tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6353265670008348157.post-52533354094532763912007-04-19T11:12:00.000+05:302007-04-19T11:49:47.401+05:30<div style="text-align: justify;">Hey... don't take me wrong guys... I ain't here to criticize these guys or question their intellect (anyways I do not have enough credentials to do that). I just wish to make you guys aware of Ancient Indian Mathematicians and Astronomers - those who existed on this Earth a millennium before these Western genius - and their priceless but 'worthless' contribution in the field mathematics and astronomy.<br />What if I ask you about the Indian contribution in these fields. Probably, you wouldn't remember anything other than the contribution of Zero. But guys, this isn't true - India's contribution is many times greater. Much before Euler et al were giving solutions to basic algebraic problems, Indian Mathematicians and astronomers had already done it. And folks, here I am not talking about some mystical things like aeroplanes or WMDs (which many - myself included - believe and claim that were an integral part of ancient civilizations, but let us not talk about this now); I am simply talking about theoretical Maths and documented results. Some of these include Solution of equations, Value of π, Use of irrational numbers, geometry, solid geometry (around14h century), etc. etc.<br />Indeed this contribution is priceless but why then I called it worthless? Because of just one reason - is this work contributed to them - No.....!!! I ask you why is this work not given their name. Something which is written, which has proof that can satisfy anyone - whats the problem in attributing it to them?<br />I have few links for those interested and wish to update their knowledge database.<br /><a href="http://www.ece.lsu.edu/kak/hist.html"><span>Subhash Kak</span></a> (detail papers)<br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_mathematics"><span>Wikipedia</span></a> (in brief)<br /><a href="http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/history/Projects/Pearce/index.html">Indian Maths </a>(Student paper)<br /><br /><a href="http://lahotihindi.blogspot.com/2007/04/blog-post_18.html"><span style="font-size:78%;">Hindi translation</span></a></div>Shubham Lahoti शुभम् लाहोटीhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05174599040194444371noreply@blogger.com