The World's First Flight Show: Shivkar Bapuji Talpade
The World's First Flight Show: Shivkar Bapuji Talpade Ancient India has been the birthplace of numerous scientific discoveries, and one of its proudest moments came with the pioneering work of Pandit Shivkar Bapuji Talpade, who conducted the world's first flight test. Talpade, born in Mumbai, was a devoted scholar of the Vedas and exhibited an inventive spirit from a young age, particularly drawn to the subject of aviation. Inspired by Swami Dayanand Saraswati's references to "Vedic Air Vidya," Talpade embarked on a quest to revive ancient knowledge of aviation, delving into rare texts alongside other Sanskrit Pandits. He received significant support from Subayya Shastri, a distinguished scholar, and financial backing from Maharaj Sayajirao Gaikwad of Baroda, a passionate advocate for science. Talpade’s creation, the "Marutsakha," meaning "Friend of the Wind," was an aircraft measuring six feet long and four feet wide, designed based on his s...