Aryabhatta - Iindian scientist (mathematician and astronomer)

Statue of Aryabhata on the grounds of IUCAA, Pune. As there is no known information regarding his appearance, any image of Aryabhata originates from an artist's conception.

Aryabhatta came to this world on the 476 A.D at Patliputra in Magadha which is known as the modern Patna in Bihar. Some people were saying that he was born in the South of India mostly Kerala. But it cannot be disproved that he was not born in Patlipura and then travelled to Magadha where he was educated and established a coaching centre. His first name is “Arya” which is a South Indian name and “Bhatt” or “Bhatta” a normal north Indian name which could be seen among the trader people in India.

No matter where he could be originated from, people cannot dispute that he resided in Patliputra because he wrote one of his popular “Aryabhatta-siddhanta” but “Aryabhatiya” was much more popular than the former. This is the only work that Aryabhatta do for his survival. His writing consists of mathematical theory and astronomical theory which was viewed to be perfect in modern mathematics. The calculation of 3.1416 is nearly the same with the true value of Pi which is 3.14159. 

Aryabhatta’s strongest contribution was zero.  

Another aspect of mathematics that he worked upon is arithemetic, algebra, quadratic equations, trigonometry and sine table.

The English interpretation of the above Shloka would be:

Add 4 to 100, multiply by 8, then add 62000, then divide by 20000. The result is "approximately" circumference of a circle of diameter 20000.

The answer of the above calculation is 62832/20000 = 3.1416.

By using the word "Asanna" (last word in the Sanskrit verse), Aryabhatta clearly states that the value so found is not exact, but an "approximate" one, something that was "approaching" the exact value. So he is referring to it being irrational.

This is quite a significant contribution, as it was not until the 17th century that Pi was proved to be irrational in Europe.

Aryabhatta was aware that the earth rotates on its axis. The earth rotates round the sun and the moon moves round the earth. He discovered the 9 planets position and related them to their rotation round the sun. Aryabhatta said the light received from planets and the moon is gotten from sun. He also made mention on the eclipse of the sun, moon, day and night, earth contours and the 365 days of the year as the exact length of the year. Aryabhatta also revealed that the earth circumference is 24835 miles when compared to the modern day calculation which is 24900 miles.

Aryabhatta have unusually great intelligence and well skilled in the sense that all his theories has became wonders to some mathematicians of the present age. The Greeks and the Arabs developed some of his works to suit their present demands. Aryabhatta was the first inventor of the earth sphericity and also discovered that earth rotates round the sun. He was the one that created the formula (a + b)² = a² + b² + 2ab. He also created a solution formula of solving the following equations:

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + ……………… + n = n (n + 1)/2
1² + 2² + 3² + 4² + 5² + ……………….. + n² = n (n + 1) (2n + 1)/6
1³ + 2³ + 3³ + 4³ + 5³ + ………………….. n³ = (n (n + 1)/2)²
1⁴ + 2⁴ + 3⁴ + 4⁴ + 5⁴ + ………………….. + n⁴ = (n (n + 1) (2n + 1) (3n² + 3n – 1))/30

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai - Father of the Indian space program

Famous quote of Vikram sarabhai at nasa which ultimately resulted in form of birth of ISRO in India

 "There are some who question the relevance of space activities in a developing nation. To us, there is no ambiguity of purpose. We do not have the fantasy of competing with the economically advanced nations in the exploration of the moon or the planets or manned space-flight."

"But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to the real problems of man and society."

Biography

Dr. Vikram A. Sarabhai (1919 - 1971) was born on August 12, 1919 at Ahmedabad to Shri Ambalal Sarabhai and Smt. Sarladevi Sarabhai. He is considered as the 'Father of the Indian Space Programme'. Vikram A. Sarabhai was among the few scientists who devoted their entire life to the progress of science in our country.

He was educated at St. John's College , Cambridge University where he received his undergraduate degree in 1940 and a PhD in 1947. He studied cosmic rays under the Nobel laureate Dr.C. V. Raman at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore from 1941 to 1945. His interest in solar physics and cosmic rays led him to set up many observation stations around the country. Vikram Sarabhai established centres for scientific research in several places of India.

