Science and Technology in ancient India

                                          Image source: incipientinfo.com

Ancient Indians  made  significant contribution to science and technology.The earliest evidence is the  Indus valley civilization with its elaborate drainage and sewerage system,well planned cities,use of weights and measures.A number of excavated  sites have yielded  many technological  innovations like the animal drawn plough,cultivation of cotton, use of irrigation and canal system,sophisticated systems of measurement.

With the beginning of  the Vedic period we find evidence of use of large numbers for calculations.The Shatapatha Brahmana (9^th century BCE) provides a set of rules for ritual geometric  constructions. Baudhayana (8^th century BCE) wrote the Baudhayana Sulba Sutra which provides examples of  simple Pythagorean triples. The   Vedic  period also saw the development of astronomy and astrology in ancient India. The  Vedanga  Jyotisa compiled by Lagadha is the earliest Indian astronomical text which explains the astronomical calculations and calendrical studies. The Vedanga Jyotisa being a religious text  is also related to astrology. It  gives  information  regarding   lunar and  solar months, eclipses  and  the  various time and seasons of the year.

In medicine the Sushruta  Samhita is an ayurvedic text  containing 184 chapters and description of 1120 illnesses and their cure with different herbs. It also has  a detailed study of human anatomy. Cataract surgery was also known to Sushruta. In the 5^th century BCE Panini made remarkable contributions to phonetics,phonology and morphology.

Kautilya’s  Arthashastra  mentions the use of suspension bridges for the construction of dams. The Vaisheshika school of atomism  proposed by Kanada the Indian philosopher who lived in the 600BCE was  the earliest theory of atom in India. In the field of Mathematics Aryabhatta gave the concept of zero. The decimal system and the binary numbers  were also invented by ancient Indians. The Hindu Arabic numeral system from 1 to 9 originated in India which spread to Europe through the Middle East. In the 12^th century Bhaskara stated the calculus theorem which is now known as Rolle ’s Theorem. Indigo, a dye and its production and processing originated in India. The crystallization of sugar was also discovered during the Gupta dynasty. Glass making and its various techniques originated in India. The iron pillar at Delhi is also an example of innovation due to the fact that it stood  without rust for 2000 years.

Coin making also received an impetus in ancient India. Coins of bronze, copper and silver have been found at various sites throughout India. A characteristic feature of these coins is the sophisticated design and forging techniques by which these coins have been made.

Ancient Indians were skilled in science and technology before Europe made significant scientific innovations. Though, we can say with certainty that they were well ahead of time but the technological innovations in ancient India stands as a fact before the West that the Indian accomplishment to science and technology cannot be overlooked.