Internet, satellite communication existed in Mahabharata era: Tripura CM

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has claimed that the Internet and sophisticated satellite communication system existed in the days of Mahabharata, drawing criticism from various quarters.

In the Mahabharata, it has been mentioned that Sanjay gave a live relay of the war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas to the blind king Dhritarashtra, Deb said at a regional workshop on public distribution system (PDS) computerisation and reforms here last evening.

"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," the chief minister said.

"I do not know what happened in the middle age though, between the Mahabharata era and now," Deb said.

Some European countries and the US claim that the modern communication system were their invention, but "we had all these technologies in ancient times", he claimed.

The CM said he was proud that he was born in a country which had the "best communication system" and "best culture" in the whole world.

"Modern technology and digitisation should be used to check corruption and protect secrecy in the administration," he asserted, adding that his government will dedicatedly work to ensure welfare of the poor and backward people.

BJP leaders have often come up with bizarre theories about ancient India and Hindu traditions.

Union minister Satypal Sing had a few months ago 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.