The Rustless Wonder: A Study of the Iron Pillar of Delhi

Language: English
Pages: 160 (8 Color Illustrations)

About the Book

To what extent had science and technology (S&T) flourished in ancient India? Generally there are two extreme views on this. One is that even today modern science has not surpassed what was known or practised in ancient India. The other is that there is hardly anything worthwhile which could be claimed as ancient Indias achievement in S&T. Such contrasting views persist because a majority of the scientific ideas and technological descriptions found scattered in the old texts do not always lend themselves to unambiguous interpretations. Of course, mere references to mentions and/or pronouncements in ancient texts like the Vedas, the Puranas and the epics, would not be sufficient to establish unequivocally Indias scientific heritage in todays context. These descriptions, and also the interpretations based on them, need to be examined for their scientific basis using rigorous criteria and established methodologies of modern science. This is precisely the aim of Vigyan Prasar Series of Monographs on Indias Scientific Heritage. Each publication under this series will deal with specific Indian achievements in a particular field of S&T, as studied and examined critically by eminent scientists/technologists working in that field.

This first monograph of the series is on the famous Iron Pillar located at Mehrauli village on the outskirts of Delhi, which has been an object of perennial interest and curiosity for lay-persons as well as scientists. It remained an enigma tor centuries mainly on two counts. First relates to the technology by which a metallic object of such a large size and mass could be fashioned so many centuries ago, and the second had to do with its phenomenal corrosion-resistance despite exposure to sun, rain and wind for so

Text: English