BIOGRAPHY OF ARYABHATA
Shiva khanal
Department of Mathematics
Over fifteen hundred years ago (in 476 AD) when the world struggled to understand the mysteries of the stars and numbers, India gave birth to one of the greatest mathematicians and astronomers Aryabhata in Kusumapura (believed to be modern-day Patna, Bihar).
From a young age, Aryabhata’s brilliance illuminated the
ancient world of science and mathematics. He showed an extraordinary curiosity
about the universe. Though little is known about his early life, it is believed
that he studied at the famous Nalanda University, one of the greatest centers
of learning in ancient India. His thirst for knowledge led him to explore the
secrets of numbers, the planets, and the stars . what he discovered changed the
course of history.
At the age of just 23, Aryabhata composed his masterpiece, the “Aryabhatiya”, a remarkable book written in Sanskrit verses. This work covered a wide range of topics of algebra, trigonometry, and geometry to astronomy and time measurement. He introduced the concept of zero as a number and explained the place-value system, which later became the foundation of modern mathematics.
Aryabhata was also among the first to propose that the Earth rotates on its own axis, a groundbreaking idea centuries before it was accepted in the Western world. He correctly explained why we experience day and night and why the planets appear to move in the sky. His estimation of the length of the year and the value of π (pi) was astonishingly accurate for his time. Beyond numbers and formulas, Aryabhata’s work reflected the spirit of scientific thought, observation, logic, and reasoning. His discoveries influenced scholars not only in India but also in the Arab world and Europe, shaping the global progress of science and mathematics.
Even today, Aryabhata’s name lives in India’s first satellite “Aryabhata”,which was launched in 1975, and in classrooms where students continue to learn from his legacy. He was not just a mathematician or astronomer; he was a visionary who proved that human curiosity and intellect know no bounds. He died in 550 AD at the age of 74 years in Patna of India. Aryabhata’s life reminds us that great discoveries begin with simple questions and a mind brave enough to seek their answers
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