Ujjain, April 3 (NationPress) - The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Mohan Yadav, unveiled a visionary initiative to transform Ujjain into the world's premier "Time Capital" and a contemporary Science City. He also endorsed the nearby village of Dongla as a vital hub for astronomical time measurement.

During his address at the International Conference titled "Mahakal: The Master of Time," Chief Minister Yadav emphasized that Ujjain is not solely recognized for its spiritual and religious significance but also has a profound historical connection to science.

He inaugurated a state-of-the-art science center in Ujjain, which was established with an investment of Rs 15.5 crore, aided by the Union government.

"Ujjain is on its way to becoming the 'Time Capital' of the globe, alongside the establishment of a Science City here with an investment of Rs 15 crore," stated Chief Minister Yadav.

He elaborated on the unique astronomical relevance of the region.

"In ancient times, scholars indicated that the location for observing the sun's shadow distinctly was in Ujjain. Presently, this alignment has shifted approximately 32 km to the village of Dongla, a cycle that spans nearly 27,500 years. The dynamics of this transition are astonishing," he remarked.

The Chief Minister also mentioned that during his previous role as Chairman of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Corporation, he had upgraded the planetarium in Dongla and is now focused on transforming the area into a modern scientific research center.

Yadav has been a strong proponent for the revival of Ujjain's ancient astronomical legacy, aiming to position it as the global prime meridian—the zero-degree longitude line recognized for time measurement.

In the realm of ancient Indian astronomy, as referenced in texts like the 'Surya Siddhanta', Ujjain (formerly known as Avanti or Ujjayini) served as the Prime Meridian (Madhya Rekha) and the foundational reference for determining planetary positions and time.

For centuries, Indian astronomers utilized Ujjain as the central meridian until the establishment of the modern Prime Meridian at Greenwich in 1884.

Chief Minister Yadav has reiterated that India once set the global benchmark for time and that Ujjain should reclaim that prominent status.

He has advocated for scientific investigations at Ujjain's historical observatory to substantiate this claim and to "correct the time of the world."

A pivotal advancement was the installation of the "Vikramaditya Vedic Clock"—the world's inaugural Vedic clock—situated in Ujjain.

Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2024, the clock showcases time in traditional Indian measurements (muhurtas, kaalas, etc.) rather than standard hours and minutes, merging ancient knowledge with contemporary technology.

The clock's time calculations are based on astronomical formulas associated with the Dongla observatory.

Moreover, Chief Minister Yadav has installed a similar Vedic clock at his residence's entrance in Bhopal and has launched a mobile application offering Panchang details in nearly 200 languages.

Due to the gradual alteration in the Earth's axial tilt (obliquity), the Tropic of Cancer no longer precisely traverses Ujjain but instead runs through Dongla village, located about 32 km away.

This geographical shift renders Dongla an optimal location for witnessing events like the "Zero Shadow Day" on June 21, when the sun is directly overhead, resulting in no shadow at noon.

By advancing Dongla as a center for time measurement and Ujjain as a Science City, the Madhya Pradesh government aspires to integrate India's rich astronomical heritage with cutting-edge scientific infrastructure.

These initiatives are also part of extensive preparations for the grand "Simhastha Mahakumbh 2028" in Ujjain, which is anticipated to draw between 35 to 40 crore devotees.