Kerala School 250 Years Ahead of Isaac Newton

Dr George Gheverghese Joseph of the University of Manchester and Dennis Almeida of the University of Exeter reported in mid August that the Kerala School discovered the infinite series, one of the foundations of modern mathematics, as well as the Pi series to calculate Pi correct to 9, 10 and later 17 decimal places, in 1350. They believe their knowledge was transmitted to England by Jesuit missionaries who visited India in the 15th century.

Joseph says he chanced upon the finding while researching for the third edition of his book The Crest of the Peacock: the Non-European Roots of Mathematics, published by Princeton University Press.

He said: “Names from the Kerala School, notably Madhava and Nilakantha, should stand shoulder to shoulder with [Newton] as they discovered the other great component of calculus- infinite series.”

However, C K Raju, a fellow at the Project of History of Indian Science, Philosophy and Culture, who claims he once collaborated with Almeida, told the Hindu that he made the discovery and the two British researchers gained access to his unpublished work during the course of his collaboration with them.

Raju recently published a book on the Cultural Foundations of Mathematics: The Nature of Mathematical Proof and the Transmission of Calculus from India to Europe in the 16th Century, which he says details his work. Joseph denounced the plagiarism allegations as an effort at “seeking publicity.”