New Delhi, Apr 18 Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb’s claim that Internet existed in the days of Mahabharata has set off a flurry of reaction from Twitter users, who were largely unforgiving of his bizarre statement.
While a section of the Twitterati used humour to ridicule Deb’s claim, other took a swipe at him with tweets loaded with sarcasm.
And, then Babur refused to pay the electricity bill & it was disconnected. https://t.co/4AMiAUDgLF
— Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) April 18, 2018
but clearly the brilliant aryaputras are still learning how to print currency notes https://t.co/3ukawtxooR
— Hartosh Singh Bal (@HartoshSinghBal) April 18, 2018
The reaction was triggered by Deb’s remarks yesterday at a workshop on computerisation of the Public Distribution System (PDS) and reforms in the state capital, Agartala.
The BJP Tripura CM had said, “In the Mahabharata, it has been mentioned that Sanjay (the charioteer of King Dhritarashtra) gave a live relay of the war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas to the blind king Dhritarashtra.”
“Communication was possible because our technology was sophisticated and developed during those times. We had the Internet and satellite communication system. It is not like the Internet or media wasn’t available in the age of Mahabharata,” he had said.
He also claimed some European countries and the US may claim that the modern communication system was their invention, but “we had all these technologies in ancient times.”
The 48-year-old Deb had taken charge as the chief minister of Tripura on March 9, following a spectacular electoral victory of the BJP that ended the unchallenged 25-year rule of the Left in the State.
The tweeple continued with their ridicule:
Internet In The Time Of Mahabharat: Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb’s interpretation of Mahabharat…When Krishna used Google Maps and Arjun ran out of data. #InternetMahabharata
— Arré (@ArreTweets) April 18, 2018
I only wish that they’d had the internet in the times of the Ramayana. Then Hanuman could’ve saved a lot of trouble carrying that whole mountain by just searching “sanjivani herb” on google images. #InternetMahabharata #Mahabharata
— Audrey Truschke (@AudreyTruschke) April 18, 2018
I want to read some ancient emails. The ones Krishna sent Arjuna. Pls, someone tell me which internet archive stores all of it?#InternetMahabharata
— Aparna Karthikeyan (@AparnaKarthi) April 18, 2018
Tripura CM had said only narrow-minded people find it tough to believe this theory. “They want to belittle their own nation and think highly of other countries. Believe the truth. Don’t get confused and don’t confuse others,” ANI quoted him as saying.
However, it has been only BJP leaders who have often come up with bizarre theories about ancient India and Hindu traditions.
A few months ago, Union minister Satypal Singh had debunked Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, saying it was wrong and the changes need to reflect in the school and college curriculum.
“Nobody, including our ancestors, in written or oral, said they saw an ape turning into a man, the minister had said.
(with PTI inputs)