कागजों में पुल और सड़कों की बहार है,
बिहार का आज का चित्र
The Kumbh Mela 2025
Mathematical Discoveries of India: Ancient to Modern Times
India’s contributions to mathematics span centuries, influencing global mathematical thought and practice. In the ancient period, the Sulba Sutras (~800 BCE) detailed geometric constructions, including the approximation of the square root of 2 and Pythagorean triples. Pingala (~200 BCE) introduced binary numbers and rules for permutations and combinations. The Jain texts (~500 BCE) explored concepts of infinity, while the place value system was fully developed between the 2nd century BCE and the 5th century CE.
During the classical period, Aryabhata (5th century CE) made pioneering contributions, including the approximation of π, advancements in trigonometry, and methods for solving quadratic equations. Brahmagupta (7th century CE) formalized the decimal system and introduced zero as a number, alongside rules for its operations. The Sulba Sutras and other texts also documented the rule of three, magic squares, and foundational mathematical astronomy. Mahavira (9th century CE) worked on algebraic solutions for cubic equations, while Halayudha (~10th century CE) expanded on Pascal’s triangle and binomial coefficients.
In the medieval period, Bhaskara II (12th century CE) advanced spherical trigonometry, logarithmic tables, and the Chakravala method for solving quadratic equations. The Kerala School of Mathematics, led by Madhava (14th century CE), developed infinite geometric series, approximations for π, and early concepts of calculus, including Taylor series-like expansions and tangent series. Nilakantha Somayaji (15th century CE) refined trigonometric calculations and planetary models. Jyesthadeva (16th century CE) documented these findings in Yuktibhasha, providing insights into the Newton-Gauss interpolation formula.
In modern times, Srinivasa Ramanujan (early 20th century CE) made groundbreaking discoveries in number theory, including infinite series, partitions, mock theta functions, and modular forms. Harish-Chandra contributed to Lie groups and representation theory, while Alladi Ramakrishnan, M.S. Narasimhan, and others advanced matrix analysis and topology. The AKS Primality Test by Manindra Agrawal, along with innovations in cryptography and coding theory, showcases India’s continued leadership in mathematics in the 21st century. This enduring legacy is a testament to India's rich mathematical heritage and its global influence across millennia.
Read more here - Mathematical Discoveries of India
🧮📜 Mathematical Discoveries of India 🇮🇳
— Bihar (@bihar) January 1, 2025
🪷 Ancient Period
Geometric Constructions and Proofs - Sulba Sutras - ~800 BCE
Pythagorean Triples - Sulba Sutras - ~800 BCE
Approximation of the Square Root of 2 - Sulba Sutras - ~800 BCE
Binary Numbers - Pingala (Chandaḥśāstra) -…
History of Patliputra
Muzaffarpur
मुज़फ्फरपुर, जो बिहार राज्य में स्थित है, का एक समृद्ध और विविध इतिहास है, जो इसकी सांस्कृतिक, राजनीतिक और आर्थिक महत्ता को दर्शाता है। यहाँ इसका एक ऐतिहासिक अवलोकन दिया गया है:
प्राचीन काल
- पौराणिक जड़ें: मुज़फ्फरपुर क्षेत्र का संबंध प्राचीन भारतीय पौराणिक कथाओं से है। इसे विदेह साम्राज्य का हिस्सा माना जाता है, जिसका उल्लेख रामायण में भी मिलता है। विदेह की प्राचीन राजधानी मिथिला इसी क्षेत्र के पास थी।
- मौर्य और गुप्त साम्राज्य: मौर्य (4वीं–2वीं सदी ईसा पूर्व) और गुप्त (4वीं–6वीं सदी ईस्वी) काल में यह क्षेत्र मगध का हिस्सा था, जो अपनी उन्नत संस्कृति और प्रशासन के लिए प्रसिद्ध था।
मध्यकाल
- प्रारंभिक मध्यकाल: यह क्षेत्र पाला और सेना राजवंशों के प्रभाव में था। इस समय बौद्ध और जैन धर्म के केंद्र के रूप में प्रसिद्ध हुआ।
- मुस्लिम शासन: मुज़फ्फरपुर क्षेत्र दिल्ली सल्तनत और बाद में मुग़ल साम्राज्य के अधीन आया। यह क्षेत्र अपनी कृषि उत्पादकता और सामरिक महत्त्व के लिए जाना जाता था।
मुग़ल और उत्तर मुग़ल काल
- प्रशासनिक केंद्र: मुग़लों के अधीन, मुज़फ्फरपुर एक प्रशासनिक केंद्र के रूप में विकसित हुआ और गंडक नदी के निकट होने के कारण इसका महत्व बढ़ा।
- मुग़ल साम्राज्य का पतन: 18वीं सदी में मुग़ल साम्राज्य के पतन के बाद स्थानीय ज़मींदारों और बंगाल के नवाबों का इस क्षेत्र पर प्रभाव रहा।
