1.Shalu I know a little about India, but
can you tell us a little more about the demographics of India, i.e. location,
population, primary language, size, etc.
India with its capital at New Delhi is
located in the south of the Asian continent. It is so big that is dubbed as the
Indian subcontinent. In Fact, it’s the seventh largest country in the world.
India has borders with 7 countries namely Pakistan, Burma, China, Bangladesh,
Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. The Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal lies in the
west and the east respectively. The population of India is 1.2 billion and
rising, the second most populous country after China. There are 17 official
languages of India and Hindi is the most prominent. English is used
extensively. The main religion of India is Hinduism while Islam occupies a
major space. Other religions include Sikhism, Christianity, Jainism, Buddhism
and Zoroastrianism.
2.Some people think ethics only count when
someone else is watching or listening.How is ethical behavior viewed in India in other words are ethics a big
part of decision-making?
Ethics is big in India mainly in personal
and family affairs. Children are taught morality and some schools even have
“Moral Science” as a subject. We are taught how to talk and respect elders,
behave in public, help the needy and so on. In fact, the Indian way of life and
behavior revolves around “karma” and attaining “mokhsa” or nirvana in other
words free form the recycle of birth.
3.What is the biggest ethical challenge in
the Indian workplace?
India is one of the most corrupt counties
in the world. In fact, it’s so bad in some places; you have to bribe the
officer-in-charge in order to get some work done. I remember paying a bribe to
get my marriage certificate. The biggest challenge in the Indian workplace is
eliminating bribery, corruption and shear laziness.
4.Favoritism at work is one of my most
searched queries; does the Indian workplace deal with favoritism at work and
what issues are most prevalent in the Indian workplace?
Favoritism and nepotism is rife in Indian
workplace. We don’t deal with it, we live with it. It will take another 50
years to get rid of this practice. Bribery is one of the major issues we have
to deal with. Although more and more people are being punished for taking
bribes and things are getting more transparent but we are a long way away from
a bribe-free society. Employees arriving late especially in government
establishments is another issue but some administrators are cracking down on
this.
5.You wrote a post about bhang sales
(marijuana), is it an ethical issue for the Indian government to support bhang
sales?
I don’t think it’s an ethical issue but a
cultural one. Consumption of Bhang or marijuana is somewhat ingrained in Indian
society. The government of India facilitates the sale of bhang especially
during some festivals and some places so that tourists and occasional bhang
users do not fall in the trap of drug dealers.
6.What are the main uses of bhang by the
people of India?
It’s used in “bhang lassi” or bhang
milkshake during the Hindu festival of Holi. I am not aware if there are any
medical uses of bhang but I have read and heard that it’s used for depression
and cancer.
7.Bootlegged cd’s, movies, and video games
are illegal and viewed by most Americans as unethical.How does India deal with bootleggers and is
bootlegging a major problem?
Bootlegging is a big problem in India.
Bollywood is the biggest film industry in the world and large numbers of the
sales of CD’s and DVD’s are pirated. Unfortunately, it’s sold openly in many
places and it’s not considered as unethical by the sellers and most buyers are
perhaps not aware of it. There are periodic raids on illegal workshops and the
police are trying to crack the bootleggers.
8.Most Americans have heard about the
unethical treatment against women in India; I even wrote an article addressing
how women have resorted to using “women only trains”, in your opinion what
needs to be done for women rights in your country?
India is highly male dominated society. Women
is often subjected to abuse, ill treatment and dowry system is rife. Unfortunately,
female infanticide still prevails. Although laws protect women and majority of
the time, law is on the side of women but more is still required. Women need to
be given reservations in government jobs which will uplift the status of women
and will make them financially independent. But to be honest, I think it’s
getting better, we’re not the Middle East. Indian women are getting better at
fighting for their rights.
9.You left a comment on my article “Should
your house stay inspection ready for a surprise visitor?”, You stated it is
very common for people to come by for a visits at any time.Is surprise visiting anyone at any time
acceptable by most Indians?
Visitors in particular relatives often turn
up without warning. You just have to play along and allow them to stay in your
house as long as they want (sometimes for months or years). Most Indians are
not surprised to see visitors at their doorsteps without being warned of their
arrival.
10.Thank you Shalu for your honest candor and
being the first international blogger to be part of this series.I know from reading your blog (Travel guide
to India) you are a proud Indian citizen.Is there anything you would want people to know about India?
Here some facts you might have not known
about India;
India is one of the few countries that
launch satellites. It was India where zero, the number system, algebra, trigonometry,
decimal system, and calculus were invented. Chess and “snakes and ladders “were
invented. India has the most number of offices in the world.
I am excited for my new children’s book about India. It is called “Namaste World. I am Diya. My life in India.” This book is about a 6-year-old little girl called Diya who lives in Delhi with her mummy and daddy.
She narrates her life in India to other children. She talks about going to school in an auto rickshaw, going to temples, celebrating festivals and general life in India.
This book introduces Indian culture, religion, animals and other various things about India. Kids learn more when other kids tell them things.
