History of Mathematics Timeline in Nepal-Infinity Maths

 

                TIMELINE OF DEVELOPMENT OF MATHEMATICS IN NEPAL

Dan Bdr Budha

Student, Central Department of Education, University Campus, Kirtipur, Nepal

E-mail: budhadanbdr@gmail.com

 

It is difficult to declare how long ancient Nepal, when, where, and who used mathematics at first in Nepal. It is well-known mathematics was practiced very early in human civilization. So the history of mathematics is old as human civilization. It is practiced in guru Kula and different situations in the context of Nepal as other civilizations.

But it appears that Kirant ethnicity lived in Nepal more than 2,500 years ago. The kirant are a tribe of jungle and mountain people who migrated from various parts of central Asia, china, and the Himalayas and they ruled for a long time in Nepal, so we claim that Nepal is a very ancient country in the world. The brief timeline of mathematics in Nepal is listed below.

Early mathematics is practiced very beginning of the human civilization and antique age. In Guru Kula system also practices mathematics as the form of Jyoutisha as arithmetic. The tentative few dates related to mathematics developments are listed below.

Φ   (576-880):  Sumatitantra / Sumati Siddhanta Jyoutisha. Sumatitantra is written in basis of Varahmihira’s Surya Siddhanta written in 505.

Φ   1099: Bhaswati was written by Satyananda of Udisa (Orisa) and its commentary Balbodhani Tika was written by Daibagya Balabhadra in 1494, it is the third popular commentary of Bhaswati. Bhaswati contains addition, subtraction, multiplication, parts,, division, etc. it was 576 years ago than the establishment of Royal Observatory at Greenwich and appointment of Royal Astrologer at that observatory. At that time after completion of the study of Bhaswati then the complex study of Lilavati was starting.

Φ   1409: Dharma Patibardhan at Kathmandu had written Sumati Siddhanta Jyoutisha a book that gives the theory of calculation of planetary eclipse. It was 266 years ago than the establishment of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich and the appointment of Royal Astrologer that observatory.

Φ    1723: Daivagya Chakrapani Aryal at published his Jyoutisha manual Uttana Ganita for calculation of calendrical data like calculation of solar and lunar eclipse. It was 48 years ago than the establishment of Royal Observatory at Greenwich and appointment of Royal Astrologer at that observatory.

Φ   (1758-1831): Laxmipati Pandey was the astrologer and mathematician who advised King Prithivi Narayan Shah. He wrote about 40 books, some of the notable books- Ratnadeep, Lilabati, Bhaswati, Tika, Ghira Laghava, Kalarnav Dipika, etc. He prepared the sun Dial before 83 years ago than the establishment of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich and the appointment of royal astrologer John Flamstid at that observatory. Lila Nath Pande, son of Laxmipati Pande had written Siddhanta Jyoutisha book which was the first Nepali book unpublished book.

Φ   (1786-1832): Lila Nath Pande had started the comparative study in Nepali. He is as a popular writer of Jyoutisha Ganita.

Φ   1832: Brahamala Shrestha was born and had written Vichitra Ganita in 1918.

Φ   (1847-1918): Gopal Pndeya was born in the Gorkha district of Nepal. Gopal Pandey was the first mathematician and writer of mathematics in the Nepali language among the known mathematics of Nepal. He had written his first mathematics book “Vyatka Chandrika” in Nepali medium 1883 to 1914. He has engineering (designed) Tundikhel at Kathmandu. He verified the lunar eclipse in Nepal.

Φ   1853: Darbar High school was established and it is the main source of education.

Φ   1877: The First Sanskrit school was established by Ranodip Singh.

Φ   (1877-1940): Jaya Prithvi Bahadur shah had written Aksharank Shikha in 1901. It was a very remarkable works in Nepali mathematics.

Φ   (1878-1934): Pahal Man Singh Swar had written Ankendushekhara which influenced Nepali mathematics.

Φ   1883:  Chandra Shamsher was the first student of matriculation. He passed (S.L.C.) with mathematics major. Chakravarti Arithmetic, Lilavati, roots, rule of three, LCM, etc. were taught at that school. Narendranamy translated the arithmetic used for teaching in 1834 in Shrestha pathshala.

