of our birth and get inspired to work towards higher pursuits in life including working on advancements compensating for last 200 years of lost ground in all fields like science, technology, medicine, commerce, industry etc. भारत का स्वर्णिम अतीत: http://youtu.be/1ZrB1eHrYHk Some interesting highlights from the lecture: The lecture gives historical information on trade, commerce, import/export, GDP, Science & Technology, Education . It covers observations by various foreigners who travelled to India at various point in time, esp in last 300 years pre independence, For instance Pre 1500: Discoveries in physics (speed of light etc), mathematics, astronomy (distance between planetary bodies, sun Centric theory, earth rotation, seasons, calendar, forecasting of solar and lunar eclipses etc.), Technology. In 1611, François Pyrard (French), wrote India has lot of industries producing best quality cheap products like jewellery, steel, cloth, handicraft, etc. The export from India has been going on since 3000 years. In 17th century, William Digby mentioned: Pre Britain India, India is agriculture, industry and trade/commerce based economy. Home to best quality cloth, steel etc and same are traded in exchange with gold & silver by traders all across the world. There is no imports made by India, only exports. In 1708, Daniel Defoe, praised the Panchang calendar and Indian astronomy in British Parliament esp. the forecasting of solar and lunar eclipses. In 1764, James Franklin (British): Steel quality manufactured in India is of best quality owing to expertise in blast furnaces. Dr. Scott, London Royal Society remarked, its best suited for surgical instruments. In 1813, Thomas Monroe, praised the quality of cloth manufactured in India in British Parliament. Martin (Scottish Historian): Cloth industry is at its best in India, India inspired the world cloth industry. In 1813, 43% of world production happened in India. Max Mueller: In Bengal alone , 80000 Gurukuls are running from many centuries. 18th Century, Ludlow: There is no village in India where there is no Gurukul (school) In 1822, G.W.Litner prepared a report on Education in India, which stated: Education institutions penetration is one gurukul/school per 200 people with 97% literacy rate in North India. Thomas Monroe Report on Education in South India: Education institutions penetration is one Gurukul/school per 400 people in North India. In 1822, 7,32,000 Gurukuls were in operation without taking any grant from Rulers. They were self sustaining institutions sustaining from donations from common public and produce from the land owned by Gurukul. The students were taught 18 subjects including astronomy, engineering, medicine, metallurgy, physics, martial arts etc. Classes used to happen from sunrise to sunset. Students were admitted after they reach the age of 5 yr,5month,5days. they study for 14 years in Gurukul. There were 14000 higher level educational institutions in India. All accessible to common people of India. In Europe, that time, schooling used to be a privilege for elite and believed that for rule, common people should not be given education. 2 Feb,1835, Macaulay in British Parliament on India: ... no beggars, no law and order problem, abundance of gold with Indian people. They use to weigh gold and not count . In 19th Century, there were attempts to test air planes. the last among them was in 1895 near present day Bombay. ... and many more. How Britishers destroyed all of this: Indian Education Act: Closed Gurukuls to kill Education Sector Impose Taxes on Export from India Tax free Imports from Britain Land Acquisition Act and 90% tax on agriculture to kill agri industry Cow slaughter