ब्रिटिश शासन काल
- मुज़फ्फरपुर जिला का गठन: मुज़फ्फरपुर जिला का औपचारिक गठन 1875 में ब्रिटिश शासन के दौरान हुआ। यह एक प्रशासनिक और व्यापारिक केंद्र बन गया।
- स्वतंत्रता संग्राम में भूमिका: भारत के स्वतंत्रता संग्राम में मुज़फ्फरपुर की महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका रही। 1908 में खुदीराम बोस और प्रफुल्ल चाकी द्वारा एक ब्रिटिश अधिकारी पर बम हमले के कारण यह क्षेत्र राष्ट्रीय चर्चा में आया।
- कृषि विकास: ब्रिटिश शासन के दौरान यहाँ नील और गन्ने की खेती को बढ़ावा दिया गया, जिससे क्षेत्र की आर्थिक स्थिति में बदलाव आया।
स्वतंत्रता के बाद का काल
- औद्योगिक विकास: मुज़फ्फरपुर अपनी लीची की खेती के लिए प्रसिद्ध हो गया, जो आज भी प्रमुख निर्यात उत्पाद है। यह छोटे उद्योगों का एक केंद्र भी है।
- शैक्षिक विकास: बिहार विश्वविद्यालय (अब डॉ. बी. आर. अंबेडकर बिहार विश्वविद्यालय) जैसे संस्थानों ने इसे बौद्धिक रूप से महत्वपूर्ण बनाया।
सांस्कृतिक विरासत
मुज़फ्फरपुर की सांस्कृतिक विरासत मैथिली और बिहारी परंपराओं से समृद्ध है। छठ पूजा और दुर्गा पूजा जैसे त्योहार बड़े उत्साह के साथ मनाए जाते हैं। यहाँ का खानपान, लोक संगीत और नृत्य इसकी अनूठी पहचान को दर्शाते हैं।
आधुनिक मुज़फ्फरपुर
आज का मुज़फ्फरपुर एक आधुनिक शहर है जिसमें ऐतिहासिक आकर्षण और वर्तमान आकांक्षाओं का मेल है। यह बिहार की अर्थव्यवस्था और सांस्कृतिक ताने-बाने में योगदान करते हुए एक कृषि और औद्योगिक केंद्र बना हुआ है। इसकी लीची की खेती, मंदिर और शैक्षणिक संस्थान इसके प्रमुख स्थल हैं।
Languages of Bihar
Bihari Languages: From the Era of Ashoka to Modern Bihar
The
linguistic heritage of Bihar is as rich and diverse as its cultural and
historical legacy. The languages spoken in this region have evolved over
centuries, shaped by the region's rulers, cultural exchanges, and
socio-political transformations. This essay delves into the journey of Bihari
languages, tracing their roots to the time of Emperor Ashoka and their
development into the modern linguistic landscape of Bihar.
Ancient Linguistic Roots in Bihar
Bihar’s
association with language and literature dates back to ancient times, playing a
pivotal role in the cultural and intellectual history of India.
- Language in the Mauryan
Empire
- During the reign of Emperor
Ashoka (3rd century BCE), Magadhi Prakrit was the predominant
language of Bihar. It was the spoken language of the region and one of
the earliest forms of Prakrit, the Middle Indo-Aryan languages that
evolved from Vedic Sanskrit.
- Ashoka's Rock Edicts and
Pillar Inscriptions, found in Bihar and across his empire, were
primarily written in Magadhi Prakrit using the Brahmi script.
These inscriptions aimed to communicate Ashoka's policies and Buddhist
teachings to the common people, signifying the practical and accessible
nature of Magadhi Prakrit.
- Role of Pali
- Pali, closely related to
Magadhi Prakrit, gained prominence in Bihar during the Buddhist era. It
was used to compile the Tripitaka, the sacred texts of Theravāda
Buddhism, and served as a medium for spreading Buddhist teachings across
India and beyond.
- Sanskrit Influence
- Alongside Prakrit and Pali,
Sanskrit flourished as the language of the elite, scholars, and religious
texts. Institutions like Nalanda University (established in the 5th
century CE) became centers for the study of Sanskrit, Pali, and other
ancient languages.
Medieval Period and Linguistic Evolution
The
medieval era witnessed the gradual transformation of Prakrit into Apabhramsha,
a precursor to the modern languages of Bihar. This period saw the
diversification of regional dialects and the emergence of early forms of
today’s Bihari languages.
- Emergence of Bihari Dialects
- By the late medieval period
(11th–13th centuries), distinct linguistic forms such as Magahi, Bhojpuri,
and Maithili began to take shape. These languages were influenced
by Apabhramsha while retaining their roots in Magadhi Prakrit.
- Maithili: Maithili, with its rich
literary tradition, gained prominence in the Mithila region. Poets like
Vidyapati (14th century) composed Maithili works that reflected the
language's lyrical beauty and cultural significance.