This book is ideal for those who will be travelling to India with their children. It’s also ideal for those parents who wants to introduce multiculturalism to their children.
This book introduces India and Indian way of life to children. Children will begin to appreciate that there are kids just like them in other parts of the world.
Watch my video to learn more.
You can buy my book on all Amazon stores. Just search Amazon for – Namaste World. I am Diya.
If you are travelling to India then you might wish to learn a few things about the geography of India. So here’s a brief introduction to the geographical features of India.
Being the seventh largest country in the world, no wonder India has a speckled and diversified Geographical features. The area of India which covers nearly 3.28 million sq km is divided into 29 states depending on the languages, cultures and traditions of the people of which Rajasthan is the largest state, whereas Goa is the smallest. 35% of the Indian land is irrigated by farmers, which has made agriculture to be the main occupation of Indians.
As among the people, the land of India is greatly diversified. There are deep valleys, plains, islands, mountains, desert, snowy lands, lofty peaks and Ghats strewn across the country.
The Geography of India
Border of India
India shares its land border with Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, China and Nepal, and marine border with Maldives and Sri Lanka. India also shares maritime borders with Indonesia and Thailand though they are not in close vicinity. Many a time the question arises as to whether India shares its border with Afghanistan. At present the area of Khyber Pass, which was shared by India and Afghanistan lies in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, hence it cannot be considered to border India. The southern part of India is covered by water which forms a coastline of 7,517 km.
India on the Globe
India forms the major part of the Indian subcontinent which includes six countries. Besides India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are part of it. The sub-continent lies on top of the Indian tectonic Plate, which is the northern part of the Indo-Australian tectonic plate; a major tectonic plate formed nearly 43 million ago.
Geographically on the globe India sits between 8° 4 ‘ N and 37° 6’ North Latitude and 68° 7 ‘ and 97° 25 ‘ East Longitude on the north of the Equator. The Tropic of Cancer 23° 30 ‘ N passes right through the midpoint of India, dividing the country into 2 halves.
The second half of India tapers into a forming a triangle that divides the Indian ocean beneath into Bay of Bengal on east and Arabian Sea on west.
India has a wide range of landforms with physical features that boasts of highest mountain range, plains, and plateaus which has come into existence during different geological periods. Later on the effects of weathering, soil erosion, deposition, natural calamities and other factors have resulted in the present diversified landform on the country.
The physical features of India have been broadly divided into six units as follows:
• The Great Mountain Range of Northern India stretching from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh.
• The Northern Plains drained by the Brahmaputra Basin, the Ganga Basin and the Satluj Basin. These plains that stretch from Punjab to Assam is formed of alluvial soil which is very fertile.
• The Peninsular Plateau also known as the Southern plains are a tableland formed due to the breaking and drifting of the once single Gondwana landmass. Composed of crystalline , ingenious and metamorphic rocks this plateau is further divided into Central highlands and Deccan plateau.
• The Indian Desert, known by the name Thar Desert, lies to the west of Aravali range. This part of India gets low rainfall, has arid climate with not much irrigation taking place.
• The Coastal Plains of India run across the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea along the peninsular border of India.
Rivers and Forests of India
The rivers of India are not just water bodies, but are revered and worshipped as deities by the people. Every major river of India has a mythological background and story about its birth. The River Ganges is not only the longest, but also the most worshipped river of India. Millions of people take dip to wash away their sins in River Ganges every year. Other popular rivers of India are the Brahmaputra, Sutlej, Yamuna, Gomti, Chenab, Narmada, Tapti, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri. The rivers of India have given it the inland navigable waterways which extend to around 14,500 km.
India is abundant in different types of forests and woodlands, which houses wide range of flora and fauna. The types of forests vary from place to place with the dense rainforests in the south to the Alpine forests of the north. The forests of India can be divided into un-demarcated and demarcated, based on whether they are protected or not. Madhya Pradesh composes nearly 20% of the total forest area of India.
I hope you liked the brief tutorial on geography of India. I hope it will guide you to decide which places to visit in India. Feel free to ask any questions related to geography of India in the comments below.
One thing many students regret not doing is ‘travelling’. Many young people now realise that it is best to travel whilst a student because just a couple of years down the line, they know that they will have to look for jobs, pay bills, settle down and so on. Hence it is best they make the plunge while they can.
Nowadays, more and more students are taking up the challenge and travelling abroad. They know that the world has become smaller and stiff competition in the corporate world demands broad minded individuals. This is why you’ll find that students travel around the globe during or after their studies. While travelling many students find jobs that will help them for their travels such as academic writing jobs, local bar jobs and even part time teaching.
Students realise the value of international travel, being able to connect to various cultures and learning useful skills such as new languages, networking, learning to deal with scarce resources. Students take such challenge with vigour, passion and excitement about what they may find and what cultures they might run into. But out of all the places to visit in the world which places are the best for student travel? Which places that really take students fancy when it comes to a travelling destination?
