Why in the news?

  • The latest session of SAMHiTA Conference on South Asia’s Manuscript Traditions & Mathematical Contributions was inaugurated by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar in New Delhi.

SAMHiTA Conference

  • What is it?:
    • The conference, formally titled South Asia’s Manuscript Traditions and Mathematical Contributions, aims to explore and highlight the rich mathematical heritage embedded in South Asian manuscripts.
    • It brings together historians, mathematicians, and scholars from India and abroad to discuss the global influence of these ancient texts.
  • Goals & Vision:
    • SAMHiTA (South Asian Manuscript Histories and Textual Archive) is an initiative aiming to create a relational, digital archive of South Asian manuscripts held in repositories outside India. 
    • This platform will make content more accessible to scholars and foster renewed interest in India’s mathematical legacy.
  • Organised By: The project is organized by the India International Centre (IIC) in collaboration with the Centre for Traditional Indian Knowledge Systems and Skills (CTIKS) at IIT Bombay, supported by the Ministry of External Affairs and ICCR.
  • Exhibition Highlights:
    • Commentaries on Aryabhatta’s Aryabhatiya
    • The treatise Gaṇitasāra Saṅgraha
    • Translations of works by Al-Khwarizmi and Al-Biruni
    • Astronomical tables of Nityananda Misra and Raja Sawai Jai Singh
    • Visual displays of mathematics in architecture, music (verses and binary patterns), and poetic meter.
  • Significance:
    • Cultural and Intellectual Rediscovery: The conference is rooted in the idea of rediscovering India’s own intellectual and civilizational heritage, erased or undermined through centuries of colonization and disruption.
    • Engaging the Younger Generation: By bringing these ancient manuscripts and their ideas into the public eye, the conference aims to rekindle curiosity and appreciation among youth.