“Innovation of Iron Technology and its Impact on Indian Society”: Two day UGC Seminar held at Kuppam University on February 25th and 26th 2019 [1]

“Innovation of Iron Technology and its Impact on Indian Society”: Two day UGC Seminar held at Kuppam University on February 25^th and 26^th 2019 [1]

Dravidian University campus, location – Google map

Guest House and VC bungalow – Dravidian University campus, location – Google map

Coming to Kuppam again: The two day national seminar on “Innovation of Iron Technology and its Impact on Indian Society” was held at the premises of Dravidian University on February 25^th and 26^th 2019 under the auspices of the department of History, Archaeology and culture. I am visiting this campus after the APHC held in 2011 and find that the station, the road leading to the University campus etc., have changed much. The railway station has been 10 kms away from the University campus. It has been the constituency of Chandrababu Naidu, now CM of Andhra Pradesh. As age increases, the feeling that places are also appearing to be away from us. Ratnam, driver came from the University and took me to the University campus, where I was accommodated at the guest house. I noted that already, several scholars had arrived. The foundation stone for the “Faculty House” was laid by the then Governr C. Rangarajan on 29-07-2000 and it was inaugurated by N. Chandababu Naidu on 07-12-2002 after the building completion.

The foundation stone for the “Faculty House” / Guest House was laid by the then Governor           C. Rangarajan on 29-07-2000

The Faculty House was inaugurated by N. Chandababu Naidu on 07-12-2002 after the building completion.

Guest House gate and the road on a hillock with trees

The banner of the “Iron technology” seminar at the entrance of the Guest House

Another entrance of the Guest House

VC bungalow after the Guest House

The Dravidian University, profile[1]: The Dravidian University was established in 1997 at the tri-lingual junction, Kuppam in Chittoor District, A. P., 8 k.m away from Tamil Nadu, 4 km, away from Karnataka and hardly about four hours drive to Kerala, to research Dravidian languages. The Campus is named Srinivasa Vanam as a token of reverence for the grace of Lord Venkateswara, Sri Srinivasa and for the benevolent grant extended by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams for afforestation of the campus, spreading over 1093 acres with beautiful greenery and huge and small impressive hillocks presenting a typical rock garden[2]. The Dravidian University was established through a Legislature Act of Andhra Pradesh and conceived as an Inter – State Institution. The neighboring Governments of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala have extended initial support which enabled the University to take up constructions of Vemana Bhavan, Thiruvalluvar Bhavan, Narayanaguru Bhavan and Basava Bhavan remembering the great Social Saints of the South who enshrined the language cultures with their immortal thoughts. The University located in a serene rural setting with pleasant greenery spread over the spacious campus of about 1000 acres endowed with huge deposits of granite, giving a picture of rock garden, is one of the most ideally suited institution for quite and dedicated studies and research harmonizing the individual, both internally and externally. The campus absolutely pollution free.

A scientific look at the circular: The following note appeared in the circular circulated: “Historians believe that the Egyptians were the first to work with small amounts of iron about five or six thousand years ago. The metal they used was apparently extracted from meteorites. Evidence of what is believed to be the first example of iron mining and smelting points to the ancient Hittite culture in what is now Turkey. Because iron was a far superior material for the manufacture of weapons and tools than any other known metal, its production was a closely guarded secret. However the basic technique was simple and the use of iron gradually spread. As usual as it was compared to other materials, iron had disadvantages. The quality of tools made from it was highly variable, depending upon the region from which the iron ore was taken and the method used to extract the iron. The chemical nature of the changes taking place during the extraction were not understood; in particular, the importance of carbon to the metal’s hardness. Practices varied widely in different parts of the world.”

1. It is not known why historians should believe something, anything of any historical fact.
2. “The metal they used was apparently extracted from meteorites” – so there is no question of Egyptians using smelted iron.
3. “Evidence of what is believed to be the first example of iron mining and smelting points to the ancient Hittite culture in what is now Turkey” – for this also, historians have to believe, then, they can consider the recent claims of Indian iron going back to 6000 BCE.
4. The following points are scientifically and technically incorrect:
   1. “The quality of tools made from it was highly variable, depending upon the region from which the iron ore was taken and the method used to extract the iron.” – everything can be varied, till it was standardized. The Indian wootz proved standardized steel manufactured distinguishable from others.
   2. “The chemical nature of the changes taking place during the extraction were not understood” – the chemical changes occur only due to the addition of chemicals for purification etc.
   3. “…. in particular, the importance of carbon to the metal’s hardness. Practices varied widely in different parts of the world.” – The addition of Carbon to iron only makes it get converted into steel, so that it could be used for the manufacture of tools etc.
5. As for as the alloy making, % of chemical added etc., for the manufacture of high tensile carbon steels, Ultra high carbon steels etc.

A clear understanding of iron and steel and their technology thereof should be known clearly before writing anything about “Iron technology.” An “Iron processing Machine” picture appeared on the front page of the circular. Actually, it was “The original diagram of Su’s book showing the inner workings of his clock tower,” reportedly manufactured by Su Song (1020-1101 CE), a medieval Chinese scientist[3]. As by 12^th century, the Indian iron and steel products were well known all over the world, an Indian furnace could have been depicted instead. The British have accepted that the Europe derived iron and tell technology from the Indians[4]. Actually, as the subject matter involves technical nature, an engineer or metallurgist could have consulted for presenting facts.

