Neither
Vedic Nor Mathematics
We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned by the continuing attempts tothrust the so-called `Vedic Mathematics' on the school curriculum bythe NCERT.
We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned by the continuing attempts tothrust the so-called `Vedic Mathematics' on the school curriculum bythe NCERT.
As has been pointed out earlier on several occasions, the
so-called 'Vedic Mathematics' is neither 'Vedic' nor can it be
dignified by the name of mathematics. 'Vedic Mathematics', as is
well-known, originated with a book of the same name by a former
Sankracharya of Puri (the late Jagadguru Swami Shri Bharati Krishna
Tirthaji Maharaj) published posthumously in 1965. The book assembled a
set of tricks in elementary arithmetic and algebra to be applied in
performing computations with numbers and polynomials. As is pointed out
even in the foreword to the book by the General Editor, Dr. A.S.
Agarwala, the aphorisms in Sanskrit to be found in the book have
nothing to do with the Vedas. Nor are these aphorisms to be found in
the genuine Vedic literature.
The term "Vedic mathematics'' is therefore entirely
misleading and factually incorrect. Further, it is clear from the
notation used in the arithmetical tricks in the book that the methods
used in this text have nothing to do with the arithmetical techniques
of antiquity. Many of the Sanskrit aphorisms in the book are totally
cryptic (ancient Indian mathematical writing was anything but cryptic)
and often so generalize to be devoid of any specific mathematical
meaning. There are several authoritative texts on the mathematics of
Vedic times that could used in part to teach an authoritative and
correct account of ancient Indian mathematics but this book clearly
cannot be used for any such purpose. The teaching of mathematics
involves both the teaching of the basic concepts of the subject as well
as methods of mathematical computation. The so-called "Vedic
mathematics'' is entirely inadequate to this task considering that it
is largely made up of tricks to do some elementary arithmetic
computations. Many of these can be far more easily performed on a
simple computer or even an advanced calculator.
The book "Vedic mathematics'' essentially deals with
arithmetic of the middle and high-school level. Its claims that "there
is no part of mathematics, pure or applied, which is beyond their
jurisdiction'' is simply ridiculous. In an era when the content of
mathematics teaching has to be carefully designed to keep pace with the
general explosion of knowledge and the needs of other modern
professions that use mathematical techniques, the imposition of ``Vedic
mathematics'' will be nothing short of calamitous.
India today has active and excellent schools of research
and teaching in mathematics that are at the forefront of modern
research in their discipline with some of them recognised as being
among the best in the world in their fields of research. It is
noteworthy that they have cherished the legacy of distinguished Indian
mathematicians like Srinivasa Ramanujam, V. K. Patodi, S.
Minakshisundaram, Harish Chandra, K. G. Ramanathan, Hansraj Gupta,
Syamdas Mukhopadhyay, Ganesh Prasad, and many others including several
living Indian mathematicians. But not one of these schools has lent an
iota of legitimacy to `Vedic mathematics'. Nowhere in the world does
any school system teach "Vedic mathematics'' or any form of ancient
mathematics for that matter as an adjunct to modern mathematical
teaching. The bulk of such teaching belongs properly to the teaching of
history and in particular the teaching of the history of the sciences.
We consider the imposition of `Vedic mathematics' by a
Government agency, as the perpetration of a fraud on our children,
condemning particularly those dependent on public education to a
sub-standard mathematical education. Even if we assumed that those who
sought to impose `Vedic mathematics' did so in good faith, it would
have been appropriate that the NCERT seek the assistance of renowned
Indian mathematicians to evaluate so-called "Vedic mathematics" before
making it part of the National Curricular framework for School
Education. Appallingly they have not done so. In this context we demand
that the NCERT submit the proposal for the introduction of `Vedic
mathematics in the school curriculum to recognized bodies of
mathematical experts in India, in particular the National Board of
Higher Mathematics (under the Dept. of Atomic Energy), and the
Mathematics sections of the Indian Academy of Sciences and the Indian
National Science Academy, for a thorough and critical examination. In
the meanwhile no attempt should be made to thrust the subject into the
school curriculum either through the centrally administered school
system or by trying to impose it on the school systems of various
States.
We are concerned that the essential thrust behind the
campaign to introduce the so-called 'Vedic mathematics' has more to do
with promoting a particular brand of religious majoritarianism and
associated obscurantist ideas rather than any serious and meaningful
development of mathematics teaching in India. We note that similar
concerns have been expressed about other aspects too of the National
Curricular Framework for School Education. We re-iterate our firm
conviction that all teaching and pedagogy, not just the teaching of
mathematics, must be founded on rational, scientific and secular
principles.
S.G.Dani Professor of Mathematics, Tata Institute
of Fundamental Research, Mumbai
Madhav M. Deshpande Professor of Sanskrit and Linguistics Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, University of Michigan
Indranil Biswas Professor of Mathematics at TIFR.
Nirmala B. Limaye Professor of Mathematics University of Mumbai
B.V. Limaye Professor of Mathematics Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Alladi Sitaram, Indian Statistical Institute, B'lore
S. Ramasubramanian, Indian Statistical Inst.,B'ore
V. Pati, Indian Statistical Inst., B'lore
G. Misra, Indian Statistical Inst., B'lore
Jishnu Biswas, Indian Statistical Inst., B'lore
D. P. Sengupta, Indian Inst. of Science(Retd.), B'lore
Alladi Uma, Dept. of English, Univ. of Hyderabad
M. Sridhar, Dept. of English, Univ. of Hyderabad
Amitava Bhattacharya
S.Subramanian, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai
Professor Nitin Nitsure,Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai
Madhav M. Deshpande Professor of Sanskrit and Linguistics Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, University of Michigan
Indranil Biswas Professor of Mathematics at TIFR.
Nirmala B. Limaye Professor of Mathematics University of Mumbai
B.V. Limaye Professor of Mathematics Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Alladi Sitaram, Indian Statistical Institute, B'lore
S. Ramasubramanian, Indian Statistical Inst.,B'ore
V. Pati, Indian Statistical Inst., B'lore
G. Misra, Indian Statistical Inst., B'lore
Jishnu Biswas, Indian Statistical Inst., B'lore
D. P. Sengupta, Indian Inst. of Science(Retd.), B'lore
Alladi Uma, Dept. of English, Univ. of Hyderabad
M. Sridhar, Dept. of English, Univ. of Hyderabad
Amitava Bhattacharya
S.Subramanian, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai
Professor Nitin Nitsure,Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai
Return to Communalism
Articles collection | Go to South
Asia Citizens Web homepage
அப்படியே, கருணாநிதி குடும்பத்தின் பிடியில் இருந்து திரை உலகை மீட்பதற்கு முயற்சி செய்யவும். மதுரைக்காரன்.