There are a whole load of places that are available with the sort of things that students are looking for. Australia is a popular one as students see it as a relaxing sunshine destination and the familiar English language. Thailand also draws a lot of people as it is cheap and exciting to explore. Europe also draws people in as they are able to see a lot of places in one trip. They can travel through mainland Europe and visit France, Germany, Spain and many more in one go. What is the other country that draws a lot of attention from students around the world? India! India is a big, big attraction for students. It’s not hard to see why. It is a country that’s steeped in history, the interesting facets of various religions, and exciting culture and cuisine as well. Let’s take a look at why students prefer to visit India.
The Taj Mahal
Built in the 1600’s and with a name that literally translates to ‘Crown of the Palace’. This landmark is a reason to visit India, completely on its own. It was originally built as a resting place for the Mughal Emperor’s favourite wife, but it also includes a large mosque, a gateway called the “Darwaza”, guest house and two red sandstone buildings that mirror each other. Its architecture is largely inspired by early Persian and Mughal architecture. It’s grandiose design and beautiful white marble materials attract tourists and students alike. This landmark is particularly interesting for students as the Taj Mahal has been named one of the worlds ‘universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage’.
Indian Spirituality
Everyone is spiritual in some way or the other. Many are discovering their spirituality and this is one of the major reasons you see so many flocking to India when they have the money and time. The country is a spiritual centre with many places to visit some of which include; Bodhgaya, Rishikesh, Kedarnath, Haridwar and Auroville. These are all fantastic spiritual spaces that will expand your understanding of yourself and the world around you. India is a country that amalgamates all the major world religions in one place so no wonder India is a place where one finds spirituality.
Varanasi Boat Rides
Great thing about travelling in India is that you can not only experience India but at the same time do various types of freelancing jobs on the go. Varanasi is one of those places where vast numbers of tourists have made their home while working using computers. Imagine a place where you can go for beautiful boat rides along the River Ganges in the early morning and then doing your work in the evenings. This is one of the most amazing spiritual and invigorating experiences you can have in India, and especially if you are a student!
You’ve been working hard all year, struggling to get the grades you need to excel and progress in your course. What better way to celebrate it then travelling down the beautiful River Ganges on a boat with your friends, your significant other or even on your own.
India really does have it all when it comes to giving students an experience they will never forget. The people are welcoming and eager to make tourists and explorers feel at home. Picturesque landmarks, positive spirituality, beautiful boat rides and safaris. You think of it, it has everything one needs from a holiday. It has everything you need to cool down from the hard work that you’ve been struggling throughout the year. Save up some money or even make money while you travel and get out there as soon as possible. India is waiting for you!
If you are a mathematician, an astronomy student, scientist or someone who loves leaning about facts about India then here’s something that you would like. Brahmagupta was an ancient Indian mathematician and astronomer who is credited with discovering the properties of zero.
Let’s look at the life and discoveries of Brahmagupta
Brahmagupta an ancient Indian mathematician and visionary was born in the year 598 AD in the city of Bhinmal , which is presently in North West Rajasthan. He was a scholar of great name and fame at his time and taught at a university dedicated for mathematics, Sanskrit and scientific research in Ujjain. The university was patronized by Gujarat dynasty. Being the head of the observatory in the university of Ujjain he wrote four mathematical and astronomical related books Cadamekela in 624, the Brahmasphutasiddhanta in 628, the Khandakhadyaka in 665, and the Durkeamynarda in 672.
It is assumed that the works of Brahmagupta originally evolved through Greek Babylonian scriptures and literatures. His ideas were such that they soon began to travel to other countries like China and Bhagdad.
During this time Abbasid caliph al-Ma’mun had an embassy in India and it is believed that Brahmagupta Brahmasidhhanta was brought to the middle east city of Bagdaad and then later translated into Arabic form as Sind- Hind. Al-Biruni a renowned Arabic historian gives detailed account of this cultural transaction in his book Tariq al-Hind, from India to the Muslim world. The Muslim or Islamic calendar which is based on the lunar eclipse and positions of moon in the sky gives the most evident example of Vedic Islamic cultural alchemy.
The work of Brahmagupta not only inspired Arabic world but also surpassed the boundaries of middle Asia now called China. It is well known that Chinese scholars like Huan Tsing used to travel frequently to Buddhist land of India and many served as historians and ambassadors in the courts of Indian kings like HarshVardhana. In many of their cultural surveyed writings we find the mentions of great Indian mathematicians like Aryabhatta and Brahmagupta.
Brahmagupta was the first to give the general solution for linear Diophantine equation ax + by= c, where a, b, and c are numerical integers. Brahmagupta used many example a of Diophantus in explaining the above linear equations, a clear similarity is also visible in the nature of algebra put forward by Brahmagupta and Greek scholars. These evidences show a clear cut socio cultural influence between Indian Brahmagupta and Greek Diophantus.
In the modern times the work of Brahmaguota has evolved from Stone Age to techno age. The concepts of gravity and the spherical nature of the earth were much polished by later scientist like Galileo and Newton who not only were limited to the gravity part but also configured and concluded the basic acceleration due to the force of gravity and found that the earth rotates on its axis and revolves around the sun which was in fact contrary to the idea of Brahmagupta who believed that the earth is a stationary heavenly body.
