Aryabhatta discovered world is round, rotates on axis much before Copernicus: Rajnath Singh
Dehradun, Nov 9: Urging the younger generation to be mindful of the country's glorious history, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday that Aryabhatta had discovered that the earth is round and rotates on an axis much before Copernicus.
Addressing the Uttarakhand's 20th Foundation Day event here as the chief guest, Singh described the youth as the most effective agent of positive change in the country who has the ability to revive old Indian values and its glorious past.
He said India is a diverse country but a common cultural thread constituted by its faith in values like generosity, universal brotherhood and equality of religions runs through its different parts and binds them together.
It is the only country which has believed for centuries in the philosophy of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family),'' he said.
"There is no country in the world except India which regards the entire universe as its family," he said.
Describing India as a country which treats all religions equally, he said it had a history of embracing and giving due respect to followers of different faiths when they were forced by circumstances to leave their respective homelands.
"The jews who suffered persecution everywhere for thousand years finally got acceptance only in India. Even Islamist countries don't have as many sects of Muslims as in India where all 72 sects of Muslims reside," he said.
Reminding the audience, which consisted of students from the city's different educational institutions, of ancient India's achievements in the field of science and innovation, he said Aryabhatta had discovered that the earth is round and rotates on an axis much before Copernicus.
Urging the younger generation to be mindful of the country's glorious history, he said they could be the most effective instrument of positive change in the country.
"I have no doubt that the youth are the most effective agent of positive change in the country but you must remember that the world is moving at supersonic speed. You have to understand the value of time to move along with it otherwise you will be left behind," Singh said.
By 2025 India is going to be among the top three economies of the world and the onus rests on the shoulders of the younger generation, he added.
Talking about the role being played by the younger generation in projects like 'Start Up India' and 'Stand UP India', he said biggest goals can be achieved with the strength of will.
The Union minister said Uttarakhand also has a vast pool of young talent which has to be tapped fully to achieve the state's development goals.
"Uttarakhand turns 19 today which represents an aspirational phase in anyone's life. It can fulfil its aspirations as it has taken many strides in terms of development during the past years. I am sure it is going to grow at even greater pace in the years to come," the minister said.
He said he had a special sense of attachment with Uttarakhand as it was during his tenure as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in 2000 that the state was carved out of UP.
"It gives me immense happiness to see that Uttarakhand has completed 19 years of its journey," he said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
