Earth came into existence 1.97 billion years ago: Rajnath

Arguing that ancient India's cosmological calculations were "the nearest" in tune with modern scientific ones, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today claimed earth came into existence 1.97 billion years ago.
There are different theories on when the earth came into existence, but the general belief is the earth was formed formed around 4.54 billion years ago.
Referring to renowned American astronomer, cosmologist, astrophysicist, Carl Sagan, Singh said he also "accepted" that ancient Indian scriptures had information on earth's age.
He also claimed that noted German physicist Werner Heisenberg got the basic concept of theory on 'principles of uncertainty' during his discussion on vedas with Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

"When was the earth created? Some say, (earth came into existence) 25,000 years, some say 20,000 while some say 40,000 years ago).
"When Carl Sagan came up with a coded message...A Pioneer satellite with a coded message was sent to the solar system to know which is the oldest civilisation. So, the work of decoding the code was done by Carl Sagan," Singh said.

He noted that even Sagan once observed that ancient India's cosmological calculations were the nearest in tune with modern scientific calculations.
"(Even) he accepted that it is mentioned in the religious texts and literature of India, the earth came into existence 1.97 billion years ago. Sagan has accepted it," Singh said, adding that in ancient times India was a repository of scientific knowledge and temper.

He was speaking at the inauguration of The 2nd India International Science Festival, backed by the government's Ministry of Science & Technology and RSS-linked Vijnan Bharati.
The Home Minister also said he did not want India to become a 'super power', but a teacher to the world (vishwa guru).
"People get scarred to stand with powerful, but they one only experience love when it comes to standing with guru," the senior BJP leader said.
Singh, who worked as a lecturer of Physics, also said that nobel laureate Heisenberg, got the idea of basic uncertainty of principles while he was discussing vedas with Tagore.

"Heisenberg's friend wrote a book. In that when (Fritjof) Capra asked him from where did he get the concept of 'Principles of Uncertainty' he (Heisenberg) said, 'I got the concept of principles of uncertainty when I was discussing Vedas with Rabindranath Tagore'," Singh added.