Aryabhata

By Victor M Fontane

Aryabhata, born in 476 CE, was a brilliant Indian mathematician and astronomer. His work, Aryabhatiya, introduced the concept of zero, accurate calculations of π, and a heliocentric model centuries before Copernicus. He proposed that Earth rotates on its axis and explained eclipses through geometry, not mythology. His ideas shaped Indian astronomy and influenced Persian  scholars who later preserved and expanded classical Greek science.

The Indo-Aryan and Persian-Aryan civilizations played a vital role in bridging East and West. While Greek science laid foundations, it was Aryan scholars who translated, preserved, and enriched it. In the great libraries of Gondishapur and Nalanda, knowledge flowed across cultures; mathematics, medicine, and astronomy evolved through dialogue.

Persian-Aryan thinkers like Avicenna and Al-Farabi built on Greek logic and Indian numerals. Indian-Aryan scholars like Aryabhata and Brahmagupta transformed abstract ideas into practical systems. Together, they kept the flame of classical science alive during turbulent centuries.

This legacy reminds us: science is not a single stream, but a confluence of civilizations. And in that confluence, Aryabhata shines as a timeless star.