Social reformer Havelock Ellis has said, “Every man of genius sees the world at a different angle from his fellows, and there is his tragedy.” TBH, I couldn’t agree more. Remember when geniuses proclaiming that the Earth is round and not flat were mocked? Who’s looking stupid now, eh?
And that’s why, I urge you, to very calmly listen to what comes next. Because even though it may sound crazy to you right now, it could be the biggest revelation in the future. Have faith.
Tripura’s newly elected Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has a mindblowing theory for you, on this beautiful morning of World Heritage Day. According to him, satellites and the Internet have existed since the times of the Mahabharata.
What’s even more amazing is that he chose to make this statement while speaking at a Regional Workshop on Computerisation and Reforms at Pragna Bhawan in Agartala.
Kaafi perfect timing, no?
To elaborate, the Tripura CM confidently put forth his belief that the Internet was a legit thing lakhs of years ago, during the Mahabharata
Apparently, Sanjaya (the charioteer of King Dhritarashtra) used this technology to narrate a detailed account of the Kurukshetra battle to his King! A few more things were said, which I suggest you hear for yourself….
Tripura CM Biplab Deb claims Internet, Satellites were first in India since Mahabharata's time. Dhritarastra, Sanjay used Internet in Mahabharata time. Not USA or Western Countries but Biplab Deb claims it's India invented Internet. 😂 pic.twitter.com/pgv1xw5Nx3
— TK (@TayeebKashem) April 17, 2018
Let’s delve a little deeper into the place where this theory could’ve originated from, shall we? There have been such theories floating around forever that India was a very technologically advanced kingdom. Our Vedas and Puranas are said to hold the key to hitherto undiscovered inventions. There’s even a theory that the Brahmastra weapon was actually a modern day nuclear bomb.
But hey, here’s a thought: While taking pride in our mythology and our heritage is encouraged, blind unscientific belief is not.
So what do you think happened next?
Internet existed in the days of Mahabharata: Tripura CM Biplab Deb
Hope the internet will not disappoint and will unleash a million jokes about this 🙂 https://t.co/nlCVcF8KFE
— Shivam Vij (@DilliDurAst) April 17, 2018
And thy will be done!
Twitter was quite savage, if I may say so, in mocking the Tripura CM’s statements, coming up with their own interesting theories about what else, apart from the internet, could’ve existed during Mahabharata!
I like the idea of the Kurukshetra war being fought on social media with Pandavas and Kauravas having trolls armies instead of the usual cavalries!
1. Read. Laugh. Cry. Repeat.
I met Stephen Wolfram (creator of Mathematica) the other day. He shared with us an interesting anecdote on what led CERN to develop internet.
But narrating that technical process on social media is too bland compared to this gem.
Read, laugh, cry. https://t.co/G6cQAqJ9Lu
— Dr. Karan Jani (@AstroKPJ) April 17, 2018
2. Make it good, Sanjaya!
Sanjay narrating current situation on cash crunch & violence against Women during Mahabharata to the blind King Dhritarashtra.(420 BCE) pic.twitter.com/PjRu9OSuQ0
— History of India (@RealHistoryPic) April 18, 2018
The funniest though were the Alternative Facts: Mahabharata Edition that the Tweeple seemed to have a fun timing fabricating!
I assure you, you’ll have a laugh riot reading them too!
1. So, you’re saying the mantra that she used to summon the Sun God was actually a url?
Internet existed during the Mahabharata: Biplab Deb (CM, Tripura)
Of course it did.
That's how Kunti downloaded Karana from Sun.— Nimmo Tai (@CrypticMiind) April 17, 2018
2. OMG! Never looked at it this way!
The most damning evidence is the murder of Dronacharya. A sure-shot victim of Fake news. He was made to believe his son Ashvatthama has been killed by a report on Postcard news, so he put his arms down and started grieving, and was killed. https://t.co/6gpN8Yz4DZ
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) April 18, 2018
3. Someone even managed to write a couple of plot lines for a futuristic Mahabharata!
This raises a few questions. Why didn't Abhimanyu ask Quora how to escape the Chakravyuha? Why did Sanjay narrate the Kurukshetra War when Siri could have done it? Also, Krishna really should have streamed the Bhagavad-Gita on Facebook Live. https://t.co/vrauX1UIpZ #Mahabharata
— Audrey Truschke (@AudreyTruschke) April 17, 2018
The Internet existed during the Mahabharata. The biggest issue happened when Yudhistra refused to make Duryodhana group admin in the family WhatsApp group. Now it can be told.
— Naomi Datta (@nowme_datta) April 18, 2018
And why couldn't the Kauravas find the Pandavas during their incognito year of exile? Seriously people, just check their instagram feeds – tons of pictures of Arjuna as a eunuch there.
— Audrey Truschke (@AudreyTruschke) April 17, 2018
It does sort of explaining all the going back and forth between the Kauravas and the Pandavas before the Great War, however. It was really all just chatter on the family WhatsApp group.
— Audrey Truschke (@AudreyTruschke) April 17, 2018
I could keep this up indefinitely folks. I can talk about the #Mahabharata forever. But perhaps it's time to return to work.
— Audrey Truschke (@AudreyTruschke) April 17, 2018
4. Internet or no internet, times then or times now, some things never change, do they?
If Internet had existed during the Mahabharata, the molestation would have been on camera, culprits arrested, later out on bail. Draupadi invited it because she laughed at Duryodhana, also on camera. https://t.co/bqNPaa5LD9
— Smita Prakash (@smitaprakash) April 18, 2018
5. iPhones would’ve had a ‘Find My Cousin’ app that Duryodhan would’ve used to track the Pandavas down!
If the internet has existed during the Mahabharata, the 13th year of the exile would have been a wash out because of location services.
😎 https://t.co/e0pxRB2Cuh— Harini Calamur (#StayHome) (@calamur) April 18, 2018
6. Seems legit!
If internet had existed during Mahabharata, all data services would have been suspended in Kurukshetra. 😜
— richa singh (@richa_singh) April 18, 2018
7. The difficult sacrifices the Pandavas would’ve had to make!
Of course the internet existed during the Mahabharata era. That Tiimes How handle is the one that posted the “Aswatthama is dead” tweet. And how do you think the Pandavas went incognito in their final year of exile? They deleted their Facebook and protected their twitter account.
— Krish Ashok (@krishashok) April 18, 2018
8. Kurukshetra = The real Indian Premier League!
People watching live Mahabharata fight event on ancient Laptop (827 BCE) pic.twitter.com/zB7i8apiqt
— Limes Of India (@LimesOfIndia) April 18, 2018
But then again, genius is always misunderstood for insanity. Which is why the Tripura CM and the rest of us Indians can still have hope.