His simple formulae about the cyclic quadrilateral in a circle have become more complex and easier with the help of computers who bargain the millions of calculations in a wink of an eye.
The concept of “pulverizer” which was nothing but an algorithm put forward by Brahmagupta to break numbers into fractions of smaller proportions has evolved into dynamics of Physics integrations calculus dy/dx.
His assumptions and theories regarding the planetary positions and movements in time have not only been verified but also a travel to lunar soil has been undertaken.
His numeric ideas of zero, decimal and sine logs have been successfully utilized in various aspects of the present era be it calculation of currency, astronomy, constructions of designs or writing the basic algorithm of computer language which is “0, 1”.
Brahmagupta and his work in the field of mathematics science and astronomy have traveled space and time. It is literally hard to believe that a scholar more than 1500 years back could imagine theories and concepts which will govern our modern science and technological research work and that to in the absence of credible microscope governed by electricity and digital computers. Brahmagupta was a visionary who was not only intelligent but possessed some thing which was unique when it comes to the discussion of sixth sense of man in paranormal science. What we couldn’t see from our advanced telescopes and super computers he visualized it with naked eyes. Significance of Brahamagupta discoveries in modern world.
Now if someone questions about the significance of Brahamgupta’s work it will be like questioning the existence of man itself. The contemporary era is marked by the exhaustive development of science and technology which in turn could only be possible by the hard labor of our present and ancient scientists and mathematicians. Brahamgupta is one of the oldest and most praised after mathematician and holds the place equivalent to Newton in the legend of scientific and mathematical innovators. His work holds its importance not only in the pre-Newtonian times but also post Newtonian era. There are however various fields in which Brahmagupta’s work play crucial role some of them are discussed below.
Architecture:- The modern buildings use exclusive designs like domes and portions of circles example semicircular, hemicircular, quadracircular or the entire circle as a whole sometimes at the base of the structure or at the top of the sky scrapers while designing these structures architects use the formulae promulgated by Brahmagupta.
then exact area will be given that p,q,r,s are length of the sides of rectangle within the circle for proper proportions these calculations are extremely necessary.
Indian and Islamic calendars:– Brahamagupta is still playing an important role in the existing field of astronomy he calculated the positions of heavenly bodies ,he also concluded their rising and setting time frames and as to why the shape of the moon varies with the passing time not only this he also derived the true longitudes between different planets and between sun and moon ,the explanation of solar and lunar eclipses was also an effort by Brahamagupta in his book Brahmasphutasiddhanta (chapter 7) . Al-Biruni ,the famous Arabic scholar , translated Brahmasphutasiddhanta into Arabic as Sindhind .We are all aware of the fact that Indian and Islamic calendars are based on the positions of sun and moon and it was due to sheer genius of Brahamagupta ,which framed the basic foundation of the Indian and Islamic calendars.
Space and Science:- In the field of space and science Bhramagupta’s law of gravitations, sine tables and the concept of trigonometry forms the very foundation of the launch space vehicles. For proper launching of a space craft the correct angle is of paramount importance for the proper trajectory of the vehicle along with much emphasis on the thousands of decimal calculations with due consideration of gravity by the super computers. But it is to be remembered that the original data fed into these computers by human hands can be traced back as late as Bramagupta’s book Brahmasphutasiddhanta. The concept of gravity was first propounded by Bhramagupta and later renovated by Newton himself.
Water supply or sewage system:– For an efficient and modern town architecture its sewage system should not only be unique but should also support the population present and growing ones. Water supply to the entire city is also very necessary for a civilization to grow by leaps and bounds. The entire concept of water drainage and consumption is based upon thousands of spider webs of pipes lying underground across the city. Bramagupta’s concept of measuring volume length breadth and height of circular and cylindrical objects still plays a crucial role when planning a town.
These were just 4 examples of what Brahmaputa’s concept are put into while implementing our contemporary lifestyle although there are thousands of other applications which are construed directly or indirectly through Brahmagupta’s concept of mathematics, but people fail to realize that and continue reaping the harvest of the seeds sown by Brahmagupta. Many scientist and mathematicians have evolved during the cycle of earth’s technological development and have made a number of significant discoveries for the betterment of mankind, but Brahmagupta and his book Brahmasphutasiddhanta still forms the very foundation of approximately every scientific development in the field of engineering, mathematics, astronomy and architecture and will continue to hold their importance in years to come.
BRAHAMAGUPTA a general view of his enormous work
Life is a sum of complex numbers and man is hypnotized by the ever growing volumes, density, unknown factors, addition, subtraction, series, algorithms and geometry of his destiny and always wished a way to predict his future. Well the answer lies in many hidden pits of numbers and its mentor the great visionary from India named Brahamagupta famous for his work in the field of mathematics and the art of fore telling, the science known as astronomy.
