Shivkar Bapuji Talpade
Encyclopedia
Shivkar Bapuji Talpade was a Maharashtrian
Pathare prabhu
community member who purportedly flew an unmanned airplane, named Marutsakhā ("Marut
-Air or Stream of Air, Sakha Friend", said of Sarasvati in RV 7.96.2), in the year 1895 (the first unmanned heavier-than-air flight was John Stringfellow
's in 1848).
Talpade stayed at Dukkar Wadi (now renamed Vijay Wadi), Chira Bazaar, Mumbai
(Bombay). He was a scholar in Sanskrit literature
and Vedas
.
It is unclear whether Talpade's craft managed to take off, and if so, whether it qualified as an heavier-than-air aircraft. According to a study by researchers at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Talpade constructed his models under the guidance of Pandit Subbaraya Shastry, the author of Vaimanika Shastra
, but he was not successful in making any of them fly. The Times of India, in a 2004 article, quotes former principal defence scientific officer, D. H. Bedekar, as saying that, "Mr Talpade's plane for some technical reasons failed to operate to its full design limits". The article also references Velkar (1997), which quotes one of Talpade's students, P. Satwelkar, as saying that "the unmanned plane flew a few minutes and came down."
Velkar (1997) reports that Talpade studied the achievements of aviation pioneers like Hiram Maxim
and "[Thomas] Alva Edison
who flew in a balloon and survived a mishap in 1880". Velkar quotes one of Talpade's nieces, Roshan Talpade, as saying the family used to sit in the aircraft's frame and imagine they were flying. A model reconstruction of 'Marutsakha' was exhibited at an exhibition on aviation at Vile Parle, and Velkar refers to "some documents relating to the experiment" preserved at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bangalore
. Talpade made an appeal for funds for further experiments at a public meeting in Ahmedabad, without success
and Hindu national mysticist
literature makes Talpade's pioneer plane a "space ship" (Vimana
), constructed from knowledge distilled from the Rigveda
. The claim seems to originate with D. K. Kanjilal's 1985 Vimana in Ancient India : Aeroplanes Or Flying Machines in Ancient India, but may have roots in contemporary reports in the proto-Hindutva
Kesari
newspaper. It is repeated e.g. by Hindu researcher Stephen Knapp
, identifying the vehicle's propulsion system as a "mercury vortex engine" ("The Vedic Ion Machine"), apparently a device similar to ion thruster
propulsion developed in the 1970s.
The Deccan Herald
in 2003 carried an article which repeated Knapp's claim that the airplane was "based on Vedic technology" and that Talpade "was attracted by the Vaimanika Sastra (Aeronautical Science) expounded by the great Indian sage Maharishi Bhardwaja", a text that was only "channeled" 20 years after the alleged flight. The Deccan Herald article refers to an earlier article carried by the Kesari
newspaper of Bal Gangadhar Tilak
, which referred to a flight demonstration at the Chowpatty Beach of Bombay before a large audience, which included Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III
.
Marathi people
The Marathi people or Maharashtrians are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, that inhabit the Maharashtra region and state of western India. Their language Marathi is part of the southern group of Indo-Aryan languages...
Pathare prabhu
Pathare prabhu
Pathare Prabhu is one of the Hindu communities in the city of Mumbai . These people are among earliest settlers in the city. They are known to have one of the oldest academic traditions amongst Hindus on par with Brahmins. They were amongst the first of the Hindus to adopt to British educational...
community member who purportedly flew an unmanned airplane, named Marutsakhā ("Marut
Maruts
In Hinduism the Marutas , also known as the Marutagana and sometimes identified with Rudras, are storm deities and sons of Rudra and Diti and attendants of Indra. The number of Maruts varies from two to sixty . They are very violent and aggressive, described as armed with golden weapons i.e...
-Air or Stream of Air, Sakha Friend", said of Sarasvati in RV 7.96.2), in the year 1895 (the first unmanned heavier-than-air flight was John Stringfellow
John Stringfellow
John Stringfellow was born in Sheffield, England and is known for his work on the Aerial Steam Carriage with William Samuel Henson....
's in 1848).
Talpade stayed at Dukkar Wadi (now renamed Vijay Wadi), Chira Bazaar, Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
(Bombay). He was a scholar in Sanskrit literature
Sanskrit literature
Literature in Sanskrit begins with the Vedas, and continues with the Sanskrit Epics of Iron Age India; the golden age of Classical Sanskrit literature dates to late Antiquity . Literary production saw a late bloom in the 11th century before declining after 1100 AD...
and Vedas
Vedas
The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
.
It is unclear whether Talpade's craft managed to take off, and if so, whether it qualified as an heavier-than-air aircraft. According to a study by researchers at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Talpade constructed his models under the guidance of Pandit Subbaraya Shastry, the author of Vaimanika Shastra
Vaimanika Shastra
The Vaimānika Shāstra वैमानिक शास्त्र is an early 20th century Sanskrit text on aeronautics obtained by psychic channeling and automatic writing...
