The Origin and History of Mathematics

It is a matter of great concern that India’s contribution to the world of science is often underestimated, negated, distorted and twisted to such an extent that many westerners and their followers in India have had a tough time believing that Indians could contribute to the field of original sciences, although they could produce literature, speculative metaphysics, mysticism and art.  The chronology of Indian history has also been demoted by 1200 years in a very planned way.  Thus a great deal of confusion has been created by the so-called scholars (pseudo-scholars) regarding Indian history and India’s contribution to the modern world of mathematics and Sciences.  Indian Foundation for Vedic Science has been one of the leading organizations in India and outside India that shows a great concern over inaccurate history of India and damaging ‘orientalist’ portrayals of India and India’s cultural and scientific legacy, portrayals that have persisted in educational curricula despite the scathing critiques leveled by post modern scholars.  IFFVS always aims at making a proper review of India’s contribution to the world civilization in mathematical and other sciences, so that (1) the standard western portrayal of civilization of Bharat as irrational and ‘world negating’ may be challenged, (2) a due and proper role of Bharat in shaping the positive and scientifically modern civilization may be acknowledged (3) stereotypes, inaccuracies, omissions may be pointed out and role of Bharat in the field of math, science and technology may accurately and authentically be portrayed in educational curricula the world over and (4) the history of Indians in India may be presented with Indian chronology and Indian perspective.  IFFVS has always been in favour of promoting the Indocentric view of world history and civilization which talks about the unified world as one unit and discards the Eurocentric view of the world that divides the whole world into many segments and classes.  Prof. V. Lakshmikanthan (who is a high profile mathematician from Andhrapradesh of India and has been head of the Dept. of Mathematics in various universities of USA since 1965 till date even in his eighties, who has been founder of many mathematics Depts. In various Universities of USA) in the present study challenges world negating view of India’s contribution to the world of mathematics and identifies and acknowledges the Bharatiya element in modern math, science and technology.  This excellent study will help the unbiased scholars to know where the ideas of western scientists, mathematicians and technocrats have been derived from Bharatiya sources.  The scholars will be forced to think whether the various branches of mathematics are from, Greek, Babylon, Arab or from India.  This study will also help dispel the ‘orientalist’ idea superimposed by Macaulay and his successors upon Indians since 1835, resulting in an inferior self-image on the part of many modern Indians, and causing them to look up to the west for answers.