A brief review of his genuine intelligent work will prove why he is called the mentor of numbers and astronomy:
1) Algebra:- In the field of mathematics, this art is construed for finding the missing links or the unknown factor X as generally taught to us in our schools. The key significance is Algebra always concludes the factor X required to distribute salary percentage or ratio in which the proper distribution has to be made. Brahamagupta gave three formulas
The basic difference between these simplified formulates and the original ones is that he placed numbers side by side for addition and dots for subtraction for division he placed divisor below dividend and represented multiplication by abbreviations.
2) Arithmetic: – This is in-fact the most commonly used ancient art of calculation. Here Brahamagupta in chapter 12 of his famous book Brahmasphutasiddhanta promulgates five types of fraction combinations
3) Series: -Our maths teachers often exclaimed “2″ raised to the power of n plus the natural number series”. The squares and cubes, its quiet confusing for a novice but this visionary has that answer which many of our teachers forget to tell us. He gives the sum of the squares of the first n natural numbers as n(n+1)(2n+1)/6 and the sum of the cubes of the first n natural numbers as (n(n+1)/2).
4) Other accomplishments:– Among other accomplishments of Brahamagupta comes the discovery of Zero and its calculations with different negative and positive integers, in chapter 12 Brahamagupta discusses the details about Diophantine analysis , Pythagorean triples and Pell’s equation for breaking numbers into several pieces and theorems relating to generalization of identity
5) Geometry:– Brahamagupta was equally a past master in the field of shapes sizes and volumes he developed formulae and concepts to measure area and exact area of cyclic quadrilateral
His other discoveries include the value of pi and methods of measuring length, breath volume and depth.
Although he made so many mathematical discoveries his sine tables based on the trigonometrical longitudes of planets aid a lot in modern gigantic calculations and calculations in the field of astronomy. What Galileo and Newton felt at later stages about earth’s shape and gravity Brahamgupta had discovered hundreds of years ago.
Acknowledging such vast collection of mathematical discoveries of Bhramagupta it will be an honor to call him mentor of words and that of medieval scientists of the Newtonian era from west.
BRAHAMAGUPTA INVENTED ZERO “0”
So you thought you knew everything well the answer may pop up “approximately” just because you are “educated” and are well armed with all the scientific knowledge of the western world doesn’t not mean you know everything in fact you know “0”. Most people will be quiet offended by this remark but solemnly do you really know zero. I am sure most of you know more than zero and less than zero but not the story of zero itself.
In this ever dynamic world who cares a damn about this sweet little zero, but imagine if this is taken out of our lives all the scientific developments will come to a chaotic end and your four to eight figure salary will be a single digit trauma, NASA will have to cancel trips to mars and moon, our modern mathematics will be equally shaken and will find new abrupt faces to explain its complex theorems ,in short the entire world will be a bear’s garden in the absence of this single numeral called ‘Zero’ and written as ‘0’.
By now people must have understood the impact of zero in our lives but still they are zero as most of them don’t even know who discovered zero, unfortunately for many Indians and western big shots the answer will be scanned among great scientist like Einstein, Galileo or perhaps Newton. These literates are too inspired by the awe of the western world and have forgotten that science and mathematics did existed even in the most ancient cultures and countries be it in Egypt, China or India.
Zero was not the brainchild of western world but the product of an Indian mathematician called Brahamagupta in 598 AD. Brahamagupta was born in Gujarat in the city of Bhinmal which is presently in North West Rajasthan. Brahamagupta was the head of the department of mathematics and Astronomy at the university set up by another great Vedic Indian mathematician Aryabhata at the city of Ujjain which was at that time a great center for learning Science literature Sanskrit and the art of prediction called astronomy.
In chapter 18 of his famous book called Brahmasphutasiddhanta (Corrected Treatise of Brahma) Brahamagupta describes about Zero as one of the numerals which stood for meaning nothing. He also elaborates as to how integers positive and negative consequence when played with zero.
For example
ADDITION WITH ZERO if a positive integer value is added to a similar negative value the result is zero,the sum of a negative integer and a zero is negative , sum of a positive integer and a zero is positive and the addition of two zero’s is zero.
SUBTRACTION WITH ZERO .A negative integer subtracted from zero is negative, a positive integer subtracted from zero is positive and a zero subtracted from zero is zero.
MULTIPLICATION WITH ZERO A negative integer, positive integer and a zero with Zero will always be Zero.
SQUARE AND SQUAREROOT OF ZERO The square of a zero and squawroot of a zero is always zero.
DIVISION WITH ZERO A zero divided by a zero is zero and a negative or positive integer divided by zero is zero.
Only at this point of division Brahamagupta makes crucial mistake as we all know that an integer divided by zero is not zero but in-finite. Brahamagupta is criticized by many contemporary and ancient scholars and mathematicians for this ardent mistake but what they fail to realize is the very foundation Brahamagupta provided to the platform of science and mathematics by using Zero as numerals for the first time and that too successfully. There is another side of the coin which still needs to be reviewed, it state that an integer when divided by 0 is 0 which most of the scientists believe is wrong but the synonym of 0 is “shunaya or Shunya” which is fortunately also the same for “infinite”. However it is a matter of debate and still in hypothesis weather Brahamagupta knew about the concept of infinite/undefined or not but scanning his astronomical geniuses he possessed it can be safely assumed that he was well acquainted with the theorem.
