Pushpak Viman before Wright brothers’ flight? Shivraj Chouhan sparks fresh debate on India’s ancient tech claims

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has sparked fresh debate after claiming that India had advanced technology such as aeroplanes, drones and missiles during the Mahabharata era.

Speaking to students at the Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal, Chouhan said, “We had the Pushpak Viman long before the Wright brothers invented the aeroplane. Drones and missiles that we have today were already with us for thousands of years. We have read all this in the Mahabharata. Our country’s science and technology were already developed thousands of years ago.”

His remarks came just a day after BJP MP Anurag Thakur stirred attention by suggesting that “Lord Hanuman was the first person to travel to space.”


For the record, history books credit Orville and Wilbur Wright for the world’s first successful powered flight in 1903 in the United States.

This was not the first time Chouhan has spoken about ancient India’s supposed technological prowess. As Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, he had earlier made similar references to the Pushpak Viman, a mythical flying chariot described in Hindu epics.

Beyond his comments on ancient science, Chouhan also urged students to focus on nation-building. He pointed out that a large share of the world’s top technology talent in places like Silicon Valley comes from India. He appealed to graduates not to move abroad but to use their skills for India’s growth.

On the issue of brain drain, he stressed: “We must build successful careers and enterprises here at home to strengthen the country’s foundation.”

Turning to agriculture, the minister assured farmers that India’s trade decisions would remain firmly rooted in national interest. Referring to US farm imports, he said: “No agreement will be against the country’s interests. We will not compromise with the welfare of farmers, fishermen and others in the farming sector.”

Chouhan’s remarks have revived the ongoing discussion about whether references in ancient texts should be treated as mythology, metaphor, or evidence of lost science. For some, these statements inspire pride in India’s cultural heritage; for others, they raise questions about the line between history and mythology.

Inputs from TOI