10 Most Famous Indian Mathematicians
India has a very old mathematical tradition and is something to be proud of. Thousands of years ago, our Indian mathematicians invented zero and did important work in subjects like algebra, trigonometry, calculus and number theory. They discovered many mathematical concepts that are still used all over the world today.
The contributions of our Indian mathematicians go far beyond formulas – they shaped the way the world understands numbers, logic and patterns. From ancient scholars like Aryabhata to modern geniuses like Ramanujan, India has given the world brilliant minds who made mathematics simpler.
Here we take a closer look at 10 of the most famous mathematicians of India whose work continues to inspire and influence the world of numbers.
1. Aryabhata (476–550 CE)
One of the earliest and most influential Indian mathematicians and astronomers was Aryabhata, who wrote the famous book Aryabhatiya. He introduced the following:
- He conceptualized zero as a number.
- The value of π (pi) was calculated accurately to four decimal places.
- Explained the motion of the Earth as a rotation about its axis.
- He showed that the Earth rotates on its axis.
- He did important work in mathematics, trigonometry, and spherical geometry.
- His legacy was so impressive that India’s first satellite was named Aryabhata in his honor.
2. Brahmagupta (598–668 CE)
Brahmagupta was a great mathematician and astronomer, who made pioneering contributions to arithmetic and algebra. In his book Brahmasphutasiddhanta, he has mentioned some of his things, some of which are:
- He defined zero as a number and formulated rules for its use in calculations.
- He developed rules for solving quadratic equations.
- He explained the use of negative numbers and rules for their multiplication and division.
- He also made significant contributions to geometry mathematical progressions (sequences) and calculation of planetary motion.
3. Bhaskara I (7th century CE)
Bhaskara I, who was considered a devoted disciple of Aryabhata, is particularly known for the following contributions:
- He wrote the earliest known commentary (commentary) on the Aryabhatiya, which made Aryabhata’s ideas easier to understand.
- He gave an exact mathematical formula for the sine function, which was considered a major achievement for the time.
- He furthered and strengthened the trigonometry calculations in Indian astronomy.
- Bhaskara I not only furthered the knowledge of Aryabhata but also laid a solid foundation for the development of trigonometry in India.
4. Bhaskaracharya II (Bhaskara II) (1114–1185 CE)
One of the most famous Indian mathematicians of the 12th century was Bhaskaracharya II. He composed Siddhanta Shiromani, a masterpiece in four parts: Arithmetic, Algebra, Planetary Mathematics and Spheres and his contributions were as follows:
Bhaskaracharya II Contributions:
- He introduced the concept of infinitesimals, the forerunner of Calculus.
- Worked on permutation and combination.
- Given solutions to Pell’s equation.
- He gave an accurate calculation of the time taken by the Earth to rotate.
5. Madhava of Sangamagrama (c. 1340–1425)
Madhava was a visionary mathematician from Kerala and the founder of the Kerala School of Mathematics. Major achievements of Madhava Kerala include:
- Developing infinite series for π, sine, cosine, and arctangent.
- The initial concepts of calculus were developed long before Newton and Leibniz.
- First known use of the Taylor series expansion for trigonometric functions.
- His discoveries show that advanced calculus concepts were known in India long before the West.
6. Srinivasa Ramanujan (1887–1920)
Perhaps the most famous Indian mathematician on the global stage was Ramanujan. He was a self-taught genius, his birthday, December 22, is celebrated as National Mathematics Day in India. He made many contributions to mathematics:
- Number theory
- Infinite series
- Elliptic functions
- Continued fractions
- Mock theta functions
Despite having little formal education, Ramanujan’s theorems astonished even the greatest mathematicians of his time. His collaboration with G.H. Hardy at Cambridge had a lasting influence on modern mathematics.
7. D. R. Kaprekar (1905–1986)
Dattatreya Ramchandra Kaprekar was a unique mathematician who played a vital role in making mathematics interesting and fun.
The major discoveries of Dattatreya Ramchandra Kaprekar include:
- The Kaprekar constant (6174) — a mysterious number that appears repeatedly after a particular mathematical procedure.
- Special studies on the properties of strange patterns of numbers, self-numbers, and Harshad numbers.
- Although his work was outside the traditional academic boundaries, his discoveries inspired mathematical thinking, puzzles and curiosities globally.
8. Harish-Chandra (1923–1983)
Indian American mathematician and physicist Harish-Chandra made significant contributions to many complex areas of mathematics and physics.
Harish-Chandra’s major achievements include:
- Representation Theory
- Harmonic Analysis
- In-depth study of Lie Groups
His research work became the foundation of many important theories in modern algebra and theoretical physics, and scientists around the world are still working on his theories today.
9. C. R. Rao (1920–2023)
Renowned statistician Prof. Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao, who was born in Calcutta, made profound and historic contributions to the field of mathematical statistics.
C.R. Rao’s major achievements include:
- The Cramer-Rao bound, which shows the limits of statistical inference.
- The Rao-Blackwell theorem, which helps improve the efficiency of inference.
- Fundamental work done in multivariate analysis, which is still used in data analysis today.
In 2023, he was awarded the International Statistics Prize, considered the “Nobel Prize” of statistics. This award symbolizes international recognition of his years of hard work and unique contributions.
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10. Manjul Bhargava (Born 1974)
A genius of modern-day mathematics, Manjul Bhargava is an Indian American mathematician who received the Fields Medal in 2014 – one of the highest honors in the field of mathematics.
Manjul Bhargava works include:
- Contributions to number theory, particularly in algebraic geometry
- Generalization of the Gauss composition rule
- Promoting mathematics education globally
- Manjul Bhargava continues to inspire young mathematicians in India and around the world.
Conclusion
India has made a very important contribution in the field of mathematics from ancient times till today. Many great mathematicians here made such ideas and discoveries, with the help of which many new inventions in science, engineering and technology have become possible today.
The hard work and thinking of these 10 famous Indian mathematicians still inspire people, especially students, teachers and those who want to understand and progress in mathematics.