Aryabhata's work in the 5th century laid the foundations
India’s innovation journey spans a continuum of inventions, from ancient contributions by mathematicians and astronomers to cutting-edge advancements in space technology and infrastructure.
This legacy of creativity and progress not only inspires the global community but also impacts it significantly.
Ancient inventions from India carry rich mythology and philosophy, blending wisdom with practical applications like medication and yoga.
These inventions, rooted in deep cultural heritage, continue to influence modern practices and beliefs.
On the other hand, contemporary Indian innovations compete with Western advancements in areas like digital technologies and engineering.
This juxtaposition highlights India’s dynamic role in shaping global technological landscapes.
Here are examples of both ancient and contemporary inventions from India that showcase its enduring legacy of innovation and its ongoing impact on diverse fields.
Zero and the Decimal System
Perhaps one of the most significant contributions by ancient India is the concept of zero, which was developed by the mathematician and astronomer Brahmagupta in the 7th century.
Along with this, the decimal system, which is the foundation of modern mathematics and computing, was also developed in ancient India.
Brahmagupta also had a profound influence on Islamic and Byzantine astronomy.
India also made significant contributions to other areas of mathematics.
Algebra & Trigonometry
Indian mathematicians, such as Aryabhata and Bhaskara, made significant contributions to the fields of algebra and trigonometry.
Aryabhata’s work in the 5th century laid the foundations for much of algebra and introduced trigonometric functions.
Moreover, he delved into continued fractions, quadratic equations, sums of power series and a table of sines.
Earth’s Rotation
In the 5th century, Aryabhata proposed that the Earth rotates on its axis, a revolutionary idea for its time.
He made significant contributions to the field of astronomy, including the calculation of the length of the sidereal year.
Aryabhata gives us the radius of the planetary orbits.
Furthermore, he believed that the Moon and planets shone by reflected sunlight and that their orbits are ellipses.
His ideas were revolutionary as he correctly explained the causes of eclipses of the Sun and the Moon.
In earlier times, the Indian belief was that eclipses were caused by a demon called Rahu.
Heliocentric Solar System
Although not widely recognised until much later, there were early references in Indian texts that hinted at a heliocentric view of the solar system, where planets orbit the sun.
Heliocentrism is a cosmological model whereby it is thought the sun is at the central point.
This concept was mentioned in some interpretations of the Vedas and later by scholars such as Aryabhata.
Ayurveda
Ancient India’s medical system, Ayurveda, developed by sages like Charaka and Sushruta, included detailed surgical techniques and the use of herbal remedies.
These included panchakarma (5 actions) – Vamana (Therapeutic Vomiting), Virechana (Purgation Therapy), Basti (Enema Therapy), Nasya (Nasal Administration) and Raktamokshana (Bloodletting Therapy).
It is thought that these remedies would cure things like anxiety, asthma, arthritis and digestive problems.
Sushruta, known as the Father of Surgery, wrote the Sushruta Samhita, which described surgical procedures, including cataract surgery and plastic surgery, over 2,600 years ago.
Sushruta has described the surgery as having the following elements:
- Chedya (excision)
- Lekhya (scarification)
- Vedhya (puncturing)
- Esya (exploration)
- Ahrya (extraction)
- Vsraya (evacuation)
- Sivya (suturing)
Furthermore, Sushruta considered health to be not only a physical state but also a mental one.
There needs to be a balance of nutrition and an intake of less harmful products.
For the mental aspect, he thought humour was a healthy antidote and maintaining a content and pleasant state of mind.
He would use anaesthesia for surgery, with intoxicants such as wine and cannabis sativa.
Yoga
Originating in ancient India, Yoga is not only a form of physical exercise but also a mental and spiritual practice that has gained worldwide popularity.
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, compiled around 400 CE, are a foundational text for Yoga philosophy and practice.
It described Yoga as consisting of meditative practices to achieve a state of consciousness that is free from discursive thought.
Eventually, a person reaches a state whereby the environment does not implicate them in any form. They are focusing on themselves only.
The result is the practitioner is free from material pain or suffering.
A sense of liberation is achieved, freeing from the “cycle of birth and death”.
Cotton Cultivation
India was one of the first places to cultivate cotton and weave it into cloth.
Indian cotton and textiles were highly sought after for their quality and were a major part of ancient trade routes.
The origins of cotton cultivation in India date from around 3,000 BCE in the Indus Valley Civilisation.
There are a few techniques.
Firstly there is hand spinning, which essentially made cotton fibres into yarn with the Charkha, which is a spinning wheel.
