The Mystique: History
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How did the ISIS (IS) Originate? - the True Story

                                                                                                                                                                                         PC: The Atlantic

On 13th November 2015, Paris was flooded with the blood of innocent civilians after a series of attacks by the brutal, blood-thirsty and savage terrorist group IS (Islamic State). Maiden attack is not the same; everything has started with Iraq & Syria. Let's move to the recital.

Syria - what's happening?



                Syria- a country with thousands of years of rich history, starting from the Roman empire to the fall of Ottoman empire, it was always the jewel of this world. But now, the situation has changed. Since the last 5 years, this great country is aflamed with extreme violence killing more than 270,000 people and more than 10 million Syrians fled from their homes after the outbreak of Civil war, reducing the population to less than half (Before the outbreak, the population of Syria was 22.5 million while the outbreak reduced it to less than 10 million).

                 Every single day in Syria is a blood-shed, everyday is a devastation, everyday is a hell. It all started in 2011 when a mass of young people who protested against Bashar-al-Assad's rule were tortured. Since then, Assad's army started to kill the rebellion. The world's most deadliest terrorist group IS (Islamic State) crawled in-between and started to occupy the country. The damage multiplied when US, NATO, Russia, Britain, France and many started their attacks. The desolation of common citizens became a routine in the name of war between each other.

Aylan Kurdi, a toddler whose body got washed up to the shore of Turkish beach shocked the entire world

                 European countries are moved after this incident and started accepting thousands of refugees from Syria. The picture stands as a symbol of Syrian sufferings.

What is the origin of IS? Do West have something to do with it? 

West's involvement?

Did everything start with the Ottoman empire?

Iraq, once used to be called as the 'Cradle of civilization' was the center of knowledge, glory and technology. The world's famed Mesopotamian civilization took birth in the same soil. It was started by Oghuz Turks under Osman I to unite all the Muslims in the world. After 600 years of glory, due to fight between the tribes, internal conflicts got worsened. During the first world war, the Ottoman was forced to join the Germany as they lost the Balkan wars. Also, in order to protect their oil reserves, they joined Germany. Ultimately, they ended up losing the war and in fact, their territory.



               During the war, Mark Sykes of Britain and Francois Georges Picot of France started carving on the map of the Ottoman to divide it into territories for the mutual benefits of France, Britain and Russia (popularly known as Sykes-Picot agreement). The 14.63 million square kilometer empire (1.5 times the size of US) was divided into 60 parts just with a scale without considering the ethnic group distribution, mountains and waters (that's why most of the Islamic countries have very straight borders). To keep things simple, they ought to this carelessly and thus failed to estimate the damage it would cause to the globe.

               There are three dominant sects in Muslims (though people say only 2) Sunnis, Shias and Kurdish. Though the Kurdish are also Sunnis, they mean Arab Sunnis and Kurdish Sunnis. As a result of the agreement, most of these groups were sliced apart. As a result, one of the group became minority leading to discrimination and domination by the other. This led to terrible internal chaos in the newly formed states. 

               In Iraq, Sunnis turned to be the majority and most of the Shia majority had gone to Iran. Kurdish were minority in all the states and there was no separate country for them. Things were hot from the beginning, each group trying to dominate the other. As a result, insecurity grew among the minorities.
                                      

The Iraq's Story

               By 1968, Iraq was under the control of Sunni Ba'ath party under the Ahmed Hassan Al-Bakr's presidential rule supported by Saddam Hussein as vice-president and general. In the next years, Saddam Hussein's popularity was increased to such an extent that Al-Bakr was forced to give away his rule to Hussein by 1979. 


Saddam Hussein
                  Everything had changed after Hussein became the President. He suppressed Shias in every manner possible and their executions became common. In 1979, he started a war with Iran when it moved with the Islamic rebellion thinking that it would inspire Shias in Iraq. In the war and the aftermath, 100,000 Iraqi lives were lost. Kurds in Iraq never wished to be a part of it. As a result, they tried to get control of the situation but failed when Saddam Hussein launched al-Anfal, a genocide campaign on Kurdish North in 1988. It resulted in the death of 150,000 Kurds. Hussein, immediately after the Iran-Iraq war, started the Persian gulf war on Kuwait for its delicious oil reserves. Another attempt to overthrow Hussein failed and it killed 120,000 people (In this war, Kuwait was supported by 34 coalition nations). Due to the course of events, extreme dissent grew among Kurds and Shias.

