Union Minister Advocates for Mahakal Standard Time to Replace GMT
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has made a significant proposal to replace Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) with 'Mahakal Standard Time' (MST), emphasizing Ujjain's historical prominence as the world's center for time calculation. Speaking at the inaugural session of the international conference 'Mahakal: The Master of Time' in Ujjain on Friday, Pradhan highlighted the city's unique geographical and scientific heritage.
Historical and Geographical Basis for the Proposal
Ujjain is the location where the Tropic of Cancer passes, and it served as the ancient hub for global time calculation. Pradhan asserted that the time is now ripe to logically establish Mahakal Standard Time in place of GMT. He referenced modern AI tools that acknowledge the original center of time calculation lies in the region around Ujjain, bridging ancient wisdom with contemporary technology.
The minister drew a direct connection between India's spiritual centers and its rich scientific legacy. He described Ujjain as a place where the distinction between spirituality and science vanishes, labeling major spiritual centers like Ujjain, Kashi, Kanchi, and Puri Dham as 'living laboratories' where science, art, culture, literature, and spirituality converge seamlessly.
Scientific Traditions and Environmental Management
Pradhan provided a compelling example from the Mahakal temple to illustrate this convergence. He explained that the continuous flow of water from a pot over the deity, initiated on the first day of the Vaishakh month, is not merely a religious ritual but a scientific response to summer challenges and a form of environmental management. "This demonstrates that our society has, for centuries, possessed the scientific understanding to align its way of life with time cycles and changes in nature," he stated, underscoring the deep-rooted scientific acumen embedded in cultural practices.
Inauguration of Ujjain Science Centre
During the event, Pradhan inaugurated the Ujjain Science Centre and launched a science exhibition at the city's planetarium. This initiative aims to bolster Ujjain's role as a hub for scientific exploration and education, further supporting the proposal for Mahakal Standard Time.
Support from Chief Minister Mohan Yadav
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav echoed Pradhan's sentiments, emphasizing Ujjain's ancient status as a global center for timekeeping and astronomy. "In Ujjain, timekeeping is not merely religious but also thoroughly scientific, as our ancestors established ages ago through texts like the Surya Siddhanta. Time and space are inextricably linked," Yadav remarked.
He highlighted that the Indian time measurement system, based on sunrise and sunset which precisely synchronize with planetary movements and Earth's rotation, is more accurate than GMT. Due to the intersection of the Tropic of Cancer and the zero longitude, Ujjain has historically been the global center for time calculation. The Madhya Pradesh government is committed to developing Ujjain as both a religious city and a science city, with the newly inaugurated Science Centre established at a cost of Rs 15 crore serving as a cornerstone of this vision.
The proposal for Mahakal Standard Time represents a bold step towards recognizing and revitalizing India's scientific heritage, positioning Ujjain at the forefront of global timekeeping discussions.
