‘Dhara: An Ode to Indian Knowledge Systems’ Initiative

March 6, 2023

The Ministry of Culture’s flagship initiative, “Dhara: An Ode to Indian Knowledge Systems,” has completed its first year. During this year, 10 successful conferences were organized on various themes highlighting India’s civilizational achievements. The program aims to promote and revive multiple domains of Indian knowledge systems by creating public awareness, stakeholder participation, and a framework for their promotion. A key execution partner for this series is the Indian Knowledge Systems Division of the Ministry of Education. It is a part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

First series of DHARA

The first series of the initiative is to be dedicated to the contributions made by our ancestors in the field of mathematics. According to the Culture Ministry, the mathematics field in the country has a long history starting from the invention of Zero. Some of the texts to be highlighted in the series are SULBA SUTRAS and CHANDA SASTRA.

Bringing back lost glory

The Suba Sutra is one of the oldest texts and dates back to 800 BCE. The Pythagoras theorem was actually invented by India as per Sulba Sutra. Pythagoras invented it very late and took the credit. Through these events, India is trying to spread the message that our history is deep-rooted. And we have been the best in every field since ancient times.

Chanda Sastra

It is one of the six major parts of the Vedas. This was the centre of the composition of Vedas. Sanskrit pronunciations have mathematical calculations involved. Every syllable in the Sanskrit hymns has a fixed rhythm. How long should the word be pronounced? And every verse has a fixed number of syllables. Basically, the Chanda Dastra was full of maths that dealt with the calculations in Vedic hymns. Scholars learnt Chanda Sastra first before learning the Vedic hymns!

Way Forward

The next phase of Dhara will focus on the metallurgical, agricultural, and ancient economic traditions of India. Each conference focuses on historicity, diversity, and innovative methodologies to bring them to national consciousness, promoting academic research, and empowering the youth.

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