Here's the most tricky part!

               Though the Gulf war was won by coalition nations, the intervention of US in the war was considered most tricky. Most of the Arab nations didn't like it. It was assumed that the interest of oil reserves made many countries involved.

               After the 9/11 attacks, Iraq was falsely alleged as the hub for Al-Queda though it was an internal activity. Though the UN report showed that Iraq isn't involved with the attacks, US didn't mind. Along with Britain, France and Germany, it started bombing Iraq which left thousands of casualties. Finally, the interest of US and its allies on Iraq became an open secret. In a short while, by 2003, Saddam Hussein was thrown out of power and was executed in 2006. 

                Initially, Iraqis felt that their lives would be peaceful under the American control. After the days grew up, Iraqi civilians were often mistreated, tortured and killed by US. This united all the anti-American protestants to fight against US and allies. Moreover, all the war prisoners were kept in Bucca camp (Southern Iraq) which helped spread Al-Queda propaganda. The emir of IS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who is considered as the most powerful and dangerous terrorist leader in the world, got his followers from this camp. He became the leader of Iraqi al-Queda by the end of 2010. Indirectly, this camp served as the platform to sketch a plot for their strengthening which would never be possible if they were in Baghdad. 


Bucca Camp In Southern Iraq

               The origin of ISIS can be traced back to 1999- when Abu Musab al-Zarqawi started it. Later, in early 2000's, he swore allegiance to Al-Queda and hence it was called as Al-Queda of Iraq (AQI). Later, the group became weaker and weaker after his death in 2007. Baghdadi got the group in track by re-branding it as ISIS. After the US troops withdrew from Iraq in 2011, the group then started to seize the neighboring parts of Iraq and now dominates most of the parts of Iraq and Syria.


PC:The Atlantic

               Later in 2012, after the end of Qaddafi's regime, reports revealed that CIA with the utmost co-operation of MI6, transferred the weapons from Libya to the hands of Syrian rebels. Also, it is said that US and allies want ISIS to be existed then so that it would not trouble them in getting oil from Iraq and Syria. Unaccordingly, the plan was reversed when ISIS emerged as a very powerful terrorist group that it is not in a stage of being controlled, it's in a stage of controlling. 

             The fact that ISIS became so strong because of the mistreatment & torture of Iraqi citizens by allies cannot be denied. If it was not so, IS could not have dug their terrorist ideas deeply into Iraq and Syria. IS would have still existed, but not this deadly. It is clear now that ISIS cannot be destroyed by the same powers which brought it to Iraq and Syria. The endless military interventions in the Middle East have done nothing except the destruction and devastation. Now, it is impossible to uproot ISIS unless all the nations work unitedly leaving their political games.

What is the Truth Behind Subhash Chandra Bose's Death?

         
Subash Chandra Bose

    

               Popularly known as Netaji (the leader), Subhash Chandra Bose is one of the true legends who battled heroically in Indian independence struggle. Started as a radical wing in Indian National Congress (INC), he founded Indian National Army (INA) and thus played an exceptional role in driving out British forces.

                Starting from the disputes between him and Gandhi & Nehru to his death, everything remains a mystery.  According to the official explanation, Bose died in an overloaded plane crash during WW 2. Though the West Bengal government declassified the Bose's files, the files are yet to be publicly revealed by the Central government.

There are 3 popular theories encircling Bose's death.

1. The plane crash theory
2. Asylum in USSR
3. Gumnami Baba theory


1. The plane Crash Theory:

                 On 17th August, 1945, at 2 P.M., Mitsubishi Ki-21 heavy bomber started its flight from Saigon airport. The flight was overcrowded, carrying 13 members including General Tsunamasa Shidei of the Imperial Japanese Army, Col. Habibur Rahman of the Indian National Army, Subhash Chandra Bose and others.


Mitsubishi Ki-21
Mitsubishi Ki-21

                 The flight took a halt at Vietnam for an overnight and then flew to Formosa (Taipei) for refueling. On 18th August, after minutes of takeoff, there was a loud 'bang' sound heard by the passengers and within seconds the plane crashed the ground. The ground crew saw the port side engine falling down from the plane (Subhash Chandra Bose was seated near the port wing). The plane lit up instantly, killing pilot and Gen. Tsunamasa Shidei on the spot. Col. Habibur Rahman survived, fell on the ground unconscious. Bose too survived, with small injuries. But, his clothes which were soaked in gasoline ignited, made him look like a human torch. Within minutes, Netaji died.

