Linking mythology with scientific inquiry risks undermining rational thought in a modern democracy
BJP leader and former Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday stirred debate while addressing students in Himachal Pradesh, when he suggested that Lord Hanuman, and not Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, could be considered the “first one to travel in space.” Speaking at an event organised to mark Space Day, he urged the young audience to “look beyond textbooks” and connect with India’s traditions.
The statement has drawn sharp attention not only for its rhetorical flourish but also for its implications. The intertwining of mythology and science, long a feature of nationalist narratives in South Asia, raises fundamental questions about the responsibility of public figures in shaping intellectual discourse.
India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, popularised the idea of scientific temper—a mindset that values evidence, reason and critical thinking. The concept was later enshrined in the Constitution under Article 51A(h), as part of the fundamental duties of every citizen. For a pluralistic society with aspirations of becoming a global leader in innovation, the nurturing of such a temper is indispensable.
Superstitions and blind rituals have historically slowed social reform and obstructed progress. To blend theology with science, especially in classrooms and youth forums, risks creating confusion where clarity is most needed. The success of India’s democratic and developmental project depends not on myth-making but on nurturing rational knowledge and encouraging inquiry.
Thakur’s remarks also highlight a troubling trend: the use of faith narratives in political mobilisation. Religion itself may not be the problem, but its instrumentalisation for electoral gain poses risks. When belief is elevated above evidence, society stands vulnerable to intellectual enfeeblement and national bewilderment.
As India prepares to scale new heights in space exploration and innovation, it must choose carefully between myth and method, between reverence and reason. For a nation that celebrates both its ancient traditions and its modern scientific achievements, the line between culture and inquiry must remain clear.