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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Critically endangered - Pygmy Hog

Critically endangered - Pygmy Hog

Pygmy Hog (নল-গাহৰি) is a critically endangered suid(animal) & found only in Assam at present & is the sole representative of Porcula & its extinction would result in the loss of a unique evolutionary branch of pigs. Pygmy hogs were exhibited in the zoos of London and Berlin in the 19th century but none of the captive populations survived. Zürich Zoo exhibited pygmy hogs from 1976 to 1978, but all females died. The Assam State Zoo is the only Zoo in the world to house the pygmy hog at present. They are about 55 to 71 cm long & stand at 20–30 cm (7.9-11.8 in) & a tail of 2.5 cm (1 in) & weight 6.6-11.8 kg (14.5-26 lbs).

Critically endangered - Pygmy Hog -

এবিধ গাহৰিৰ নিচিনা মুখৰ পাঁচ নখীয়া সৰু বনৰীয়া জন্তু৷ এটা ডাঙৰ নল-গাহৰি ১.৬ ফুট ওখ হয়৷

 

Colour of the pygmy hog’s skin is dark brownish-black and the hair is dark. Piglets are born grayish-pink. Adult males have the upper canines visible on the sides of their mouths. They live/survive for about eight years and becomes sexually mature at one to two years old. They breed seasonally before the monsoons giving birth to a litter of three to six after a gestation of 100 days. In the wild, they make small nests by digging a small trench and lining it with vegetation. During the day time to escape heat during summer season they stay inside these nests. They feed on roots, tubers, insects, rodents and small reptiles.

Pygmy hog is designated Schedule I species in India under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and offences against them invite heavy penalties.

Pygmy Hog –SURVIVE/EXIST in Assam only - Assam State Zoo is the only Zoo in the world to house this suid.

The success of captive breeding dramatically increased after the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP) was established in 1995. The PHCP was established under the umbrella of a formal 'International Conservation Management and Research Agreement' by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, the IUCN's Pigs, Peccaries and Hippo Specialist Group, the Forest Department, Government of Assam, and the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.

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