                 From years, this theory remained as an official version. However, there are many invalid points in this theory which are needed to be answered.


Altering Subash chandra bose flight plan

1. Taipei government declared that no such crash occurred from March to September in 1945.

2. Neither death certificate was issued nor his dead body was found.

3. Col. Habibur Rahman, the only witness said that he aided Bose in his last minutes and he was there when Bose died. If that's true, why didn't the Col. receive any burn marks?

4. When the doctors and nurses were interviewed, their explanations didn't cope up with each other.

5. According to Mukherjee's commission, the ashes in Renkoji temple doesn't belong to Subhash Chandra Bose.

Hence, it is clear that Bose didn't die in the plane crash. So, why did he fake his death?

Reason:

1. Bose saw Japan as an ally which could help India to achieve independence. His dreams were shattered when Japan lost the WW2. So, in search of a new ally, INA needed some time to reorganize themselves. Moreover, if Bose stayed in Japan, he would be arrested as a war criminal. So, he had to move to some country (he moved to Russia)

2. He had disputes with prominent leaders of INC (Indian National Congress) like Gandhi and Nehru. It is strongly believed that an agreement was made with the British to return Bose if he were ever found

2. Asylum in USSR theory

                 After faking his death, Bose moved to Manchuria in China in the hope that USSR might find him. He believed that he can help India by convincing Russia as there was a tussle of cold war between US and USSR.

                When USSR found Bose, they mistook him for a spy and imprisoned him. After some time, after confirming Bose's identity, surely, Stalin might have informed Indian government about it. Here, there arises two possibilities.

(i) Indian government might have responded positively and Bose was saved.

(ii) The government responded negatively and as a result, Bose couldn't make it to escape was hanged in USSR.

Did Bose really get an Asylum in USSR?

                  After independence, Nehru tried to build foreign affairs more strongly by appointing Mrs. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit as a foreign affairs minister. Later, she was replaced by Dr.Radhakrishnan. Alleged reports say that Dr.Radhakrishnan and Mrs.Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit had met Subhash Chandra Bose in Moscow. Dr. Goswami, a retired official from anti-corruption department of west Bengal government said that Dr. Radhakrishnan told him that he met Bose at Moscow while attending a philosophical conference as a delegate in 1948. He also said that Dr. Radhakrishnan asked him not to reveal this to anyone until his tenure as a President of India.


Radhakrishnan met Netaji



From this, we can conclude that if this is true, Bose might not have been imprisoned in Yakutsk by 1948.

BJP's Subramanian Swamy said


"According to the papers that exist with us, Bose had faked his death and escaped to Manchuria in China which was under Russian occupation, hoping Russia would look after him. But, Stalin put him in a jail in Siberia. Somewhere around 1953, he hanged or suffocated Bose to death."

                 Adding more support to this, when Dr. Satyanarayana Sinha, Indian ambassador was presented before Khosla commission (appointed by Mrs. Indira Gandhi), he said that he met a prisoner named "Kuzlov" who was in the neighboring cell of Bose. When he was asked how Kuzlov could identify Bose, he gave an alleged evidence by saying how Kuzlov met Bose in India and how he knew about Bose.


Bose Gandhi and Patel


                 Here is an article which shows that Gandhi, Nehru and Mohammed Ali Jinnah signed an agreement with British to charge Bose if he were found.


Gandhiji has agreed to handover Netaji

                 It is said that Nehru feared that he would lose his place in Congress if Bose returns to India.  The relations between India and USSR were very strong during late 40's and early 50's. So, if this theory is correct, there are high chances that Bose was imprisoned is absolutely correct but whether Bose was released or hanged to death remains a conspiracy.

3. The Gumnami Baba Theory:

                  It is believed that Bose after escaping from the plane crash and returning from USSR, he became a Sadhu in Faziabad. He became popular as Bhagwanji aka Gumnami Baba. He maintained contact with Dr. Pavitra Mohan Roy, the former top secretive agent of INA. After living there for nearly 35 years, he died on September 16, 1985.

                   However, when he died, his belongings revealed that there are chances that he might be Netaji. He used to wear a golden spectacles, exactly same that of Bose's, possesses a powerful German binoculars, a color photo of Swami Vivekananda, Bengali books, the original copy issued to Subhash Chandra Bose to attend before Khosla's commission and some photographs of Bose's family members.

