Indian Used 'Gravity Principles' 250 years Before Newton Discovery : Manchester University

History News ,India :-  Dr. George Gheverghese Joseph from The University of Manchester has uncovered groundbreaking revelations about the 'Kerala School' and their contributions to mathematics. He points out that the 'infinite series,' a fundamental concept in calculus, was actually identified by the Kerala School around 1350. Surprisingly, this discovery, which predates Sir Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibnitz by centuries, has often been mistakenly attributed to them.

Researchers from The Universities of Manchester and Exeter further reveal that the Kerala School also pioneered the Pi series and utilized it to calculate Pi with remarkable accuracy—up to 17 decimal places.

Moreover, there's compelling evidence suggesting that Indian mathematicians shared their discoveries with Jesuit missionaries during the fifteenth century, potentially influencing the development of mathematical thought in Europe.

Dr. Joseph emphasizes that while Newton's contributions to calculus remain significant, figures like Madhava and Nilakantha from the Kerala School deserve equal recognition for their discovery of infinite series, a vital component of calculus.

However, the neglect of scientific achievements from non-European regions, influenced by historical biases stemming from colonialism, has obscured the Kerala School's contributions. Additionally, the lack of familiarity with the medieval form of Malayalam, the local language of Kerala, where much of the significant mathematical texts were written, has contributed to this oversight.

Dr. Joseph also highlights disparities in the standards of evidence required to acknowledge knowledge transmission from East to West compared to the reverse. He suggests that the West's reliance on knowledge exchange from India and the Islamic world during the medieval period is well-documented, yet the contributions from these regions are often undervalued.

He points out instances where European Jesuits, with expertise in mathematics and local languages, interacted with Kerala mathematicians, indicating potential knowledge transfer. For example, Pope Gregory XIII's committee, which included mathematician Clavius, sought information on calendar construction from diverse regions, with the Kerala School being a notable resource.

Similarly, advancements in navigation during the Age of Exploration spurred the demand for accurate astronomical calculations, an area where Kerala mathematicians excelled.

In light of these findings, it's essential to recognize the significant contributions of the Kerala School to the development of mathematics, bridging the gap in our understanding of its global history.

Erratum: The University of Manchester acknowledges the significant work of Professor CK Raju in exploring the transmission of Kerala Mathematics to Europe, which should have been recognized in the original news release.