Emeneau House, the Guest House

Emeneau Guest House – where the seminar was held: The seminar was organized at the hall of the “Emeneau Guest House,” with the chief guest – Prof Sudhakaa Yedla, VC of the Dravidian University. The key-note address was delivered by Dr N. Rajendran, VC of Alagappa University and the “Guest of Honour” was Dr S. Jaikishan, Bhawan’s New Science College, Hyderabad. Facilitation address was given by Prof S. Penchalaiah, Registrar of the University. Prof N. Kanakaratnam, convener of the seminar proposed “vote of thanks”.  Dr Aravind Kumar compered the proceedings. He introduced the VIPs and welcomed all drawing attention to “Iron man of India” and his statue made of iron. Also he had drawn the attention of Swami Vivekananda, “Men of iron and nerves of steel.” N. Kanakaratnam explained how the theme of the seminar was conceived. When he visited many temples, he used to think as to how the stones were cut into required sizes, how all processes could have been possible during the ancient and medieval periods, when such technology was not there. However, now, new archaeological evidences give date of iron to thousands of BCE period.

Aravind Kumar welcomed the VIPs

Sudhakaa Yedla’s speech was apt and highly meaningful (11.00 to 11.35 am):  He pointed out that the seminars should be dialogue and much discussion and interaction should be there. The youngsters should ask a lot of questions and then only, they could know more details.  Innovation involves inquisitiveness and curiosity. It may involve a series of failures also, but, from such failures also one can learn. Japanese do that, as I have seen in their programmes. Westerners always opposed the zero, “The Biography of a Dangerous Idea” is a book by American author and journalist Charles Seife. The book offers a comprehensive look at number 0 and its controversial role as one of the great paradoxes of human thought and history. Heliocentric theory was also opposed. But, Vedic literature point out that all planets go around the Sun. One should think with innovative ideas, as otherwise, environmental degradation and reason depletion affect man. I have listened to many during the last 35 years, but, only few could talk like him with depth of meaning and substance. In fact, his entire speech could be included in the book proposed, if any.

Rajendran (11.36 to 12.03 hrs): He started with Herodotus, “Father of History” observed that though India had been literary society, large population was illiterate. As compared to west, the literature society – knowledge system was not spread. Newton could think different about the falling of apple on the ground. He also mentioned about the European scientists’ interest in history, mentioning Newtons, “A Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms amended”. Casteism challenged to remove literature from the society. Kosambi connected iron with the rise of empire, as during wars, iron weapons must have been used[5]. Magadha controlled iron and as well as agriculture, a the army had to be fed and accordingly, the agriculture also must have flourished. In other words, the weapons of war and agriculture went together in production. Mentioning the episode of Trichy Teppakulam, he stressed that historians should have technical knowledge also, besides historical interpretation.

Penchalaiah (12.06 to 12.15 Hrs): Though he spoke for minutes, his speech had been philosophical but meaningful. Claiming that he had been a student of philosophy even today, pointed out that “philosophy is mother of all subjects.” Science can be divided into two – visible science and invisible science. There were many scientists before Aristotle. So also, before Vedic literature, Agamic literature was there. In our blood iron has been there i.em hemoglobin. He claimed that he knew the secret of Sanskrit, as he studied it. All historians are philosophers only. All scientists are philosophers, but all philosophers are not scientists.

Jaikishan was facilitated

During inauguration, the audience

During inauguration, the audience

Jaikishan (12.16 to 1.30 pm): He claimed that the Telangana Wootz iron production goes back to earlier periods, more than 10,000 years. Iron objects were introduced in Andhra Pradesh between 750 and 500 BCE. An early example of an object which had been hardened through quenching is dated to 810 BCE from Bihar. For example, from the megalithic site of Kadebakele, c. 700 BCE, tiny rings were identified which seem to have been made of pearlitic steel. Kodachadri, Moookambika temple evidence gives 375 CE. Orissa temples used iron beams exhaustively in many places. There were 37-40 iron beams recovered at Konark temple. Forge welded cast with 0.5% phosphorus gives anti-rustic property, he claims. He was showing examples of iron slag, crucibles etc., found on the groud at remote places, but, he did not any examples of excavated ones. He with his colleagues collected Wootz crucibles from three districts of Northern Telangana[6] ( Karimnagar, Adilabad and Nizamabad) and analysed using x-ray diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS). The results indicated the wootz samples have almost the same chemical composition[7]. Such papers have been published in 2007 giving emphasis to Telangana[8]. Therefore, how these could be dated by anything is not known.  Moreover, the samples found on the earth could be dated to recent times also, as many black-smiths work and leave the crucibles, slags etc., as they could not be used for further work. The slag blocks used for the compound wall and other construction has been common, as tones of such slags are dumped road side and remote places by the bloom, billet and ingot manufacturers.  They cannot be attributed to any antiquity.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

01-03-2019

[1] http://www.dravidianuniversity.ac.in/university-profile.php

[2] http://www.dravidianuniversity.ac.in/contactus.php

Guest House phone nos: 08570 – 278362

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Su_Song

[4] Jean Le Coze, On the question of possible transfer of steel technology from India to Europe through Muslim middle East, Indian J. of History of Science, 42(3) (2007) 337-375.

[5]  If the IVC and the Gangetic examples were taken into account, the pre-Mauryan empire has to be taken into account.

[6] S. Laxmi Srinivasa Rao and S. Jaikishan Analysis of Wootz Steel Crucible Furnace Green Slag Samples and Core Materials Collected From Northern Telangana, in International Journal of Computer & Mathematical Sciences IJCMS ISSN 2347 – 8527 Volume 7, Issue 2 February 2018, pp.487-491.

[7] http://academicscience.co.in/admin/resources/project/paper/f201802101518271914.pdf

[8] R. Balasubramaniam, Anubhav Pandey and S. Jaikishan, Analysis of Wootz steel crucibles from North Telangana, Indian J. of History of Science, 42(4) (2007) 649-671.

460. Jaikishan, Survey of iron and wootz steel production sites in Northern Telangana, , Indian J. of History of Science, 42(3) (2007) 445-460.