Apart from this, there are some facts which supported this theory

1. Handwriting match between Bose and Gumnami Baba (confirmed by B. Lal, the top-most Forensic expert who worked with Mukherjee's commission).
2. Descriptions by the locals who talked to him.
3. The sadhu possessed some intriguing books. Gulliver's travels, P.g. Wodehouse's The inimitable Jeeves, the scarcely available International Military Tribunal for the far East, The last days of Raj, Moscow's shadow over West Bengal and Solzhenisteyn's The Gulag Archipelago. This could never be a bed-time read for a typical sadhu.
4. It is said that the sadhu's DNA matched Bose's.

Conclusion:

                     Since many years, Congress tried to suppress the facts by hiding the files of Subhash Chandra Bose. But, with the increasing pressure, finally, west Bengal government took an initiative by de-classifying the files. However, government is planning to setup a committee to monitor about this. Why the Central government is fearing that it might damage our relations with Russia? Did Nehru with the help of USSR, planned something harmful to Bose ? Whatever may be, it is the right of every Indian to know about the legend who contributed a lot to the Indian independence struggle.




How did the Taliban Originate?



                  Terrorism, today resembles that we have failed, as a civilization. It has killed thousands and thousands of people. Vitenam war, 9/11 bombings, Syrian war, 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Peshawar school attack, it left us many uncured wounds and heart-breaking scenes. Al-Queda, Taliban, IS (Islamic State), Indian Mujahideen, Tehrik-i-Taliban, Hamas are the world's deadliest terrorist groups. 

How did the Taliban originate?

                  The story of Taliban dates back to 1979. When Soviet Union occupied Afghanistan in 1973, in the name of improving their crushed economy, the conditions got worsened. Their army pillaged cities, raped women and killed those who revolted. At those conditions, a rebellion was started which resented the Soviet's army. It was called "Mujahideen" (which means ''one who fights for a Jihad" in Arabic). Taliban is a faction of it. Later, Mujahideen was supported by United States and Pakistan. Though the Taliban was started for the aim of eliminating Soviet troops, later, it turned to a "deadly monster".

Is United States responsible for Taliban?

                 Contemporarily, the cold war between United States and Soviet Union was at peeks. US feared that the USSR may become powerful if it gets hold of Central Asia. To prevent this, it helped Afghan Mujahideen militarily and financially. Under the Reagan's presidency, the Congress and CIA decided to recruit Mujahideen ("holy warriors"). It is said that US spent about $3 billion for the rebellion but never cared about retrieving the arms and how the later funds were spent.


Mujahideen in 1989

                 Pakistan supported Mujahideen as majority of the Mujahideen were Pashtuns, who are dominant in North-Western Pakistan & military. Moreover, Mujahideen promised that it would restore peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan if it comes to power.

Selig Harrison, from the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars said that

"The CIA made the historic mistake of encouraging Islamic groups all over the world to come to Afghanistan and the Taliban had been actively encouraged by CIA and ISI"

                  Though the USSR tried to suppress the pro-Communist movement by sending more troops, the Mujahideen, who has extreme views of Islam fought bravely and were able to bounce back all the troops to Moscow by 1989.

The Taliban Rule

                After drawing out Russian troops, Mujahideen tried to impose their stern version of Sharia (Islamic law). They were a bit successful in decreasing the crime rate, improving commerce. 

"They executed the convicted publicly, they banned the usage of television, radio and music. Men had to grow beards and those who opposed were severely punished . Women should not come out unless there is a male relative with her. Girls above the age of 10 are not allowed to go to schools."

A person whose did a theft was being amputated in a region of Pakistan
                 By 1992, the internal conflicts in Afghanistan multiplied. Burhanuddin Rabbani, who was the interim President of Mujahideen failed to control them and subsequently, ended up fighting one another. By Autumn of 1994, with the help of Pakistan military, Taliban movement (Taliban mean "Student") boosted. Mullah Muhammad Omar, the leader of Taliban, instructed to take up arms, capture Kandahar and advance towards Kabul. They occupied Kabul in September 1996. By 1998, they were almost in control of entire Afghanistan,

                 There were many violations of human rights and power. Taliban combined with Al-Queda, a deadly terrorist group. US, warned Taliban to surrender Osama Bin Laden, the leader of Al-Queda. As the warnings were obdurate, US bombed the suspected sites of Al-Queda in Kenya and Tanzania. Notoriously, in 2001, despite the international requests, they destroyed the 2000 year-old historical Buddha statues of Bamiyan in central Afghanistan packing international outrage. After that, they destroyed World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 killing 3000 people (When Al-Queda was asked to surrender Osama Bin Laden, it questioned the role of him in it and the issue remains a conspiracy).


