'Prime Meridian Runs Through Ujjain': MP CM Mohan Yadav Vows To Change It From Greenwich

Answering the governor's assembly at the state assembly, Yadav stated that his administration will "prove that Ujjain is the global Prime Meridian," and that he will work to "correct the world's time." 

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav. ( Image Source :PTI )

The Madhya Pradesh government will work to relocate the Prime Meridian, the line of longitude that serves as the global time reference, from Greenwich, England, to Ujjain, the state's newly elected chief minister Mohan Yadav said on Thursday during a speech in which he railed against widespread "westernisation," Hindustan Times (HT) reported. Answering the governor's assembly at the state assembly, Yadav stated that his administration will "prove that Ujjain is the global Prime Meridian," and that he will work to "correct the world's time." 

“It was our (Ujjain’s) time that was known in the world, but Paris started to set the time and later, it was adopted by the British who considered Greenwich the Prime Meridian,” he was quoted by HT in its report. 

Yadav was referring to an old Hindu astronomical theory that Ujjain was originally India's centre meridian, determining the country's time zones and time disparities. It also serves as the foundation for time in the Hindu calendar. According to legend, Ujjain is positioned at the exact intersection of the zero meridian and the Tropic of Cancer. It also has India's oldest observatory, which was erected in the early 18th century by Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur. 

To be sure, the 1884 meridian agreement recognised the longitude running through Greenwich as the zero meridian or Prime Meridian. Indian Standard Time (IST), which is 5.30 hours ahead of Greenwich Meridian Time (GMT), is determined at Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh (UP), which is located at 82°30'E longitude.

The Madhya Pradesh chief minister, who assumed office on December 11 following the BJP's landslide victory in the assembly elections, also takes issue with the widely accepted concept of midnight. 

“The world has two types of living beings – one who is awake during the daytime and another awake at night, so what is the logic behind changing the day at midnight?” he asked, HT reported. 

Westernisation is destroying the world, and his administration would work with scientific brains to undo the damage, Yadav continued. 

“The adoption of westernisation is an attack on our culture, but not anymore. We will do research at the observatory in Ujjain to correct the time of the world. Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) will do research and develop a platform so that honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi can take this to the international level,” Yadav  was quoted by HT in its report. 

He claims that India's neighbours will back Ujjain's selection as the central meridian. 

“All the countries, whether China, Pakistan or Afghanistan... believe that if it is a matter of fixing standard time, then it will be decided by India,” he added. 

There is no evidence that any other country would support such a strategy.

Yadav then took aim at the Gregorian calendar, which has been widely recognised for over five centuries, and stated that the Hindu calendar, known as Vikram Samvat, should be prioritised.

“Aryabhatta, who is a renowned mathematician, did remarkable work in aeronautics. Now, it’s time to give importance and recognition to our ancient knowledge. Vikram Samvat should be given importance over the Gregorian Calendar,” he said.

Baba Mahakal and Samrat Vikramaditya would be studied, according to the chief minister, who was recognised for his judiciary abilities, justice, courage, and charity.