Was pi really invented in India?

Wikipedia says that pi was invented by William Jones, a mathematician from Wales, in the 1970s. But, little do we know that our own legendary mathematician Aryabhatta had mentioned the value of pi in one of his ancient shloks, written in 455 A.D.

Our ancestors had a very unique way of passing their time in those days. Most of their time was spent in doing yagnas to various demigods and goddesses. One of the peculiar features of the yagnakundas used for doing yagna was their unique shapes. Some yagnakundas were square, some were circle and some semi circle. The area of the yagnakunda, however, was same for all yagnakundas.

Now, a simple mathematical equation, as given below, between the area of square and circle, can give us the radius of a circle whose area is equal to a given square.

But, how did the ancient Indians build yagnakundas of same area and different shapes? The following shlok written by Aryabhatta in 455 A.D. gives us an idea of how the ancient Indians might have been able to design such intricate structures:

chaturadhikaM shatamaShTaguNaM                    dvAShaShTistathA sahasrANAm AyutadvayaviShkambhasyAsanno vr^ttapariNahaH. 

          [gaNita pAda, 10] Aryabhatiyam (499 CE) 


Chatur-4, adhikam-add, shatam-100, ashta-8, gunam-multiply, dwashashtistatha sahasranam-62000, ayuta-divide, dwayavishkambha-20,000, Asanno-approximate;

The above shlok, in short, means:

“Add 4 to 100, multiply by 8 and add to 62,000. This is approximately the circumference of a circle whose diameter is 20,000.” 

                            i.e.  

               correct to four places.

The word "Asanna" indicates that this is an approximation. 

This value was used to build yagnakundas of circular shapes.


Does this mean that Aryabhatta was the true inventor of pi? 

Reservation: Is This What we call Equality?

Reservation is legal discrimination in the modern era. If you want equality, you should want it unbiased. As for the case of our country, however, it seems that it is not the people that want it. According to a recent survey, when questioned in random, 78% of the country's citizens felt that the reservation system hinders the development of the country. If the people of the country do not want it, then why is this system still enforced?

Apparently, the so called political leaders and representatives we elected are too scared to hurt the so called people of the backward classes who benefit from it. Or rather, they're too scared to be hurt by the so called people of the backward classes who benefit from it. Who cares about people's opinions? All they care about is the votes and they won't do anything that would pose them the risk of losing the elections. For ages and ages, we've been waiting for a lesser who's stand tall with his shoulders high on the campaign stage and declare, "Vote for my party and I will abolish the quota system." Unfortunately, we all know that such a leader will never happen, because the so called socially backward sections of the society still seem to believe that they need the shortcut to success rather than believing in working hard to deserve it.

Discriminating a group of people, any group- whether you label them as forward or backward- against getting what they rightfully deserve is not just a shame to the country, but it is also a shame to the political system that is too afraid to strike it off the rule book. It is also shame on us- who've been mute to this misery for so long.

Anyone reading this article must understand that this is not a shout against a group of people or groups of people. This is a shout against inequality, injustice and discrimination based on birth. In a modern, civilised and rapidly developing country as ours, nobody is going to stop us from achieving what we want and if we work enough, we definitely will. We do not need any advantage over others because we're all born equal and wish to thrive as equals. We all have four limbs and a backbone each and we must stand proudly, hand in hand to shout for our right to equality. We must fight against discrimination of all sorts and stay unbiased to our souls. We must believe that the people of the backward classes too can study well, work well and live a prosperous life- without the help of reservations.

                                   

You will be born again in 4,320,000,000 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!

'There are some oddities in the perspective with which we see the world. The fact that we live at the bottom of a deep gravity well, on the surface of a gas covered planet going around a nuclear fireball 90 million miles away and think this to be normal is obviously some indication of how skewed our perspective tends to be, but we have done various things over intellectual history to slowly correct some of our misapprehensions.' - Adams, Douglas


Homogeneity of time: One duration of time is identical to any other duration of time. An experiment performed under same conditions today or a year later will give the same result.


It is a marvel how we humans think as normal some most incredible happenings in the universe. It is, for instance, an accepted, but not commonly perceived fact that the entire living system of our planet, consisting of all forms of life from bacteria to blue whale, including the so-called possessors of the sixth sense- humans (us!) -is nothing but a highly evolved, repeating, self-catalyzed chemical reaction!

How did this chemical reaction start and how and when will it end?

According to Hindu cosmology, a universe endures for about 4,320,000,000 years (one day of Brahma, the creator or one kalpa) and is then destroyed by fire or water elements. This process, named pralaya repeats for 100 Brahma years (311 Trillion, 40 Billion Human Years).

Now, suppose the Hindu cosmology is right and the world is destroyed after so-and-so many several years. Now, if the world re-creates and the same conditions on the planet are present as were present previously, then, according to the law of homogeneity of time mentioned above, everything- starting from the evolution of life and development of different species- will occur just the same way, with no change at all as it occurred before.