Zero is not just a word or a numeral it is a symbol of the pride of East and the fact that the eastern culture’s research and development in the field of science and mathematics is the very foundation on which the medieval western discoveries were made and yet more future ones still remain to be made through forgotten zeroes of the east..
The gravitational pull of Brahamagupta and Newton
Brahamagupta the greatest of all Indian mathematicians was born in Gujarat in the city of Bhinmal which is presently in North West Rajasthan. His work regarding the application of numerals, discovery of zero ,discovery of pi ,”sutras” or formulae in the field of arithmetic, algebra, series, Pells Equation, Diophantine analysis, area of cyclic quadrilaterals in geometry, trigonometry, planetary true longitudes ,astronomy and GRAVITATION make him the oldest geniuses of eastern scientific world.
Sir Isaac Newton born 4th January 1643 in Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire in England was the greatest English mathematician of his generation. He laid the foundation for differential and integral calculus. His work on optics and gravitation make him one of the greatest scientists the world has known.
Brahamagupta wrote his famous book Brahmasphutasiddhanta in which he describes in detail the content of his work Brahmagupta’s Karanakhandakhadyaka is a handbook on astronomical calculations. Brahamagupta believed that the earth was stationary but he firmly believed that it was round. His beliefs further include the positioning of sun and moon he cleverly argues about the distance of sun to be greater than moon from the earth based on the solar and lunar eclipse, one of the most crucial discovery by Brahamagupta was that he was the first to give his view about gravity and believed that it was the nature of the earth to hold and attract things towards itself. Sir Isaac Newton wrote many famous books one of the most recognized and acclaimed one was Principia mathmatica ,Newton describes the law of motion and the gravitational pull of the earth in this book. His other works include Method of Fluxions (1671) Of Natures Obvious Laws & Processes in Vegetation (1671–75) unpublished work on alchemy De Motu Corporum in Gyrum (1684) ,Optics (1704) etc. It is said that Newton also had a belief in the art of occult.
It was said that when Newton was hit by an apple from the tree he came the realization of gravitational force of the earth. While Brahamagupta’s more accurate philosophical arguments like “all heavy things are attracted towards the center of the earth. The earth on all its sides is the same; all people on earth stand upright, and all heavy things fall down to the earth by a law of nature, for it is the nature of the earth to attract and to keep things.” Seem to be a more realistic reason for a theory.
Sir Isaac Newton was awarded the credit of the discovery of the force of gravity when the same discovery was made approximately 1000 years before by Brahamhagupta in India ,it is far by no doubt that both were great scientists and renowned autocrats of their times but giving the entire credit for a discovery which was already made earlier is something like giving credit to a bulb factory worker ,who just finished making a bulb, for the invention of bulb altogether indeed the new bulb will have a better filament and shine than the one discovered by Tomas Elva Edison .If we unfortunately do so, we will be too rude to all the sweat that Edison must have drained while discovering an electric bulb .Similarly the world is still being rude to the greatest Indian genius Brahamagupta when it comes to the discovery of gravitational pull.
When it comes to the work on optics Brahamagupta was equally aware of the astronomical heavenly bodies like Newton and has given much logical explanations in terms of sine tables and true longitudes as Newton’s explanation of the acceleration due to gravity 9.8 m/s2 .It is possible that the concept of speed ,acceleration ,velocity etc was not known nor required at the time of Brahamagupta hence the theorems in these pre texts were not initiated in these directions .
Sir Newton believed in occult and predicted the end of the world by 2050 based on what facts is still in the shades of doubts Brahamagupta developed a science of numbers called astrology which was based on the positions of planets and stars through it the future of the individual could be predicted.
The only difference between Newton and Brahamagupta was that in the origin and era assuming it to be true that the work of Brahamagupta was discovered by the western world at a later stage but some credit must necessarily be given to the original inventor of the concept of gravitation along with the contemporary Newtonian one after all true science is based on the facts and conceptual realities rather than just plain simple origin .The decision should be left on the people and the world to be decided, which gravitational pull is attracting them more Newton or Brahamagupta’s.
If you are interested in India for whatever reason then here are some interesting facts about India. India and Indians does attract some stereotyping which I hope to dispel. If I have missed out some facts then do include them in the comments. Travellers to India might find these facts on India interesting. So here goes and hope you like these amazing facts about India.
Interesting facts about India: A photo of a sweet shop in India. Indians love sweets.
Interesting facts about India:
The official name of India is Republic of India.
Another official name of India is Bharat.
India is also known as Hindustan or the land of the Hindus. Some historians believe that Hindu word came from the River Indus. It is that thought that the word India came from the word indigo as it was grown extensively in India. Here are more some facts on Hinduism.
One of the earliest civilisations flourished in India. The India Indus Valley Civilization is one of the oldest in the world. It comprised of more than 100 cities and villages. The two main cities were Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. India is hence the oldest continuing civilisation.
India is the only subcontinent in the world.
Neighbours of India include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, China, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
India is the seventh largest country in the world.
