Indians began making a mark in the world from as early as when the civilization began, and are still at it! We have not only stood the test of time, but also pioneered and excelled in various fields. When it comes to the innumerous noteworthy contributions we have given to the world, here are 7 major ones that stand out and make us proud to be Indians.
Language
The scripts used in many countries like Thailand, Laos and Cambodia are derived from Pallava script, and thus resemble the scripts of South Indian Languages. For instance, the official language of Indonesia is ‘Bahasa Indonesia’. ‘Bahasa’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Bhasha’, which means language. Their Airways – ‘Garuda’ – means eagle, both in Indonesian language and Sanskrit. Not only this, but India has contributed to the lexicon of Greek, Arabic, Persian, and even the English language.
Mathematics
While a major credit for the evolution of Mathematics is attributed to the Egyptians and the Greek, India has given a more-than-fair share of contribution to this field. Indians were the first to use Zero (0) as a numeral, and invented the decimal number system of place value 10. Did you know that Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry,Calculus, and the Binary Number Systemwere all originated in India! That apart, even the numerals popularly known as Arabic Numerals, were actually invented in India, but passed on to the world by the Arabs, and hence the name.
Medicine
You’ll probably be surprised to know that Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to mankind! ‘Charaka Samhita’, an ancient text on the same was consolidated in India around 900BC.Sushruta, the “Father of Surgery”, conducted complicated surgeries like cataract, hernia, cesareans, plastic surgery, and brain surgeries at that time. One can only imagine! He authored the book ‘Sushruta Samhita’, which describes over 300 surgical procedures.Further, usage of anesthesia was well known in ancient Indian medicine as well. Yoga, which is now a rage all over the world as one of the best means to get and stay fit, originated in India.
Science and Technology
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is among the largest government space agencies in the world, forever changing our understanding of the universe as we know it. It built India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, and has launched about 76 satellites till date.In 2008, ISRO sent its first mission to the Moon, Chandrayaan-1.On 5th November, 2013, it launched its Mars Orbiter Mission, which successfully entered the Mars orbit on 24th September, 2014, making India the first nation to succeed on its maiden attempt, and ISRO, the first Asian space agency to reach Mars orbit.
Dance
Indian classical dance styles are intimately connected with the art of storytelling and involve subtle movement of the lips and eyes to express emotions. And if you notice, the dance styles of countries like Thailand, Indonesia, and Myanmar are heavily inspired from Indian classical styles, so much that a casual observer would hardly notice any difference. Western dance has also taken inspiration from the Indian folk dance through Gypsies.
Architecture
Huge Bodhisattva Statues from the Mauryan period, covering entire mountain faces and cliffs, have survived human and natural ravage, and can be seen even today at Bamiyan in Afghanistan.The famous 108m high statue of Buddha in Dong Duong, Vietnam, closely resembles the Amravati sculptures. In the Bali Islands of Indonesia, many idols of Lord Ganesha have been found.Indian motifs can also be traced in Gothic sculptures, in the carvings on the cathedrals of Bayeux in France, and Aachen and Trier in Germany.
Cuisine
Indian Tandoor Dishes and Curries enjoy a worldwide appeal.Chicken Tikka Masala, a modified version of Indian Chicken Tikka, has been called “ATrue British National Dish.”Singapore is also known for their fusion cuisine combining traditional Singaporean cuisine with Indiancuisines. Other foods inspired by Indian cooking styles include Malaysian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai, and Burmese.
Because of all the beautiful contributions that India has made to this world, you can today see a little bit of India wherever you go, be it intellectually stimulating or creatively challenging! On this note, wishing all you fellow Indians a very Happy Republic Day.
If you think you know something India has proudly achieved and deserves to be on the 7 Best Contributions From India To The World, do let us know by leaving a comment below.
This article is contributed by our fellow, Sakshi Bhatia. To be part of our team, Apply Here.