Bamiyan Buddhas - Before and After Destruction

                 In October, 2001, NATO led a military operation in Afghanistan. This is popularly called as the largest manhunt ever done. However, these two leaders escaped. Taliban regime shattered by December of the same year. In 2003, when NATO moved to Iraq, Taliban and Al-Queda re-grouped and started their voilent attacks again. In 2006, NATO deployed 40,000 soldiers to eliminate Taliban. Most of the Afghan Talibans were killed but some of them escaped to Pashtun reigns of Pakistan (Waziristan). 


NATO in Afghanistan
                    Pakistan, in order to eliminate Taliban, deployed 80,000 soldiers in the borders of Waziristan. After few wars, it recognized that fighting them would de-stabilize the. So, they signed a pact with Taliban not to attack NATO, Afghan soldiers and Pakistan. However, they crossed it when Taliban had undergone several kidnappings and killings near Red Mosque in 2006. Pakistan military shot down 100 Talibans in the mosque. This agitated Taliban, and they resorted to many suicide bombings and killings.

                From then, there were many attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan. After the withdrawal of NATO from Afghanistan, they had increased to a larger extent. An initial encouragement from US and Pakistan had indirectly led to the development of these brutal, inhuman terrorist groups.







The True Story of Cleopatra


                 In the history of ancient world, where the power rested in the hands of men, there exists one woman who eclipses all other of her own time. In the prism of popular culture, her name became a byword for beauty, luxury and intelligence. More than that, her story is twined with one of the most powerful historians like Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. She is of course, the last pharaoh of Egypt, "Cleopatra".  Cleopatra, though she ruled for a short period, has a strong impression in the public consciousness because she was able to sustain an empire at the peaks of ever-expanding Roman empire. Moreover, the empire she established was very powerful. 

                 From 2 thousand years, from art, history and dossiers, which were too vague and contradictory, we idealized Cleopatra. Since many centuries, she had become a blank canvas on which the successive generations projected whatever they thought of. Since ages, Cleopatra has been portrayed by many names, starting by a stunning beauty, heroine and august leader to the sexual predator and cold-blooded murderer. Exploring facts would surely need us to erase all the conventional false impressions. From the native to her death, everything about her is a mystery. What is her true story?

The Ptolemaic

A painting depicting the war style of Ptolemaic
                 After the death of Alexander, the great in 323 B.C. , Ptolemy I came to ascension and established a highly powerful Ptolemaic empire in 305 B.C. They declared themselves as the successors of the Pharaohs of Egypt. Inorder to blend with the Egyptian culture, they adopted Egyptian dressing style, constructed monuments in Egyptian style and married their siblings as per Egyptian culture.

                 There was a constant civil war waged between natives and Ptolemaic kingdom along with the outside war with Romans. In the later years, there developed many internal chaos in the empire and the stability of the empire was at a stake. It was at this time, Cleopatra rose to power in 51 B.C., at the age of 18, along with her brother (and also her husband) Ptolemy XIII.

Cleopatra- character

               Since ages, Cleopatra has been immortalised as a seductress and an imposing beauty. The 2000 year-old coins found recently (have Cleopatra image on them) rules out all our assumptions of goddess-like appearance. She was not as attractive as the conventional folk praised but she was a bit plain-looking with a pointed chin, thin lips and a beak-like nose. 

                 However, unlike the common image of seductress applied on her name, she is not so. She was a great scientist and much more than that, a very eminent administrator and leader. Most of the history of her which is available today was written by Romans and Arabs. Interestingly, Romans delineate her as a charismatic and sexual predator while Arabs characterized her as a great administrator and an appreciable scientist. It is noteworthy Arabs never mentioned about her appearance while Romans put their records mostly on the same. This might be because Romans hated her for loving Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.


                Arabs she was a great sage, philosopher and an author. It is said that the early Arabs had access to the books written by the queen herself on medicine, charms and cosmetics. They wrote that "She elevated the ranks of scholars and scientists and always enjoyed the presence of them".


