Myths and reality : On ‘ Vedic mathematics ’ S . G . Dani

We in India have good reasons to be proud of a rich heritage in science, philosophy and culture in general, coming to us down the ages. In mathematics, which is my own area of specialisation, the ancient Indians not only took great strides long before the Greek advent, which is a standard reference point in the Western historical perspective, but also enriched it for a long period making in particular some very fundamental contributions such as the place-value system for writing numbers as we have today, introduction of zero and so on. Further, the sustained development of mathematics in India in the post-Greek period was indirectly instrumental in the revival in Europe after ”its dark ages”.