Vikram A. Sarabhai was Considered the Father of the Indian space program; instrumental in establishing the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad in November 1947; was Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. He along with other Ahmedabad-based industrialists played a major role in the creation of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad

Vikram Sarabhai was one of the greatest scientists of India. He is considered as the Father of the Indian space program. Apart from being a scientist, he was a rare combination of an innovator, industrialist and visionary.

Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai was born on August 12, 1919 at Ahmedabad in an affluent family of progressive industrialists. He was one of eight children of Ambalal and Sarla Devi. He had his early education in a private school, “Retreat” run by his parents on Montessori lines. Some of the great men of India such as Gurudev Rabindranath, J. Krishna Murthi, Motilal Nehru, V. S. Shrinivasa Shastri, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sarojini Naidu, Maulana Azad, C. F. Andrews, C. V. Raman et al. used to stay with the Sarabhai family when they visited Ahmedabad. Mahatma Gandhi also once stayed at their house while recovering from an illness. Visits by such great men greatly influenced Vikram Sarabhai.

After his matriculation, Vikram Sarabhai proceeded to Cambridge for his college education and took the tripods degree from St. John's college in 1940. When World War II began, he returned home and joined as a research scholar under Sir C. V. Raman at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore His interest in solar physics and cosmic ray led him to set up many observation stations around the country. He built the necessary equipment with which he took measurements at Bangalore, Poona and the Himalayas. He returned to Cambridge in 1945 and completed his Ph.D in 1947.

Vikram Sarabhai was instrumental in establishing the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad in November 1947. The laboratory was established in a few rooms in M.G. Science Institute of the Ahmedabad Education Society, which was founded by his parents. Subsequently, it got support from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Department of Atomic Energy.

Vikram Sarabhai did research on the time variations of cosmic rays and concluded that meteorological effects could not entirely affect the observed daily variations of cosmic rays; further, the residual variations were wide and global and these were related to variations in solar activity. Vikram Sarabhai visualized a new field of research opening up in solar and interplanetary Physics.

The year 1957-1958 was designated as International Geo-physical year (IGY). The Indian program for the IGY had been one of the most significant ventures of Sarabhai. It exposed him to the new vistas of space science with the launching in 1957 of Sputnik-I. Subsequently, the Indian National Committee for Space Research was created, of which Vikram Sarabhai became Chairman.

With active support from Homi Bhabha, Vikram Sarabhai, set up the first Rocket Launching station (TERLS) in the country at Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram on the Arabian Coast, as Thumba is very close to the Equator. The first rocket with sodium vapour payload was launched on November 21, 1963. In 1965, the UN General Assembly gave recognition to TERLS as an international facility.

After the sudden death of Homi Bhabha in an air crash, Vikram Sarabhai was appointed Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission in May 1966. He wanted the practical application of science to reach the common man. He decided to acquire competence in advance technology for the solution of country’s problems based on technical and economic evaluation of its real resources. He initiated India’s space programme, which today is renowned all over the world.

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai was awarded with Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Medal in 1962 and Padma Bhushan.

 

His Death:

Vikram Sarabhai passed away in his sleep at the age of 52 on 31 December 1971 at Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He was visiting Thiruvananthapuram to attend the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Thumba railway station being built to service Thumba launch center which would become one of ISRO's most important sites given its proximity to the equator, thus a convenient location to launch equatorial orbit satellites. During his last days, he was under a great amount of stress due to excessive travelling and a huge work-load which adversely affected his health. He did not wake up to celebrate the New Year. He died in his sleep at Halcyon Castle and was apparently a victim of a silent heart attack.

MY  SALUTE  TO HIM. HOLYGRAIL SCIENTIFIC CLUB  IS COMMITTED TO MAKE HIS DREAM  MUCH STRONG AND WIDE. HE IS ONE OF THE PIONEER TO INSPIRE ME TO ESTABLISH HOLYGRAIL SCIENTIFIC CLUB.

"WE ALWAYS MISS YOU.."