- Bhojpuri and Magahi: Bhojpuri and Magahi,
spoken in western and central Bihar respectively, remained primarily oral
languages during this period, serving as the mediums of everyday
communication.
- Persian Influence
- The arrival of Islamic
rulers introduced Persian as the language of administration and courtly
culture. While Persian had limited influence on the local languages, it
contributed vocabulary and stylistic elements, particularly in urban
centers.
Colonial Era and the Modernization of Bihari
Languages
The
British colonial period (18th–20th centuries) brought significant changes to
the linguistic landscape of Bihar.
- Standardization and Script
Development
- The introduction of modern
printing technology and education led to efforts to standardize languages
like Maithili, Bhojpuri, and Magahi.
- Maithili Renaissance: The 19th century saw a
revival of Maithili literature, with figures like George Abraham Grierson
documenting its grammar and distinct identity. The language adopted the Tirhuta
script and later the Devanagari script for wider accessibility.
- Colonial Policies and
Language Marginalization
- English and Hindi became
dominant in administration and education, leading to the marginalization
of Bihari languages. Despite their widespread use among the masses,
Bhojpuri, Magahi, and Maithili were considered “dialects” rather than
full-fledged languages.
- Bhojpuri and the Diaspora
- Bhojpuri speakers,
particularly during the 19th-century indentured labor migrations, carried
their language to countries like Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, and the
Caribbean, establishing Bhojpuri as a global language.
Modern Bihar and Its Languages
Today,
Bihar is home to a diverse linguistic landscape, with its people speaking a
variety of languages and dialects.
- Major Bihari Languages
- Bhojpuri: Spoken in western Bihar
and neighboring Uttar Pradesh, Bhojpuri has a robust oral tradition and
growing recognition in popular media, including Bhojpuri cinema.
- Magahi: Primarily spoken in
central Bihar, Magahi remains less prominent in written literature but
thrives as a spoken language.
- Maithili: Recognized as one of the
22 scheduled languages of India under the Eighth Schedule of the
Constitution, Maithili enjoys literary and cultural prestige.
- Hindi as a Lingua Franca
- Hindi serves as the primary
language of education, administration, and inter-regional communication
in Bihar. While it unites the state, it has also contributed to the
declining use of native languages in formal settings.
- Other Languages
- Bihar’s linguistic
diversity includes languages like Urdu (spoken by a significant Muslim
population) and tribal languages such as Santhali in certain regions.
- Challenges
- Preservation and Promotion: Bihari languages face
challenges due to the dominance of Hindi and English in education and
administration.
- Lack of Standardization: Bhojpuri and Magahi still
lack standardized scripts and institutional support, which hinders their
growth.
Revival and Cultural Pride
Efforts
are underway to revive and promote the rich linguistic heritage of Bihar:
- Bhojpuri and Maithili in
Media:
Bhojpuri cinema and Maithili literature are gaining traction, bringing
these languages into the cultural mainstream.
- Government Initiatives: Recognition of Maithili as
a scheduled language and the inclusion of Bihari languages in cultural
festivals reflect growing institutional support.
- Diaspora Contributions: The Bhojpuri-speaking diaspora continues to celebrate and preserve their linguistic heritage through festivals, literature, and music.
Legacy of Bihari Languages
From the
time of Ashoka, when Magadhi Prakrit was used to communicate a message of peace
and morality, to the present day, Bihari languages have been a testament to the
region’s vibrant cultural identity. They represent the voices of millions,
embodying their history, traditions, and aspirations.
As Bihar
continues to modernize, the preservation and celebration of its linguistic
diversity will remain crucial in honoring its past and enriching its future.
Conclusion
Bihari
languages have journeyed through the corridors of history, adapting and
thriving amidst changing times. They stand as a bridge between ancient wisdom
and modern expression, connecting the legacy of Ashoka's edicts to the dynamic
cultural fabric of contemporary Bihar. By embracing and promoting this
linguistic heritage, Bihar not only preserves its identity but also contributes
to the rich mosaic of India’s linguistic diversity.
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कागजों में पुल और सड़कों की बहार है, हकीकत में हर ओर मलबा तैयार है। विकास के वादों का क्या हुआ अंजाम, हर विभाग में दिखे भ्रष्टाचार का नाम।...
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Castes of Bihar: An Overview Bihar, a state deeply rooted in tradition and history, has a complex and layered caste system that plays a ...
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Bihari Languages: From the Era of Ashoka to Modern Bihar The linguistic heritage of Bihar is as rich and diverse as its cultural and his...
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India’s contributions to mathematics span centuries, influencing global mathematical thought and practice. In the ancient period, the Sulba...
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Patliputra, or modern-day Patna in Bihar, has a pretty wild history. Back in the day, around the 6th century BCE, it was just a small villag...