The current obsession with the glorious achievements of India’s past space travel, nuclear science, plastic surgery, aeronautics are only some of the things apparently invented in India of yore has given us cause for much merriment. The Indian Science Congress in Mumbai has been the focus of these claims, with scientists asking for more rigour and others giggling at the absurdity of assertions about planes that could fly backwards and between planets.

However, behind that laughter is deep despair. It is indeed funny when politicians make absurd claims. But, it is not funny when politicians and self-appointed scholars and experts make these claims in order to fool people or even themselves. None of these claims are substantiated with any proof. Indeed, if you ask for proof, then you are branded an anti-national.