ZERO WAS INVENTED IN ASSAM by an Assamese mathematician

 

ZERO WAS INVENTED IN ASSAM

by an Assamese mathematician

 

We all know that “ZERO” is credited to Aryabhatta around 500 A.D., an Assamese writer and filmmaker has challenged the theory, claiming that zero was actually invented in Assam. This article was first published in esteemed daily English newspaper “The Assam Tribune” dated April 1^st 2013 at page no. 1 & 3. There is archaeological evidence that the invention of zero happened in Assam long before the birth of both Aryabhatta and Brahmagupta. The evidence of the practice of using zero during the period of 2^nd – 3^rd A.D. in Assam has been found in Golaghat district. The date of the stone inscription having zero has been confirmed by well-known archaeologist Dr. H N Bhuyan. The digit inscribed on the piece of stone were 2, 3, 1, 0, 7 & 8 respectively and was deciphered by Dr. Dharmeswar Chutia. The ancient civilization of ancient Kamrupa (Assam) was as old as the Indus Valley Civilization. 

According to the article published the inventor of zero was an Assamese mathematician. “Unfortunately, due to lack of extensive research, we still do not know who invented zero in Assam and exactly when. This claim is based on facts and data and “it is for scholars and historians to established the veracity or otherwise of the claim. If these findings are found to be true, it would be a great privilege to have an Assamese mathematician as the inventor of zero, as published the newspaper. 

There were trade centres in ancient Kamrupa and Kamrupa had contacts with other countries as well prior to forging ties with India. There is every possibility that the idea of zero moved from Assam to then India. As historians, archeologists and scholars did not pay much attention to the civilization of Kamrup, which it so rightfully deserved, it led to the erroneous conclusion that Aryabhatta and Brahmagupta were the inventors of zero. 

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