India is the second largest English speaking country in the world.
Other religions include Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism and Zoroastrianism.
India has the largest numbers of vegetarians in the world.
India is the largest producer of milk in the world.
India was the first country to cultivate and refine sugar.
The currency of India is the Indian National Rupee.
The internal domain of India is dot in (.in).
The intentional dialling code is +1
India has a current population of 1.2 billion and will take over China around 2028.
Currently, 50% of India’s population is below 25 and more than 65% below the age of 35.
About 100 million years ago, India used to be an island. The Indian subcontinent collided with Asia and created the Himalayas, the highest mountain range in the world.
Tea (called chai in India) has been grown and drank in India for centuries but it was exclusively for the rich till the British mass cultivated it.
White tigers are only found in Indian tigers (Bengal tigers).
The Indian film industry is often called Bollywood since most Indian films are made in Bombay (Mumbai). Here’s an introduction to Indian cinema.
British rule started in India in the year 1858. The revolt of 1857 called the India’s first independent movement was crushed leading to the formation of Government of India Act 1858 an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom calling abolition of East India Company and transfer of territories to the British crown. This lead to the start of the British rule in India!
India got its independence from Britain on the 15th 1947.
India was split into Pakistan and India. East Pakistan is today independent from Pakistan and is called Bangladesh.
India was divided on religious lines. Followers of Hinduism and other religions were supposed to live in India and Pakistan was created for the Muslims. Funny thing today is that there are more Muslims in India than in Pakistan.
The Indian flag is called the tricolour. The top band is saffron, the middle band is white with the Ashoka chakra in between and the green at the bottom.
The most popular salutation in India is the Namaste. Namaste is said by folding both hands together and saying “Namaste”. Namaste means “I bow to the goodness in you”. Here’s more on the meaning of Namaste.
Children touch the feet of their elders to pay respects.
Indian women wear Sari (saree) which is a long piece of cloth and the salwar kameez. Here’s how to wear the sari.
Many men wear a dhoti in place of pants. Here’s more on what Indians wear.
The most popular sport is cricket.
The highest cricket ground in the world is the Chail Cricket Ground in Chail, Himachal Pradesh. It was built in the year 1893.
India has never hosted the Olympic Games.
India has the largest post office network in the world.
The national sport of India is hockey.
The national animal of India is not the cow but the Royal Bengal Tiger. It is true that cows are often allowed to roam on the streets of India but so are other animals. More about tigers here.
The national bird of India is the Indian Peacock.
The national flower of India is the lotus. Many Hindu gods and goddess are often seen seated on the lotus.
The Kumbh Mela is the largest gathering of people in the world and is visible from space.
Interesting facts about India: Read Rishabh’s experience at the Kumb Mela.
A village called “Mawsynram” in India’s North Eastern Khasi Hills has the highest average rainfall in the world. Learn about Indian Monsoons here.
The Brihadeswara Temple of Tanjavur in Tamil Nadu is the World’s first granite temple.
The national anthem of Bangladesh was written by Rabindranath Tagore an India who also wrote India’s national anthem.
Freddie Mercury and Ben Kingsley have Indian origins.
Hotmail was founded by an Indian called Sabeer Bhatia.
Diamonds were first mined in India in the Guntur and Krishna districts of the Krishna River.
The game of snakes and ladders was originated in India.
Chess called Chaturanga too has Indian origins which then spread to Persia and Arabia.
Interesting facts about India: The golden temple in Amritsar, India.
Mathematics such as Algebra, Trigonometry, quadratic equations, Calculus all of which originated in India.
Aryabhatta was the first person to calculate the value of Pi. Most of Aryabhatta’s work has been documented in his book called Aryabhatiya.
The decimal system, concept of zero and the numbers called the “Hindu Numericals” all originated in India.
The art of navigation was used extensively on the River Sindhu. In fact, the word “Navigation” has been derived from the Sanskrit word “Navgatih”.
The Sikh religion was started by Guru Nanak in Punjab. Read more about the Sikh Golden Temple here.
Buddha was born in Lumbini (current day Nepal) but found enlightenment in Bodh Gaya in Bihar, India.
Buddhism declined in India, the land of its origins after the Gupta Dynasty around 13th century.
The holy city of Varanasi, also known as Banaras or Kashi is the oldest inhabited city in the world. Here’s an amazing fact on Varanasi.
His Holiness, Dalai Lama runs his government from Dharmashala in Northern India.
Yoga is of Indian origin. Yoga was invented as a way to connect with the Supreme Being.
Most of the Hindu texts are in Sanskrit.
The River Ganges (2,510 km) is worshipped as a Goddess and referred to as Ganga Maiya (Mother Ganga).
Indians don’t use toilet paper to wash their back size. They use water and their left hand. Here’s how to use the Indian toilet.
The world’s most Zoroastrians live in India. They escaped persecution in Persia so they came to India.
Zoroastrians don’t bury or cremate their dead but instead they leave it on a mountain called “Towers of Silence” for vultures eat.
