India has an extremely rich heritage of science and technology. India has made enumerable contribution in the fields of metallurgy. Chemistry, mathematics, medicines and surgery, astrology and astronomy, Vastushastra, etc. The statue of Nataraja made during Chola period is a finest example of metallurgy in the world. Acharya Nagarjuna has made us pround with his immense and rich work in chemistry. ‘Rasa- ratnakar and ‘Arogya-manj ari ’ are two of his great books describing about various chemicals found in chemistry.
Due to his knowledge and legacy that Nalanda University had setup school of chemistry in the university campus for research and studies in ancient time. Several structures such as the copper statue of Buddha of Sultanganj, statue of Buddha at Nalanda, Vijay Stambha, are a few of the best examples of our excellence in chemistry.
Maharshi Charak, Maharshi Sushruta and Vagbhatta were the pioneers of ancient India’s medical and herbal science and surgery. These people did extensive research and reached great heights. Their books ‘Charak Samhita’, ‘Sushruta Samhita’ and Vagbhatta Samhita’ are still in use as reference by modem doctors. The ancient Indian doctors were so skilled that to perform surgeries they could stop blood circulation using a special type of bowl-shaped bandage.
They could skillfully operate abdomen, kidney, cataract, hernia, stone, piles, bladder, etc. Veterinary science also developed quite well in ancient India. India has made a notable contribution in the field of mathematics. India’s some of the finest gifts to the world are discovery of ‘0’ (zero), decimal system, algebra, theorem of Baudhayana, Geometry and Arithmetic. Aryabhatta discovered ‘zero’ (0), gave an approximate value of % (pi) as ‘3.14 or say 22/7’. Brahmagupta gave the knowledge about the types of equations in mathematics. Baudhayana gave another version of Pythagoras theorem. Many works related to astronomy have been written in India.
Ancient universities of India did systematic and deep study of astrology. Aryabhatta made a remarkable contribution in the field of astronomy. As a result, when India launched its first satellite, it named it ‘Aryabhatta’. He declared that the earth rotates on its own axis. Brahmagupta mentioned about the laws of gravitation in his book ‘Brahmasiddhant’. One of the greatest astrologers and astronomer Varahmihir divided astrology into three sections namely Tanta’, ‘Hor’ and ‘Samhita’. Ancient India had also made tremendous contribution in vastushastra. Brahma, Narad, Brahaspati, Bhrugu, Vashishtha and Vishwakarma have made unique contributions in the field of Vastushastra. Today, the western countries have also adopted Vastushatra in various aspects. Thus, India had a rich ancient heritage in science and technology which made India world famous.