Caesar and Cleopatra



                 The meeting of Cleopatra with Caesar was sudden and unexpected. During 48 B.C., a civil war broke out in Rome between Caesar and Pompey (a military General of Rome). After series of attacks, Pompey was forced to leave to Alexandria hoping for the support of Ptolemy XIII. Instead, he was killed by Ptolemy XIII and his head was presented to Caesar when he arrived there.


                At the meanwhile, the conflicts between Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII became worse. Ptolemy XIII hoped that he could win the throne (According to the will of Ptolemy XII, both of the heirs should distribute their power) and barred his relations with Caesar. Cleopatra sensed this and was able to present her case to him. Impressed by her keen intelligence and beauty, eventually, he fell in love with her and a child was born named Caesarion. 


                With the support of Ptolemaic kingdom, Roman empire became more powerful. With the support of Caesar, Cleopatra almost grabbed the entire power of Egypt and also declared Caesarion as the co-ruler.


Cleopatra and Mark Antony



                 In 44 B.C., with the assassination of Caesar, Cleopatra returned to Alexandria with depression. Also, there also begun internal mayhem in the empire. Antony and Octavian, who arranged the assassination of Caesar, incepted a civil war in Rome. Antony took the control over Eastern Rome whereas Octavian (later became popular as Augustus Caesar) occupied the Western part. 


                 This is where Cleopatra found herself in awkward position. Egypt needed the support of Rome to succor and she therefore supported Antony. When she was asked about the lack of her support to Antony during the civil war, she replied him that the battle forces she sent were not just in time. Surmised, he was awed by her yearning intelligence. In the later years, they fell in love with each other and Cleopatra gave birth to 3 children.


Battle of Actium


                 It is said that Antony after meeting Cleopatra lost all the interest in every other things and indirectly, she controlled the empire. When Octavian and Antony relations were frayed, they waged war on each other and finally, Octavian killed Antony. Octavian killed Caesarion but spared the 3 children of Cleopatra with Antony (who were brought up in Rome later). Cleopatra committed suicide after that being bit by an Egyptian Cobra to death. 


                 There is an interesting theory why Cleopatra chose an Egyptian Cobra. According to the Egyptian mythology, a Cobra is a sacred creature and is a symbol of immortality and divinity. They believed that if a Cobra kills a person, he/she would have a good afterlife. 


                 With the end of her life, the 300 year supremacy of Ptolemaic kingdom has come to an end and the legacy of the great queen is marked in the history of this world.




7 Proofs that Ancestral Technology is Better than Ours


               We are far more superior to those bunches of idiots from ancient ages. Probably, they never know what a Macbook is! We excel them in every way, save for beard-growing abilities. Is it true? Recent investigations and research reveal that they exceed our present-day technology in many aspects. Let us look at the pillars supporting this idea.


The Seven Proofs
Contrary to the common idea, ancestral technology excelled us in many ways. Starting from the ancient battery technology to the aeroplanes, we are little too late in finding things or for that matter, we re-discovered many.

7. Ancient telescope:




This origin of this lens(popularly called as Nimrud lens) dates back to 1000 B.C. The Nimrud lens was found in 1850 by Sir John Layard in Assyrian palace of Nimrud (Iraq). It is made by a natural rock crystal and has the ability to magnify 3 times!! Moreover, this crystal has 12 cavities that are opened during grinding so that it can be filled with Naphtha (Naphtha is used to filter the crystal). Isn't it amazing that Assyrians could make a telescope 2,600 years just before than our modern telescope which was made by Hans Lippershey in 1608 A.D.?

6. Roman Concrete:



Recent research about the 2,000 year old concrete found in the submerged waves of Mediterranean Sea reveal that it is much superior to the present-day one. Possibly originated from the Roman times, this concrete is a blend of lime and volcanic rock. Samples of Tobermorite are found which turned it into an extremely durable and stable one. Scientists are still bemused how this thing could have survived the harsh waves for 2,000 years whereas extant concrete could last 50 years!


5. Ancient Nanotechnology:



Oh! Come on, what might be so technological about a goblet? Indeed, it depicts the ancient Roman knowledge of nanotechnology. When this chalice is lit from the front, it scatters jade-green color while lighting it from behind emerges blood-red light. Thousands of gold and silver flecks were inserted into the cup which brightens it in accordance to the position of the observer. This clearly depicts that it was no accident but indeed made with extreme precision.

