Top 10 Famous Indian Mathematicians & Their Inventions
India has achieved significant advances in mathematics, as historically the country has had many great mathematicians. From prominent figures like Aryabhata and Brahmagupta to modern-era mathematicians like Ramanujan, the top 10 famous Indian mathematicians have made our country a significant contributor to the fields of mathematics globally.
These great mathematicians have discovered significant concepts like zero, the decimal system, trigonometry, and algebra’s advanced techniques, etc. This blog will feature a list of the top 10 famous Indian mathematicians and their inventions that have established the foundations of mathematics today. Let’s begin discussing these reputed mathematicians and their remarkable inventions.
10 Genius Indian Mathematicians & Their Iconic Discoveries
1. Aryabhata (476-550 AD)
Reputed as the father of Indian mathematics, Aryabhata is number one among the top ten renowned mathematicians from India. He is considered one of the earliest known Indian mathematicians whose iconic work and discoveries are accessible to modern scholars.
From the discovery of zero and the decimal system to calculations related to pi and astronomy, his contributions are highly significant, making them a key figure in the classical age of Indian mathematics. Aryabhatiya is his most well-known work, featuring several important concepts of astronomy and mathematics.
| Attribute | Details |
| Name | Aryabhata |
| Title | Father of Indian Mathematics |
| Era | Classical Age of Indian Mathematics |
| Key Contributions | – Discovery of zero and the decimal system – Calculations related to pi – Contributions to astronomy |
| Notable Work | Aryabhatiya |
| Significance | One of the earliest known Indian mathematicians whose work is still studied today |
2. Brahmagupta (598-668 AD)
Brahmagupta was a brilliant astronomer and one of the foremost ancient Indian mathematicians, who is well-known for his groundbreaking discoveries. He was a leader in his field and was the first one, who treat zero as a number and establish rules for it.
Apart from this, he is known for providing the first clear description of the quadratic formula, making advancements in number systems like algorithms for square roots, and describing gravity as an attractive force. Brahmasphutasiddhanta and Khandakhadyaka are two of his most popular works in the modern era.
| Attribute | Details |
| Name | Brahmagupta |
| Title | Ancient Indian Mathematician & Astronomer |
| Key Contributions | – First to treat zero as a number and establish rules for it – Provided the first clear description of the quadratic formula – Developed algorithms for square roots – Described gravity as an attractive force |
| Notable Works | Brahmasphutasiddhanta, Khandakhadyaka |
| Significance | Made groundbreaking discoveries in mathematics and astronomy, influencing future scholars |
3. Bhaskara I (600-680 AD)
Bhaskara I, a key scholar of Aryabhata’s school, is among the top 10 famous Indian mathematicians of the ancient era. He was a genius mathematician and astronomer, The first to use the Hindu-Arabic decimal method to write numbers. His analysis work, Aryabhatiyabhashya on Aryabhatiya is believed to be the oldest Sanskrit work on astronomy and mathematics.
His other inventions include a highly accurate approximation formula for the sine function, methods of solving linear equations, simple methods to find squares, cubes, square roots, and cube roots of large numbers, etc. Additionally, he was the first to discuss the quadrilaterals with non-parallel opposite sides and unequal sides.
| Attribute | Details |
| Name | Bhaskara I |
| Title | Ancient Indian Mathematician & Astronomer |
| Era | Aryabhata’s School |
| Key Contributions | – First to use the Hindu-Arabic decimal method to write numbers – Provided a highly accurate approximation formula for the sine function – Developed methods for solving linear equations – Created simple methods to find squares, cubes, square roots, and cube roots of large numbers -First to discuss quadrilaterals with non-parallel and unequal sides |
| Notable Work | Aryabhatiyabhashya (Commentary on Aryabhatiya) |
| Significance | His works contributed significantly to the development of Indian mathematics and astronomy |
4. Bhaskara II (1114-1185 AD)
One of the top 10 famous Indian mathematicians of the medieval era, Bhaskara II was a legendary astronomer and mathematician born into a family of scholars. He made outstanding discoveries in the field of astronomy, as he defined many astronomical quantities like the length of a sidereal year and the moon’s equation.
Other discoveries by the successor of Brahmagupta are the discovery of principles of differential calculus, systematic use of the decimal system, and several contributions in algebra, trigonometry, and arithmetic. His two works, Lilavati and Bijaganti, are a testament to his mastery of algebra and trigonometry.
| Attribute | Details |
| Name | Bhaskara II |
| Title | Medieval Indian Mathematician & Astronomer |
| Era | Medieval Era |
| Key Contributions | – Defined astronomical quantities like the length of a sidereal year and the moon’s equation – Discovered principles of differential calculus – Systematic use of the decimal system – Contributions in algebra, trigonometry, and arithmetic |
| Notable Works | Lilavati, Bijaganita |
| Significance | A successor of Brahmagupta, his works greatly advanced Indian mathematics and astronomy |
5. Madhava of Sanagamgrama (1340-1425 AD)
Reputed as the founding father of the Kerala School of Astronomy and Mathematics, he was one of the greatest ancient Indian mathematicians. Particularly, this genius maths scholar is recognized for his pioneering work in infinite series expansions for trigonometric functions like sine and cosine.