So, that means all happenings, including the development of human civilizations- villages towns and cities, the invention of wheel and the world wars, the industrial revolution and the creation of USA- everything must happen ditto as it happened before. If we look exactly in the year 2016 of the newly created world, it is highly likely that the conditions of the planet, including the different countries, states and cities and the people in the planet, must almost be the same.

If the same conditions that once was which led to the evolution of life on Earth is retained after the destruction of the planet, which is most likely, then it is very likely that every Tom, Dick and Harry who lived on Earth before its destruction, everyone- including president Obama and you and me- must be present in the new world!

This means that exactly 4,320,000,000 years from now, you will be born again on Earth!!!!!!

I hope I'm not making you overwhelmed. Just think about it!

And, it is quite a normal thing, if we are ready to accept and reflect. The Earth revolves around the Sun repeatedly. The seasons come and go every year at the same time of the year. So, why is it not acceptable that the world must be going through several recu
rring phases of creation and destruction? And if it is, then is it not highly likely that every recurring phase must be almost the same? Just because we perceive the development of human society and civilization to be a massive long-term process (and prefer to neglect the fact that the age of life on earth is itself quite insignificant compared to the age of universe), it is not possible for us humans to imagine a world where everything, including us, is nothing but a recurring phenomena.

Well, just a spoiled little idea from my spoiled little brain!
So, who agrees to this and who doesn't? Give your comments right below here! Always ready for a discussion!!

P.S. There are three boxes saying funny, interesting and cool right below this post. Please let me know what you think about the blog and add a plus if you like it :) A share wouldn't be too much to ask??

Is Our Future Same As Our Past - A Story

Our Hindu mythology is filled with heroic characters and inspiring acts of bravery. We've all heard stories of 8 armed goddess Kali riding on her majestic lion, elephant headed Ganesha riding on his mouse, ape hero Hanuman, super child Krishna and many more. Whether these are true stories or exaggerated fantasies, we hardly try to question. Most of us, however, go to temples and join hands in front of (the idols of) these same gods and goddesses to fulfill our wishes and keep us safe and protected.

Now, let us think of all the advancements taking place in our world: Rocket science, biotechnology, genetic engineering, robotics and artificial intelligence. Today, we have remote controls that can move things physically from several meters away, aircraft that can travel faster than sound, humanoids that can do all that we can and much more. We can almost feel as if today's science and technology has found innovative ways to make practical what our mythology has described millenniums ago. So, are we, in fact, moving towards a world that existed previously? Are we recreating what was already created long ago?

This story tries to explore the developments of our society and connect what happened in the past to what might as well happen in our future.

2012 Epilogue:

Survivors of what many call ‘The modern Doom’s Day’, have safely settled in their new residences. Several survival strategy guidelines and lifestyle management systems have been formed by the newly elected government, in order to help the survivors strive in their new environment.

As most of the fuel resources were washed away in the disaster, scientists and engineers are trying to come up with ways of living with minimal usage of the available energy resources. A set of rules have been formulated for the new society. In order to prevent extinction of human beings, a strictly hygienic and safe lifestyle is to be followed by all the people. Books on new lifestyle strategies and survivalist skills have been published to help the survivors to adapt to the new environment.   

And thus, Vedas, Manusmriti, Upanishads, etc., are created…

The president has asked writer and researcher survivors to write down the History of the previous world as many great books and references relating to the previous world are lost. The President has described the loss of books on History, Medicine, Engineering, Art and Architecture as the biggest loss created by the Doom’s Day. Doctors and Engineers are requested to print books on the various engineering and architecture systems and medical advancements of the previous world in order to encourage future developments.

Puranas(History), Kalas(Sciences), Ayurveda(Medicine using available resources), Vastu Shastra(Architecture), etc., are created...

The new society has been divided into 4 groups, according to the gene types of people. In order to preserve the various genes and geniuses of the past, and pass them on without any damage, it is highly recommended by the government that inter-type physical and sexual relationship maybe avoided, in order to preserve the old genes without unwanted mutations, which might result in negative effects to the society. Children must be encouraged to take up jobs in the new society according to the gene types of their parents.

Four Varnas are created…

People who do not adhere to the new lifestyle and community guidelines will be categorized as ‘unfit’ for the modern society. For hygiene and safety purposes, the unfits will be prohibited from public places and important social occasions.

Untouchability and prohibition of shudras from temples, water tanks and ponds…

………

After several centuries,

People of the new world read the books written by the survivors of Doom’s Day. They read of vehicles moving at the speed of sound and remote controls that move objects without any physical contact, but are unable to believe in them because they’ve never ‘seen’ such a thing.