4. Earthquake detector:



We still could not predict an Earthquake accurately, even though we could measure and record it where ancient Chinese could accurately predict an earthquake. Excavations revealed a 2,000 year-old Seismoscope which is said to be invented by Chinese genius Zhang Heng. 8 dragons snaked down the bronze vessel whose mouths are filled with a bronze ball each. 8 toads were placed at its base as if they were ready to collect the balls. Whenever an earthquake occurs, the ball falls on the toad alerting the people and also giving a rough direction of it. In 2005, scientists tested this Seismoscope in villages of China and Vietnam and succeeded in predicting the havoc.

3. Antikythera Mechanism:




Often called as the world's first analog computer, this mechanism is most fabulous mechanical device of the ancient world. It was found first in 1900 in a Greek island Antikythera and is 3,500 years old. It consists of extraordinary precise gears, dials and cogs which made it sophisticated. Probably, this mechanism was used primarily as the astronomical observer. We could not achieve this technology until 18th century where Greeks could do this somewhere 3,500 years before!

 2. The Baghdad Battery:
  


Discovered in 1936, this ancient battery surely surprised the modern world. Encapsulated by a clay pot, the internal structure of this battery consisted of a copper cylinder in which an iron rod is placed without touching it. Both of them are held in position by an Asphalt plug. Each of the battery could produce 1-2 volts and also lasts long. It was found that it was built in 300 B.C. and if it so, for what purpose did they use it for? Did they had any electronic knowledge too? It still remains as a question.

1. The Vimanas:


An Airplane Model from the 'Vimana Sastra'
Now, it's the time to know about some cool ancient airplane technology. Dossiers and sacred texts of ancient India reveal the presence of airplane and missile technology. In the Vedas(dates back to 2000 B.C.) many airplane models were described which were said to fly into the air by fire and water (Two famous models are 'the Pushpaka Vimana' and 'the Suvarna pushpa'). In Mahabharata (sacred text of Hindus) too, missile technology was mentioned. And more importantly, this aeronautical technology is not confined to India. Egypt's 'Saqqira bird', Columbia's 'golden airplane', 'Nazca lines' clearly indicate the aeronautical knowledge of our ancestors.


Saqqira Bird

There are many more examples to prove. Some of you may wonder that they don't have electronic gadgets, giant multi-storey buildings,  sophisticated genetic technology, etc.... but aren't they great for what they achieved hundreds of years before what we could achieve now, at least some basic technology? It is not until 18th century, we had invented some of these. In this way, they are far advanced than us. Hats off, ancestors!


The War of the currents:Edison vs Tesla

               

                This article is about the war of currents held in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, and stars two of the most celebrated modern inventors, who influenced the course of history, Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison, and has another player, a businessman by the name of George Westinghouse.

                 Nicola Tesla was an American Serbian inventor, born in 1856 in modern day Croatia. His early years were very turbulent, with him contracting life-threatening diseases, escaping his home, fleeing from his family, and excelling in his studies in engineering to being addicted to gambling the next year. He is known for his contributions to the development of A/C current generators, and wardenclyffe tower, and his lesser known inventions include, the torpedo (which the United States government did not show any interest in at the time). He is greatly respected by the 21st century populace, the revolutionary car company Tesla is named after him, as is the unit of magnetic flux.

                Thomas Edison, who was the founder of General electric, the inventor of the phonograph, and known around the world as the man who invented the lightbulb, although the last fact is false (Mr. Alessandro Volta, after whom the unit volt was named, demonstrated the use of a light-bulb before Edison was even born, in the year 1800). Thomas Edison has practically demonstrated the use of many inventions like the camera and lightbulb. He was a prolific inventor, and had over 1000 patents to his name, due to which his is also known as the man who invented a thousand things.

                Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison had a few similarities, while growing up, as both were inspired and taught by their mothers, with Nikola tesla crediting his mother for his eidetic memory and Thomas Edison saying “My mother was the making of me. She was so true, so sure of me; and I felt I had something to live for, someone I must not disappoint."

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                Another similarity between the two of them is their tough childhood. They both had life threatening illnesses when they were young, Edison was even hard of hearing because of the scarlet fever he had while he was young.