This legendary work by him is presently known as the Madhava series, which laid the foundation for later calculus development. Although his legacy was confined to Kerala during his era; however, his works significantly advanced the fields of trigonometry, algebra, and geometry, making him one of the top 10 famous Indian mathematicians of the ancient era.
| Attribute | Details |
| Name | Madhava of Sangamagrama |
| Title | Founding Father of the Kerala School of Astronomy and Mathematics |
| Era | Ancient Era |
| Key Contributions | – Pioneered infinite series expansions for trigonometric functions like sine and cosine – Developed what is now known as the Madhava series, laying the foundation for calculus – Made significant advancements in trigonometry, algebra, and geometry |
| Notable Work | Madhava Series |
| Significance | His works greatly influenced later developments in calculus and mathematical analysis |
6. Srinivasa Ramanujan (1887-1920)
Ramanujan is a prominent name among the modern-era mathematicians. He was a natural genius and a self-taught mathematician who made noteworthy advances in number theory mathematical analysis, etc. His outstanding discoveries in areas like the partition function, continued fractions, and infinite series greatly influenced the development of mathematics in the 20th century.
He was considered the best mathematician in the modern world during his time. The works by Ramanujan, one of the top 10 famous Indian mathematicians continued to influence the studies for new mathematical ideas.
| Attribute | Details |
| Name | Srinivasa Ramanujan |
| Title | Modern-Era Mathematician |
| Era | 20th Century |
| Key Contributions | – Made groundbreaking advances in number theory and mathematical analysis – Significant work in the partition function, continued fractions, and infinite series – His discoveries greatly influenced modern mathematics |
| Notable Work | Ramanujan’s Notebooks, Ramanujan Prime, Ramanujan Theta Function |
| Significance | A self-taught genius whose work continues to inspire new mathematical discoveries |
7. P.C. Mahalanobis (1893-1972)
Renowned as the father of the Indian mathematician, P.C. Mahalanobis is one of the greatest mathematicians in our country. His area of expertise was statistics, particularly applied statistics and later he expanded it by founding the Indian Statistical Institute.
Some of his notable contributions are Mahalanobis distance, a key statistical measure used to compare data points across various variables, and fractile graphical analysis. He worked as a member of India’s Planning Commission for 11 years from 1955-1967.
| Attribute | Details |
| Name | P.C. Mahalanobis |
| Title | Father of Indian Statistics |
| Era | 20th Century |
| Key Contributions | – Founded the Indian Statistical Institute – Developed the Mahalanobis distance, a key statistical measure – Introduced fractile graphical analysis – Contributed to applied statistics and economic planning |
| Notable Work | Mahalanobis Distance, Fractile Graphical Analysis |
| Significance | Served as a member of India’s Planning Commission (1955-1967), shaping economic policies through statistical methods |
8. C.R. Rao (1920-2019)
Reputed for his groundbreaking discoveries in the field of statistics, C.R. Rao is considered one of the top 10 famous Indian mathematicians and was a prominent mathematical figure in the world during his time. Additionally, his work influenced many areas of science like genetics and medicine. His most notable contribution was the Cramér-Rao inequality theorem for which he received many awards like Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.
| Attribute | Details |
| Name | C.R. Rao |
| Title | Renowned Statistician & Mathematician |
| Era | 20th Century |
| Key Contributions | – Developed the Cramér-Rao inequality theorem – Made significant contributions to statistics, influencing fields like genetics and medicine |
| Notable Work | Cramér-Rao Inequality Theorem |
| Significance | Received prestigious awards such as Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan for his contributions to mathematics and statistics |
9. Shakuntala Devi (1929-2013)
Renowned as the Human-Computer, Shakuntala Devi is a Guinness World Record holder for fast computation skills and a prominent mathematician of the modern era. She was particularly famous for her quick mental calculations without the aid of the calculator.
She could solve intricate mathematical problems in her head, including large numbers and complex calculations. Despite lacking formal education in mathematics, she published several books on mathematics, puzzles, astrology, and even a book on homosexuality.
| Attribute | Details |
| Name | Shakuntala Devi |
| Title | Human-Computer |
| Era | Modern Era |
| Key Contributions | – Guinness World Record holder for fast mental calculations – Solved intricate mathematical problems without a calculator – Published books on mathematics, puzzles, astrology, and homosexuality |
| Notable Work | “The World of Homosexuals,” “Figuring: The Joy of Numbers” |
| Significance | A self-taught genius who amazed the world with her extraordinary mental math skills |
10. Dr. Kaprekar (1907-1987)
Last on the list of the top 10 famous Indian mathematicians is Dr. Kaprekar, a self-taught mathematician, who made significant contributions to number theory and recreational mathematics. He is widely known for his theories, Kaprekar Constant (6174) and Devlali numbers. His work was not initially appreciated by the county’s mathematicians but later gained international recognition.
| Attribute | Details |
| Name | Dr. D.R. Kaprekar |
| Title | Self-Taught Mathematician |
| Era | 20th Century |
| Key Contributions | – Discovered Kaprekar Constant (6174) – Introduced Devlali numbers – Made significant contributions to number theory and recreational mathematics |
| Notable Work | Kaprekar Constant, Devlali Numbers |
| Significance | Initially unrecognized in India, his work later gained international acclaim |
Conclusion
From the invention of zero to discoveries like infinite series, number theory, and others, these top 10 famous Indian mathematicians have a prominent influence even in the modern era. Their groundbreaking inventions not only established the foundation for mathematics today but also made our country significant in the global mathematics sector. Additionally, prestigious schools in Dehradun, known for their academic excellence, continue to uphold India’s rich legacy in mathematics by nurturing future scholars and innovators.
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