2. Iron—One finds references to the good quality of Indian steel in history. People in Arabia and Persia were very eager to get swords made of Indian steel. The English named the steel with highest carbon content as ‘Butz’.
Famous metallurgist, Professor Anantaraman of the Banaras Hindu University, has explained the entire procedure of making steel. Raw iron, wood and carbon are heated in earthen bowls at a temperature of 1535 ºC and then, slowly cooled over in 24 hours. This gives high quality carbon rich steel. A sword made of this steel is so sharp and strong that it even cuts silk smoothly.
In the 18th century, some European metallurgists tried to manufacture Indian steel, but failed. Even Michael Faraday tried, but was unsuccessful. Some succeeded in manufacturing it, but the product wasn’t of good quality.
Chronicle adds:
The Organizer is a mouthpiece of RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) a hindutva based political and social organization. Prof. T. R. Anantharaman was prof. of metallurgy and also Director at IT-BHU. Currently he runs Ashram Atmadeep, Gurgaon, Haryana.
The above article reminds us the glorious days of ancient India, whose metallurgy was known all over the world.