Indian Mathematics | Taking a Dig at Western Fanatics

Posted on by bubuenaa

For some time now, I’ve been taking some interest in Indian History, Ancient Indian History. And in the same vein,  I had written about My India a year back. Fact is fact, no matter how harsh it may sound. And indeed bad, that post hasn’t been able to make it to the ‘Most Read’ Posts in the sidebar. Lately I had been getting some visits in this otherwise deserted blog, so that has inspired me to write this post after a long break – however that would be a blatant lie if I’m to say that it is the only reason. The entire morning of this beautiful monsoon day, 15th July, was spent digging up at various sources on the internet to collect some material for the Western Fanatics of our country – who happily overlook India’s Glorious past and credit the West for ALL discoveries of Science. I object to this – harshly and firmly. Firstly, let me clear it out that I’m a skeptic in Religious matters, so you’re welcome to tag me as an atheist. Religion hasn’t been my cup of tea yet, although I’ve plans to read Religion once I’m a bit settled in my life, but not now. However, what I strongly believe in is Evidence, I need evidence, SOLID EVIDENCE for anything before believing it.

I collected evidence for a long two-hours voracious internet-surfing to have a go at the Western Fanatics who have been proudly boasting of Western Glory in Science and Technology over the entire morning of this day and conveniently ignoring the Indian contributions. I searched the internet, followed up closely my favourite Blogs and then, came up with this – from Shantanu Bhagwat’s Blog:
[slideshare id=13013357&style=border-width: 1px 1px 0; border: 1px solid #CCC; margin-bottom: 5px;&sc=no]
The slideshow omits out two most important inventions:
  1. Sridhar Acharya Method of solving Quadratic Equations – a milestone that’s thankfully not yet taken away by Europeans. For more, read the Wiki Entry here
  2. Kerala School of Astronomy – Beginning and Use of Calculus: Astronomy provided the main motive for the study of infinite-series expansions of pi and rational approximations for different trigonometric functions. For astronomical work, it was necessary to have both an accurate value for pi and highly detailed trigonometric tables. In this area Kerala mathematicians made the following discoveries:
  • Power Series that is normally attributed to Gregory and Leibniz
  • Power Series and many rational approximations of pi
  • Sine and Cosine Series (attributed to Newton) | Approximation by upto second order of error

A full write-up on the Kerala School of Mathematics may be available over here

 
Why did our ancient science suddenly vanish?
Indians have hesitated to publish works in full. This is evident from the fact that Sir JC Bose invented the Radio before Marconi – but never got it’s due. Also, be it mentioned that almost all ancient schools of thought wanted to keep their work secret. The Pythagoras School, for instance, would sentence any of it’s members to death if he/she revealed their school’s achievements. Also the Indian Emperor Ashoka started a “Secret Society of the Nine Unknown Men”: great Indian scientists who were supposed to catalogue the many sciences. Ashoka kept their work secret because he was afraid that the advanced science catalogued by these men, culled from ancient Indian sources, would be used for the evil purpose of war, which Ashoka was strongly against, having been converted to Buddhism after defeating a rival army in a bloody battle. Then came Buddhism, the main problem of which was the original wordings of Lord Buddha were long lost, and there was mass struggle among his disciples as to what were the exact teachings of their lord. And it so turned out that a new and different picture of Buddhism emerged out – not a Religion, but pure superstition, something that dragged people and folk to renounce worldly life for ‘Nirvana’ – maybe that wasn’t exactly what Lord Buddha had actually preached or wanted. As a result of mass renunciation, science and arts, which flourished once, had a fall. Foreign Invasions occurred, use of Sanskrit declined and our ancient texts became of secondary importance. Before any emergence could occur, Indians fell in the hands of the Mughals – then came the British and the revival of our ancient past never occurred. 
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Recent Research
According to a review of a book: ‘Scientific Aspects of Hinduism’ – that I was browsing in Amazon.com, the author claimed that institutes have sprang up that are committed to research on the Vedas, also good to see Indian Institute of Science (see this PDF), IIT Bombay (read this) and BARC (this) are working in this field. Together we hope that unification, modification and verification of our ancient scriptures should lead to revival of the glorious past that india truly was proud to have – this will restore the place of pride back to what India deserves.

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