The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has released a new, comprehensive Class 7 Mathematics textbook that recognizes India’s significant contribution in the development of algebra and other mathematical ideas. The project connects mathematical beginnings back to ancient Indian mathematicians, particularly Brahmagupta and Bhaskaracharya (Bhaskara II), who made significant contributions to algebra, geometry, and other fields.
Algebra and Mathematics ‘One-Liner’ Notes
Algebra’s : Brahmagupta introduced the concepts of positive and negative integers in his 7th-century book Brahmasphutasiddhanta.
Bijaganita : Bijaganita, the term used for algebra in ancient India, was developed by Brahmagupta and influenced scholars worldwide, including Al-Khwarizmi, who helped formalize algebra in the Arab world.
Highlights from Ancient Indian Contributions
Brahmagupta’s Work: His work on negative numbers and multiplication rules is considered as one of the foundation principles of arithmetic and algebra.
Sulba-Sutras: The Sulba-Sutras, an ancient Indian literature, are praised for its geometry methods, which include how to build a perpendicular bisector and other geometric shapes with ropes.
Influence on Arabic Mathematics: Al-Khwarizmi, an important 9th-century mathematician, was heavily affected by Indian algebra, particularly Brahmagupta’s works. His work gave rise to the term ‘algebra’, which is derived from the Arabic word al-jabr.
The Reasons for the Change in the NCERT Textbook
According to Dinesh Prasad Saklani, Director of NCERT, the introduction of these concepts serves three major purposes:
Teaching Correct History: NCERT seeks to reclaim India’s rightful role in mathematical history, which has frequently been provided from a colonial perspective.
Interdisciplinary Learning: Applying historical mathematical knowledge improves students’ understanding across topics.
National Pride: By recognizing India’s achievements, the purpose is to inspire pride and inspiration in young people.
Conclusion: Improving Mathematics Education with Historical Context.
NCERT’s Class 7 textbook delves further into the roots of algebra and mathematics by tracing them back to India. It not only improves mathematical learning but also allows students to respect the legacy of ancient Indian scholars. This project is consistent with the greater goal of introducing Indian Knowledge Systems into school curricula as part of the National Education Policy (NEP 2020).
