The Study of History of Mathematical Sciences in India

Abstract

Part I (1935) and Part II (1938) of the famous History of Hindu Mathematics by B. B. Datta and A. N. Singh were published from Lahore (now in Pakistan), while the promised Part III was never published in its authors’ lifetime. In 1962 a single volume edition (actually a mere reprint of Parts I and II) was brought out by the Asia Publishing House, Mumbai. This was reviewed by G. J. Toomer of Oxford (Math. Reviews, Vol. 26, 1963, p. 1142). He charged the authors of being ignorant of “historical matters” and of having “prejudice against admitting that there was any influence on Indian civilization from outside”. Their theories have been said to be often based on the “grossest errors of fact”.

Gaṇita Bhāratī, Vol. 23, Nos. 1–4 (2001), pp. 1–11; Expanded version of a talk given during the NISTADS-INSA Workshop on History of Science Research in India. New Delhi, 2000.