Time Capsules

Time Capsules

The Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has denied reports about placing of a time capsule under the ground at Ram Temple construction site in Ayodhya.

• The Time Capsule, also known as Kaal Patra, was supposed to contain the history of Ayodhya and Rama Janma Bhoomi Movement.

Key Points

• Time Capsule is a container of any size or shape, which accommodates documents, photos, and artifacts typical of the current era and is buried underground, for future generations to unearth.
• To ensure that the capsules do not decay they are built using special engineering techniques like steel or aluminum encasing, vacuuming, use of acid-free paper, etc.
• The time capsules mostly have a scheduled time for reopening and are supposed to be buried again after opening, with people of the future adding their own contributions to the time capsule.
• The International Time Capsule Society (ITCS), based in the USA and formed in 1990, is now defunct but continues estimating the number of time capsules in the world.
• As per its database, there are 10,000-15,000 times capsules worldwide.

Famous Time Capsules in the World

• Samuel Adams and Paul Revere Time Capsule: It is the oldest known time capsule from 1795 (USA).
• The “Century Safe": The world’s first planned time capsule was established at Philadelphia Centennial Exposition (USA) in 1876. It was opened and resealed in 1976.
• The Crypt of Civilization in Georgia: It was built around 1940 at Oglethorpe University in Brookhaven, Georgia, and is scheduled for opening in the year 8113 AD. It is a project to preserve all human knowledge and was the brainchild of Thornwell Jacobs, also known as the father of time capsules.
• The Voyager and Voyager II Spacecraft: They are currently circling on the edge of our solar system. These capsules were created by NASA to be seen by future generations.

Time Capsules In India

• Outside the Red Fort: This was placed underground in 1972 by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was dug out by the subsequent government in 1977. It raised controversy as it was said to glorify Gandhi Nehru's family in Indian History.
• At IIT Kanpur Campus: This time capsule was buried on 6th March 2010 containing details on IIT Kanpur in the form of documents, photographs, and films.
• At The Alexandra Girls’ English Institution, Mumbai: It was set up in the 19th century and is scheduled to be opened in 2062. It contains information on the school.
• At Jalandhar’s Lovely Public University: It was buried in January 2019 and contains 100 items that represent modern-day technology in India.

Significance

• Time Capsules are intended as a method of communication with future people.
• They are also supposed to help future archaeologists, anthropologists, or historians in knowing about the past human civilization.

Criticism

• Most intentional time capsules are filled with a lopsided view of history. They are often politically motivated and glorify the people who planted them.
• They can not be regarded as facts and are not very reliable. The information in time capsules has to be verified with other sources of information.
• Many time capsules that have been unearthed were filled with junk telling little about the people of the time.