This was later popularised by Mahatma Gandhi, during the Indian independence movement, as a symbol of resistance against British rule.
Hand block painting involves carved wooden blocks being used to apply patterns and designs onto cotton textiles.
Thirdly, there was a technique introduced called Khadi. These are hand-spun and handwoven cotton fabrics.
Finally, there is tie-dying, to create tie-dye techniques and stunning patterns on cotton.
Chess
Chess, known as Chaturanga in its earliest form, originated in India during the Gupta dynasty.
It is one of the world’s oldest games and has evolved into modern chess.
Just like chess, chaturanga is a war between two armies.
Each of the game’s pieces represents one of the four divisions of the Indian army at that time.
The name means “four limbs” in Sanskrit and is an allusion to those divisions.
These were infantry, elephantry, cavalry and chariots.
The foot soldier piece is now renamed as the pawn. The elephant could move diagonally in two squares and later adapted to a bishop that could move further diagonally.
The horse is the same as the knight. Likewise, the chariot is now the rook.
Originally there was a minster which could only move diagonally in one square. Later it was modified into the queen piece.
Finally, the king remains the same.
Chaturanga and chess differ because the Indian game was played on an uncheckered board.
Rotavac
Developed by Bharat Biotech, Rotavac is India’s first indigenously developed vaccine for rotavirus infections, which are a leading cause of severe diarrhoea among infants and young children.
The vaccine represents a significant achievement in India’s public health efforts, making rotavirus vaccinations affordable and accessible.
In India every year, around 78,000 children under the age of 5 die and up to one million are hospitalised.
Hence the revolutionary vaccine aids efforts to lower infant mortality rates.
The vaccine took two decades to finalise by Indian and international researchers in the public and private sectors.
The vaccine was an achievement through the support of the Indian Government, the Research Council of Norway, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the UK Department of International Development.
Jaipur Foot
A rubber-based prosthetic leg for amputees was designed and developed by Dr PK Sethi and Masterji Ram Chander Sharma in 1968.
It’s known for its low cost, durability, and ability to mimic the functionality of a real foot, allowing wearers to walk, run, and even climb trees.
Tulsi Plant-based Water Purifier
A low-cost and eco-friendly water purification method that uses the seeds of the Tulsi plant to purify water.
This invention harnesses the natural antibacterial properties of Tulsi seeds to remove impurities and make water safe for drinking.
Leaves are dropped into drinking water for purification and for medication.
In Hindu temples, water is mixed with Tulsi leaves and offered to devotees every day.
The medicinal plant is found in India and is considered sacred.
It can remove fluoride levels in the water and has recently been used to fight fluorosis.
There are two types of Tulsi; the dark coloured stems and leaves, and the other is a whitish stem with green leaves.
Moreover, leaves can be ground into powder to remove iron from water.
Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF)
Although not a single invention, ZBNF is an innovative farming practice developed by Subhash Palekar.
It promotes sustainable agriculture by eliminating the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, relying instead on natural inputs to maintain soil health and increase crop yields.
Due to environmental changes, such as soil degradation, there has been a disproportionate effect on food security.
ZBNF is a movement to have low-cost, locally sourced natural farming methods that do not rely on agrochemicals.
Along with this, it is solving the issues of global food security as well as conserving the environment.
It consists of various treatments, such as the introduction of seed treatments, using foliar spray as well as covering crops and incorporating mulching.
The ingredients consist of cow dung and urine along with other components.
Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
Developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), UPI is a real-time payment system that allows instant money transfer between any two bank accounts via a mobile platform.
UPI has revolutionised digital payments in India, making transactions simple, quick, and accessible to a vast population.
It eliminates the need to enter bank details or sensitive information when a customer wants to make a transaction.
The app uses a system called “push” and “pull”.
Sending money on the UPI is called a “push”.
Once a user is logged on, they will enter the virtual ID, enter the amount desired and choose the account they want to withdraw money from.
Next, the user enters a PIN and receives a confirmation.
To receive money, the system is called “pull”.
Once a user has logged in, they select the option to collect money, enter the virtual ID, the amount to be collected, and the account they want the funds to be deposited in.
A message goes to the payer with a request to pay.
Finally, they will enter a UPI PIN to authorise the transaction and both will receive a confirmation.
These examples of ancient and contemporary inventions have contributed globally.
They showcase India’s prowess in addressing complex challenges and the encapsulation of traditional ideas and themes.
The tapestry of Indian inventions, woven through centuries of ancient wisdom and contemporary ingenuity, stands as a beacon of human progress.
It underscores India’s unique contribution to the world, marked by a legacy of creativity and progress that continues to inspire and impact the global community.