Their world has no fuel required to run such vehicles and they’ve lost comprehension of the old languages and ways of writing. They’re neither able to comprehend nor imagine what is written in the ancient texts. They term them as ‘superstitions and fantasies’.

Birds and Beasts are fairies and vampires. Space stations are impossible and coal and petroleum never existed. ‘Doom’s day’ and ‘Previous world’ are, according to some- a previous yuga and others, fictional stories created by their ancestors. ‘Mobile phones’ are magic. ‘Internet’ is unperceivable. ‘Vaccines’ and ‘Antibiotics’ are imaginary substances as disease means death.

Litter laws for India - taking Swachh Bharat abhiyaan to the next level

You are walking on the road. You buy a packet of cookies, unwrap it, have the cookies and throw away the wrapper.

IN CALIFORNIA: You pay a fine of 100 bucks and you are forced to do 8 hours of roadside litter picking

IN IRELAND:  You can be subject to an on-the-spot fine of 150 bucks, or a maximum fine of 3,000 bucks.

IN SINGAPORE: 1st time- you pay a fine of 1000 bucks

2nd time- you pay a fine of 5000 bucks and you are forced to perform community labor

3rd time- you’ll have to wear a lovely sign, which states:
“I am a litter lout!”

IN INDIA??????????????????????????

Swachh Bharat is definitely a great move to a cleaner and better India. But, it still has a long way to go. In fact, the only stunning change it did create was the sudden boost in the sales of brooms! I feel really ashamed when I see people of my own society littering and mocking, "Clean India!" It's really irritating. I also notice that people who organize Clean India movements in their locality do it only for showing that they care. We see the same people littering in public places at other times.

Often, strictness is the solution where self-discipline doesn't work.

I believe strongly that India should have some litter laws. Without litter laws, Swachh Bharat would be another one of those government programs that fade away and lose significance with time. Also, the government must spend some amount of money on installing trash bins on every street of the state. 

Re-consider the cookie wrapper situation. Now, you are about to throw the wrapper on the road when you come by a dustbin. Wouldn't you change your mind and throw it in the dustbin? So, the corporation must make sure that every street has at least one dustbin.
http://www.anothertravellab.blogspot.in/2015/01/faith-in-humanity-check.html

PLEASE SUPPORT 'LITTER LAWS FOR INDIA'. LET US TAKE CLEAN INDIA MOVEMENT TO THE NEXT LEVEL. 

Read this inspiring anecdote about 'Clean India'. It will surely create a huge change to your thinking: http://www.anothertravellab.blogspot.in/2015/01/faith-in-humanity-check.html

I've created the change within myself. Have you? 

Take oath today that you won't litter anywhere at any situation. Next time when you are on the road and you have some rapper to throw, wait till you see a dustbin and use it. You will definitely feel proud!

For creating awareness in the society, one must first take the oath in one's heart. 

Please support the campaign as an individual.

Rebirth of Mother Earth

     In Greek mythology, a phoenix is a long-lived bird that is cyclically regenerated or reborn. Associated with the sun, a phoenix obtains new life by arising from the ashes of its predecessor. Our mother, earth, can be visualized as a giant phoenix.

     She is huge, she’s scary, but she’s threatened.

     She’s patient, like any mother, but no mother would forgive a child who took everything from her, and then ditched her. She waited patiently for years, for her child to rethink, but the dawn of realization never came. She retaliated furiously, or rather, ferociously.

     Earth is constantly changing. But, with the development of human beings, she has been exposed to very rash treatment. With more and more forests being cleared and more and more constructions taking place, mother earth has been ripped off her greenery and poisoned with ruins.Man has long been aware that his world has a tendency to fall apart. Science says that someday, the sun will grow cold, and life on earth will cease. But long before the sun grows cold, as a matter of fact, the earth could die biologically. The rate at which the resources are dying away, we can virtually see ‘the day’ coming. In fact, the Indian Ocean Earthquake and tsunami of 2004, Hurricane Katrina of 2005, the New Zealand earthquake of 2011, are all signs of the even greater devastation to come.


     Like a phoenix changes forms, mother earth might burn all the life on her, and then obtain a new form, which is more pleasant and divine, because, for something good to begin, something bad must end. The phoenix must burn to emerge. We cannot hope for human life to continue on earth endlessly. We know that there have been species washed out of the phase of the earth. Our time must be nearing.  We will have to pay for the years of ignorance.


    

 Now that we have endlessly depleted our natural resources and polluted our mother earth to every extent, it is time we wake up. We must understand that nothing can change what we’ve done to our planet and to ourselves. No magic will happen in one day. If anything can make earth a better place to live in, even in the years to come, it could only be our sustained effort.


     We must realize what went wrong, take measures to recreate nature and reassure that the gifts of nature would be cherished till the last race of mankind perishes.
It is our duty to prepare mother earth for a more peaceful rebirth.