Controversial Statement by Anurag Thakur
Anurag Thakur, a prominent BJP leader and former Union Minister, has stirred up discussions by suggesting that Lord Hanuman could be regarded as the "first person to travel in space." This remark was made during an event at a school in Himachal Pradesh on August 23, where Thakur has served as a five-time MP.
A video of Thakur's statement has gone viral on social media, capturing the attention of many.
During the National Space Day event at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Una district, he encouraged students to appreciate the ancient traditions, knowledge, and culture of India. In a clip shared on the platform 'X', Thakur asked the students, "Who was the first person to travel in space?" Some students responded with "Neil Armstrong." Thakur then interjected, saying, "I believe it was Hanuman Ji."
Historically, the first human to travel into space was Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, who orbited the Earth on April 12, 1961, aboard Vostok 1, reaching an altitude of 301 kilometers.
The video has elicited mixed reactions online. DMK MP Kanimozhi criticized Thakur's comments, labeling them as "concerning." She expressed on 'X' that "science is not a myth. Misleading youth in classrooms is an affront to knowledge, reason, and the spirit of scientific thinking enshrined in our Constitution."
Following Thakur's statement, social media users expressed strong disapproval. One user remarked, "Instead of correcting the children, you told them with that trivial smile that Hanuman was the first astronaut. It was Yuri Gagarin. Stop toying with the innocent minds of children."
Another user pointed out, "All the children were wrong. The first person in space was Yuri Gagarin, not Neil Armstrong (the first person on the moon). But you didn’t correct them. Faith and science are different subjects. Let children learn science in school and faith at home."
A third comment stated, "Science is not a myth. Misleading young minds in classrooms is an insult to knowledge, reason, and the scientific spirit enshrined in our Constitution. The future of India lies in nurturing curiosity, not confusing facts with myths."
