Interesting Facts About India
Here are some amazing facts that will make you more proud to be an Indian. Read on ...
- India invented the Number System. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta. India never invaded any country in her last 10000 years of history.
- Sanskrit is the mother of all the European languages. Sanskrit is the most suitable language
for computer software, according to a report in Forbes magazine, July 1987.
- The World's first university was established in Takshila in 700BC. More than
10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects there. The
University of Nalanda built in the 4th century BC was one of the greatest achievements
of ancient India in the field of education.

- Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to humans. Charaka, the father of medicine
consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago. Today Ayurveda is fast regaining its rightful
place in our civilization. India was the richest country on earth until the British invaded in the early 17th Century.
Christopher Columbus was attracted by India's wealth.
- Bhaskaracharya calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit the sun hundreds of years before
the astronomer Smart. Time taken by earth to orbit the sun in the 5th century - 365.258756484 days. The
art of navigation was born in the river Sindh 6000 years ago. The very word Navigation is derived from the Sanskrit word NAVGATIH. The word navy is also derived from
Sanskrit 'Nou'.
- The
value of "pi" was first calculated by Budhayana, and he explained the
concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the
6th century long before the European mathematicians. According
to the Gemological Institute of America, up until 1896, India was the only source
for diamonds to the world.

- Algebra,
trigonometry and calculus came from India. Quadratic equations were by Sridharacharya
in the 11th century. The largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106
whereas Hindus used numbers as big as 10**53(10 to the power of 53) with specific
names as early as 5000 BCE during the Vedic period. Even today, the largest used
number is Tera 10**12(10 to the power of 12).
- Usage
of anesthesia was well known in ancient India medicine. Detailed knowledge of
anatomy, embryology, digestion, metabolism, physiology, etiology, genetics and
immunity is also found in many ancient Indian texts.
- USA
based IEEE has proved what has been a century old suspicion in the world scientific
community, that the pioneer of wireless communication was Prof. Jagdeesh Bose
and not Marconi.
- Sushruta
is the father of surgery. 2600 years ago he and health scientists of his time
conducted complicated surgeries like cesareans, cataract, artificial limbs, fractures,
urinary stones and even plastic surgery and brain surgery. Usage of anesthesia
was well known in ancient India. Over 125 surgical equipment were used. Deep knowledge
of anatomy, physiology, etiology, embryology, digestion, metabolism, genetics
and immunity is also found in many texts.
- The
earliest reservoir and dam for irrigation was built in Saurashtra.
- Chess
(Shataranja or AshtaPada) was invented in India. When
many cultures were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago, Indians established
Harappan culture in Sindh Valley, known as the Indus Valley Civilization.
- The
place value system, the decimal system was developed in India in 100 BC. Spiritual
science, Yoga and most of the religions were found in India and the teachings
spread all over the world by Indian Mystics and the Saints.
- The
World's First Granite Temple is the Brihadeswara temple at Tanjavur in Tamil Nadu.
The shikhara is made from a single '80-tonne' piece of granite. Also, this magnificient
temple was built in just five years, (between 1004 AD and 1009 AD) during the
reign of Rajaraja Chola.
- India
is the Largest democracy in the world, the 6th largest country in the world
AND one of the most ancient and living civilizations (at least 10, 000 years old).
- The game of snakes & ladders
was created by the 13th century poet saint Gyandev. It was originally called 'Mokshapat.'
The ladders in the game represented virtues and the snakes indicated vices. The
game was played with cowrie shells and dices. Later through time, the game underwent
several modifications but the meaning is the same i.e good deeds take us to heaven
and evil to a cycle of re-births.