               These two, would, in the future, be on different sides of a war, a war of currents. Nikola Tesla once worked for Mr. Thomas Edison .There was an argument between Mr. Edison and Nikola Tesla over pay. Thomas Edison told Nikola Tesla that if he improved Edison’s design of the DC motor, he would pay Tesla 50000$, and Tesla did exactly that within a month, to which, Edison, saying that he was only joking, replied, "Tesla, you don't understand our American humor”. Instead, Edison offered a US$10 a week raise over Tesla's US$18 per week salary; Tesla refused the offer and immediately resigned.

                This event was the preamble to the war of currents, which brought these two head-to-head. After quitting his job, Tesla focused on A/C generators and motors, and soon got patents for them. Edison was a firm believer in D/C power and focused on it, opening the power plants across the United States starting 1882. D/C power, at that time had many disadvantages when compared to A/C current, it was tough to change the voltage (which meant that the lines for industrial use having a high voltage, would have to be different to the domestic usage lines), that the range was very less, about 1.5 km (which meant that the generating station be near the load), and that large conductors would be needed for the stations (which meant a high investment, which was not economical). 

                A young businessman by the name of George Westinghouse, saw the potential in A/C and decided to invest in Tesla, even though it was expensive. (Tesla charged 2.5$ per HP, and 50000$ signing charges for his patents of A/C generators and motors).

               Edison is widely known for his campaigns against A/C power. This marked the all-time low of the ‘war of currents’. Edison, wanting to spread the message that A/C power was more dangerous, tried to discourage the public from using A/C current by spreading rumours about A/C current, killing stray animals, like cats and dogs, and unwanted cattle using A/C current, publicly. In addition to this, he tried to popularize the term ‘Westinghoused’ to anybody who was electrocuted.

               The lowest point in this campaign was reached when Edison paid an inventor by the name of Harold to create an electric chair, and he supplied the first electric chair to the state of New York, for the execution of a prisoner known as William kemmler. The technicians misjudged the amount of current required, and, as a result, the prisoner did not die, but was badly burnt. When asked to comment, Mr Westinghouse said that “they should have used an axe”

               The mighty D/C backers faced their first loss in 1890.The ‘fall’ of D/C started when the Willamette Falls Electric company installed Experimental A/C generators in the Willamette falls in 1890, after the D/C generator, installed the year before, was destroyed due to a flood. In the same year, the Niagara falls power company analyzed methods to harness the power of the Niagara falls. The team analyzed a variety of proposals, but could not come to a decision.

               Everything changed in the battleground in the war of currents a year later. In the year 1891, the international Electro-Technical Exhibition was held in Frankfurt, Germany, and was powered by 3 phase A/C current, being generated 175 km away. This exhibition proved that the A/C system was a more practical and efficient system than the D/C transmission system, and as a result, in the year 1893, the Niagara falls power company gave the Westinghouse corporation the contract.

              This virtually lent a death-blow to D/C transmission. A few years later, General electric also jumped in the A/C bandwagon and caught up to the other companies.

              This rivalry was one that shaped the world, and involved two of the greatest inventors of their time go against each other. Their approach to their ends and their behaviour to it was very different. One of the main differences between them was their upbringing, both having a similar childhood, but the countries that they belonged to were very different. Edison was brought up in America, the land of the capitalists, wherein the science behind the invention was not the main concern, but the practical application and monetary gains were. 

              This fact is evident when we see that Tesla was concerned with the inefficiency with dc systems, whereas Edison was concerned with dc systems being of similar cost to traditional gas lamps. Some speculate that Mr Edison was not even fully aware of ohms law, and on the other end of the spectrum, we have Tesla, who was not an inventor, but a visionary.

                Many analysts of the current war say that both the inventors had amazing ideas, some ideas which were not so good (impossible in the case of Tesla, as in the case of worldwide transmission by Tesla), but the way in which they handled it was very different. Edison tried to force the public to forgo the more advantageous ac current by a media campaign of fear, a staple for politicians, and the way Tesla regarded the problem of his failure ( in his case, the failure of wardenclyffe tower) was similar to that of philosopher Aristotle and many other geniuses and savants, he became eccentric and wasted away.

             In conclusion, we can observe what happens when the yin and yang of a technical entrepreneur collide; the result is innovation, for the better. If left unchecked, the world would have suffered. It would be a costly process to convert to America to dc systems years later, if not for Tesla, and, without Edison, most of the practical inventions he patented would not make it to the drawing board until years later.

              It might seem that Edison was dead wrong, but he might have had the last laugh (if he were alive), because, most modern systems now use a High Voltage D/C current system to transmit power.