, but he was not successful in making any of them fly. The Times of India, in a 2004 article, quotes former principal defence scientific officer, D. H. Bedekar, as saying that, "Mr Talpade's plane for some technical reasons failed to operate to its full design limits". The article also references Velkar (1997), which quotes one of Talpade's students, P. Satwelkar, as saying that "the unmanned plane flew a few minutes and came down."
Velkar (1997) reports that Talpade studied the achievements of aviation pioneers like Hiram Maxim
Hiram Stevens Maxim
Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim was an American-born inventor who emigrated to England at the age of forty-one, although he remained an American citizen until he became a naturalized British subject in 1900. He was the inventor of the Maxim Gun – the first portable, fully automatic machine gun – and the...
and "[Thomas] Alva Edison
Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...
who flew in a balloon and survived a mishap in 1880". Velkar quotes one of Talpade's nieces, Roshan Talpade, as saying the family used to sit in the aircraft's frame and imagine they were flying. A model reconstruction of 'Marutsakha' was exhibited at an exhibition on aviation at Vile Parle, and Velkar refers to "some documents relating to the experiment" preserved at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
. Talpade made an appeal for funds for further experiments at a public meeting in Ahmedabad, without success
Urban Legend
UfologyUfology
Ufology is a neologism coined to describe the collective efforts of those who study reports and associated evidence of unidentified flying objects . UFOs have been subject to various investigations over the years by governments, independent groups, and scientists...
and Hindu national mysticist
Hindu nationalism
Hindu nationalism has been collectively referred to as the expressions of social and political thought, based on the native spiritual and cultural traditions of historical India...
literature makes Talpade's pioneer plane a "space ship" (Vimana
Vimana
Vimāna is a word with several meanings ranging from temple or palace to mythological flying machines described in Sanskrit epics.-Etymology and usage:Sanskrit vi-māna literally means "measuring out, traversing" or "having been measured out"...
), constructed from knowledge distilled from the Rigveda
Rigveda
The Rigveda is an ancient Indian sacred collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns...
. The claim seems to originate with D. K. Kanjilal's 1985 Vimana in Ancient India : Aeroplanes Or Flying Machines in Ancient India, but may have roots in contemporary reports in the proto-Hindutva
Hindutva
Hindutva is the term used to describe movements advocating Hindu nationalism. Members of the movement are called Hindutvavādis.In India, an umbrella organization called the Sangh Parivar champions the concept of Hindutva...
Kesari
Kesari
This article is about the Marathi newspaper. For other uses of the word, see Kesari Kesari is a newspaper founded by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a prominent leader of the Indian Independence movement....
newspaper. It is repeated e.g. by Hindu researcher Stephen Knapp
Stephen Knapp
Stephen Knapp is an American artist best known for his use of the medium of lightpainting He has gained an international reputation for large-scale works of art held in museums, public, corporate, and private collections, which are executed in media as diverse as light, kiln-formed glass, metal,...
, identifying the vehicle's propulsion system as a "mercury vortex engine" ("The Vedic Ion Machine"), apparently a device similar to ion thruster
Ion thruster
An ion thruster is a form of electric propulsion used for spacecraft propulsion that creates thrust by accelerating ions. Ion thrusters are categorized by how they accelerate the ions, using either electrostatic or electromagnetic force. Electrostatic ion thrusters use the Coulomb force and...
propulsion developed in the 1970s.
The Deccan Herald
Deccan Herald
The Deccan Herald is a leading English-language daily newspaper distributed in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is published by the Printers Private Limited and has a number of editions in Bangalore, Hubli, Mysore, Mangalore and Gulbarga....
in 2003 carried an article which repeated Knapp's claim that the airplane was "based on Vedic technology" and that Talpade "was attracted by the Vaimanika Sastra (Aeronautical Science) expounded by the great Indian sage Maharishi Bhardwaja", a text that was only "channeled" 20 years after the alleged flight. The Deccan Herald article refers to an earlier article carried by the Kesari
Kesari
This article is about the Marathi newspaper. For other uses of the word, see Kesari Kesari is a newspaper founded by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a prominent leader of the Indian Independence movement....
newspaper of Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Lokmanya Tilak –, was an Indian nationalist, teacher, social reformer and independence fighter who was the first popular leader of the Indian Independence Movement. The British colonial authorities derogatorily called the great leader "Father of the Indian unrest"...
, which referred to a flight demonstration at the Chowpatty Beach of Bombay before a large audience, which included Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III
Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III
165454565Sayajirao Gaekwad III was the Maharaja of Baroda State from 1875 to 1939, and is notably remembered for reforming much of his state during his rule....
.