Φ   1884: Publication of first Nepali calendar. Himnath Pant (son of Toya Nath Pant) was first master’s degree in Jyoutisha in Nepal. He had worked in the preparation of calendar.

Φ   1903 (born): Harinath Pokheral wrote Brahmanda Darpan (1922) and Miti Darpan and Panchnga (1928) books in the Nepali language in Kashi.

Φ   (1909-1936): Tika Ram Dhananjaya had contributed in Nepali mathematics through Sishubodhatarangini with his wife Chandrakaladevi Dhananjaya in 1933. He had contributions in Veda, Jyoutisha, Ayurveda, Panchanga, etc.

Φ   (19013-2002): Naya Raj Pant occupies a central position in history of mathematics in south Asia. He had written more than 200 mathematical treaties based on number theory, trigonometry, Jyoutisha, spherical trigonometry, planetary motion and calendar, sun dial, calculus, chhanda, etc. Meru Nath Pande, Kabi Raj Pande is also the popular writer of algebra in the Nepali language at that time.

Φ   (1913-2007): Prof. Keshav Dev Bhattrai was a Matriculation from Patna University was as the second M.A. degree holder in the whole of Nepal. He conducted a memorable quiz contest for school-level mathematics in olympiad mode. He taught at Trichandar College.

Φ   (1922-1997): prof. Gobinda Dev Pant was appointed as a professor of mathematics in Tri Chandra College.

Φ   (1915-2002): Chandrakaladevi Dhananjaya, first women mathematician/writer of mathematics in Nepal. She had written Shishubodhatarangini part one and two.

Φ   1918: Mathematics was teaching at Trichandra College at proficiency level (I.A.).

Φ   1992: Indra Nath Aryal was born and now he is the living legend of Nepali mathematics, he can express mathematics in a classical way in practical-based.

Φ   1924: The study of mathematics at the B.A. level was started at Tri Chandra College.

Φ   1925/26: Noor Datta Pande, second son (Mahila Chhora) of Gopal Pande had written Gorkha Bijaganita part one to four.

Φ    1926: Narayan Bahadur Manandhar (born 1906) was the first person who received his first master’s degree in mathematics major from Calcutta University and he taught at Trichandra College.

Φ   1930: Prof. Dhupa Ratna Bajracharya was the founder president of Nepal's mathematical society and head of the central department of mathematics at Tribhuvan University.

Φ   (1941-1951): Nepali Arithmetic book was published by Khadga Man Malla to fulfil the mathematics need to service holder in Government Office.

Φ   Onward 1959: Asutosh Ganguli (1961) was the first department head of mathematics for a master’s degree class in Tri Chandra College. Prof. T.P. Chaudhary, Prof. V.D. Thawani also taught mathematics.

Φ   1953: Date for training (5 months then 10 months) at Min Bhawan for mathematics teacher in Nepal. In 1956 Proficiency Certificate Level class (I.Ed.) at Chet Bhawan.

Φ   1963: Date for first mathematics curriculum in lower secondary.

Φ   1971: New Educational System Plan (NESP) is the milestone for the development of education which also supports mathematics education. From that date, mathematics education and statistics were taught at the master’s degree level University Campus, Kirtipur. Department of mathematics shift Kirtipur.

Φ   1973: First Semester class in the mathematics department of T.U. in master’s degree class.

Φ   The end of the tenth years of 1990: The three pass and four pass degree also allowed for service holder in Government Office with mathematics major.

Φ   1979: Establishment of Nepal Mathematics Society (NMS).

Φ   1991: Establishment of Mathematical Education Community (MEC).

Φ   2004: Ministry of Science and Technology published a famous historical paper Mathematics in Nepali: A historical analysis written by Prof. Shankar Raj Pant was published in the scientific journal scientific world. Perhaps this is the first paper that gives the brief history of Nepali mathematics and it is as the milestone for research the historical development of Nepali Mathematics and Mathematics Education.

Φ   2008: Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) announced a mathematical report for mathematics education for 21st century new Nepal prepared by prof. R.M. Shrestha. It is a base stone for a review of Nepali mathematics with comparing mathematics in different education in Nepal. After these two works, dozens of papers are published nationally and internationally including a biography of mathematicians.

Φ   2009: Establishment of Nepal Mathematical Community (NMC).

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