Science and Technology Through the Ages: Ancient India

Fields of Mathematics & Astronomy

1. Baudhayan
   • Baudhayan was the first one ever to arrive at several concepts in Mathematics, which were later rediscovered by the Western world.
   • The value of pi was first calculated by him.
2. Aryabhatta
   • Aryabhatta was a fifth-century mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, and physicist.
   • He wrote Aryabhattiyam, which is a summary of mathematics of his time.
   • Aryabhatta is credited for the discovery of zero.
   • Khagol was the famous astronomical observatory at Nalanda, where Aryabhatta studied.
   • It was Aryabhatta who stated the theory that the earth is round and rotates on its own axis.
   • He also gave a scientific explanation for solar and lunar eclipses.
3. Brahmagupta
   • In his methods of multiplication, he used place value in almost the same way as it is used today.
   • He introduced negative numbers and operations on zero into mathematics.
   • He wrote Brahm Sputa Siddantika through which the Arabs came to know about our mathematical system.
4. Bhaskaracharya
   • Bhaskaracharya was the leading light of the 12th Century.
   • He is famous for his book Siddanta Shiromani. It is divided into four sections: Lilavati (Arithmetic), Beejaganit (Algebra), Goladhyaya (Sphere), and Grahaganit (mathematics of planets).
   • Bhaskara introduced the Chakrawat Method or the Cyclic Method to solve algebraic equations.
5. Mahaviracharya
   • Jain Guru Mahaviracharya wrote Ganit Sara Sangraha in 850 CE, which is the first textbook on arithmetic in the present-day form.
   • The current method of solving the Least Common Multiple (LCM) of given numbers was also described by him.

Field of Science

1. Kanad
   • Kanad was a 6th-century scientist of the Vaisheshika School of Indian philosophy.
   • His atomic theory can be a match to any modern atomic theory.
2. Varahamihira
   • Varahamihira lived in the Gupta period.
   • He made great contributions in the fields of hydrology, geology, and ecology.
   • He was one of the first scientists to claim that termites and plants could be the indicators of the presence of underground water.
   • Varahamihira was one of the nine gems, who were scholars, in the court of Vikramaditya.
3. Nagarjuna
   • Nagarjuna was a 10th-century scientist.
   • In his treatise, Rasaratnakara, he discussed methods for the extraction of metals like gold, silver, tin, and copper.

Field of Medical Science

1. Susruta
   • Susruta was a pioneer in the field of surgery. 
   • He wrote Susruta Samhita.
2. Charak
   • Charak is considered the father of the ancient Indian science of medicine.
   • He was the Raj Vaidya (royal doctor) in the court of Kanishka.
   • His Charaka Samhita is a remarkable book on medicine that deals with removing the causes of disease.
   • Charak also knew the fundamentals of Genetics.