A popular tourist attraction is the temples of Khajuraho which is a group of Hindu and Jain temples. These temples were built during the Chandella dynasty influenced by the Tantric school of thought.
Tantra is a type of meditation often connected with sex. It is often practiced by married people. The Goddess Kali is considered as one of the many Tantric deities. Tantrics reject the mainstream Hindu philosophy that the world is an illusion (maya) and teach that the world is real.
The earliest cotton woven into clothes is thought to be in India.
In medieval India, the practice of Sati was common, where a widow would kill herself by jumping on the funeral pyre of her husband. The practice is now banned.
Interesting facts about India: The Lotus Temple in New Delhi.
The national fruit of India is the mango.
India has the second largest rail network in the world. The railways are the lifeline of the Indian people as far as transport is concerned. Here’s more on the Indians Railways.
Indians love gold. It is thought that Indian housewives have about 11% of the World’s gold.
The best time to travel in India is between November and March when the weather is moderate.
India uses 230 volts. This means a traveller from the USA will require a voltage converter and plug adapter like this one.
Drinking of alcohol is frowned upon however things are changing.
Guests are welcomed in India. There is a saying “Athihi Devo Bhava” which means that guests are a reflection of God and hence they are welcomed and treated well.
The current Prime Minister of India is Narendra Modi of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who was the previously chief minister of state of Gujarat.
Ayurvedic medicine an ancient school of medicine is still popular in India.
According to UNICEF, one third of the world’s malnourished children live in India.
According to the World Health Organisation, about 100,000 people die from diarrhoea every year. Many people do not have any toilets and hence have to defecate in the open.
The male female ratio of India (sex ratio) is increasing rapidly. It is estimated that there is 900 females to 1000 males. This is due to the fact that the girl-child is killed before it’s born.
A case of rape is reported every 22 minutes in India. Foreign tourists have also been raped.
If you want more amazing facts on India then try this India for kids book. I hope you liked these Interesting facts about India from the top of my head. If I have missed out on something then please do remind me.
One of the most valuable assets of India is its people and diversity. You go from one Indian state to another and you will find a difference in culture, language, mannerisms, tradition and food and amazingly we coexist in a very peaceful way. Nowhere in the world will you find such diversity There are places to visit and then there is India. Here are some of the reasons why you should visit this great country.
“There are some parts of the world that, once visited, get into your heart and won’t go. For me, India is such a place. When I first visited, I was stunned by the richness of the land, by its lush beauty and exotic architecture, by its ability to overload the senses with the pure, concentrated intensity of its colours, smells, tastes, and sounds. It was as if all my life I had been seeing the world in black and white and, when brought face-to-face with India, experienced everything re-rendered in brilliant Technicolor” said Keith Bellows.
The land of India
India is a land which is a living embodiment for diversity and richness of culture. There is so much to see, so much to soak in; that one is compelled to return over and over again to this vibrant country.
‘Incredible’ is the word that defines India in so many ways. Misty and charming hill stations; long and sandy beaches; lazy backwaters lined by coconut trees; temple and historical sites; centres of art and culture and religious destinations with history of Hinduism ,Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism; are all entwined into the single thread called India. And that’s not all; there are treks, national parks and sanctuaries for the wildlife and adventure connoisseurs.
Never in a single country would you be able to see life at striking contrasts. If you want a complete experience of life, India is the land that awaits you. On one hand there are the busy streets and happening nightlife of Mumbai while there are also the crowded yet mystical Ghats of Varanasi; the atmosphere divine with hymns and aroma of burning incense sticks. There is also the laid back life of Kerala where you could spend your days relaxing on a backwater cruise gorging on the tastiest fish curries ever. If you are holding up for a wildlife safari, for those moments in the wilderness and for unlimited excitement; then you could spend days in the Gir Forest National Park and take in the majestic feel of the Asiatic Lions. The Rann of Kutch, another jewel in its crown, is like India’s very own moon here on earth with miles and miles of white desert; in fact it is the largest salt desert in the world. The temple towns of Tamil Nadu; crowded streets filled with people, lined by flower vendors ; the path leading up to the shrines with bells chiming and chants evoking the Gods. The list; the thrills and splendours are far too many to even jot down in one place. It would only be apt to say that India is a kaleidoscope of wonders; a land so colourful that you would be drenched in it and forever cherish the moments spent in this magical land.
A Moghul emperor once rightly quoted for Kashmir; another gem of India;
(If there is a paradise on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here.)
Yes, India is the land which has paradise on earth. It is a captivating nation with the unique combination of culture, tradition and geography. Each part of India – north or south or west or east – is worth exploring and worth relishing. An exotic land, with variety at its best is what ‘India’ is; so be sure to place it on that on the very important travel list of yours!
Visa for travels in India
Just like you need visum usa to visit the United States, similarly you will need your Indian visa if you are visiting India no matter where you are coming from and for any purpose. There are strict rules which you need to follow when obtaining the visa for your travels to India. India is working towards an agreement where you can obtain the visa for certain countries at the airport. If you are coming from the UK then the visas for India has been outsourced to VFS Global. You will need to visit their centres but you can receive your passport via post.
