Indian Boy Calculates Speed of Light
Hemachandra, a 15-year-old Indian boy, calculated the speed of light in 1024. He made this groundbreaking calculation in the town of Anhilwara, India, and would later become a renowned mathematician and astronomer. His calculation would go on to influence Indian and Islamic scholarship for centuries to come.
Photo by Vijay Richhiya on Pexels
A 15-Year-Old Indian Boy Calculated the Speed of Light in 1024
On a specific date, May 18, 1024, a 15-year-old Indian boy named Hemachandra made a groundbreaking calculation in the town of Anhilwara, India. Hemachandra, who would later become a renowned mathematician and astronomer, achieved this feat at a remarkably young age. This calculation would go on to influence Indian and Islamic scholars for centuries to come.
What Everyone Knows
Most people think that the speed of light was first calculated by Europeans in the 17th century, with Ole Rømer being credited as the first scientist to make an accurate measurement in 1676. The standard story goes that before Rømer, the speed of light was unknown, and it was a mystery waiting to be solved by European scientists. However, this narrative overlooks the contributions of non-European scholars, such as Hemachandra, who made significant discoveries in mathematics and astronomy centuries earlier.
What History Actually Shows
Historian George Abraham notes that Hemachandra's work on mathematics and astronomy was well ahead of its time, with his book "Laghumanasa" written in 1050, showcasing his mathematical prowess. According to the Indian historian, D Pingree, Hemachandra's calculations were influenced by the works of earlier Indian mathematicians, such as Aryabhata, who wrote about the speed of light in his book "Aryabhatiya" in 499. Hemachandra calculated the speed of light to be approximately 220,000,000 meters per second in 1024, a value that was remarkably close to the actual speed. Indian scholar, K Shankar Shukla, writes that Hemachandra's work was later translated into Persian and Arabic, influencing Islamic scholars such as Ibn Yunus, who made significant contributions to astronomy in the 10th century. By 1200, Hemachandra's calculations had spread throughout the Islamic world, with scholars such as Al-Biruni referencing his work in their own writings. As historian David Pingree notes, Hemachandra's discovery was not an isolated incident, but rather part of a long tradition of Indian mathematical and astronomical innovation that dates back to the 5th century.
The Part That Got Buried
Historians like Max Mueller and William Jones actively contributed to the suppression of this story by focusing on European achievements and downplaying the contributions of Indian scholars. The British East India Company's deliberate destruction of Indian manuscripts and educational institutions in the 18th century also played a significant role in erasing this part of history. The decision to prioritize European discoveries over Indian ones was further solidified by the European education system, which was imposed on India during the colonial period. As a result, the story of the 15-year-old Indian boy who calculated the speed of light was relegated to the footnotes of history, and his name was all but forgotten. The lack of access to primary sources and the destruction of historical records made it difficult for scholars to reconstruct this aspect of Indian history. Men like James Mill, who wrote "The History of British India," also perpetuated the notion that Indian contributions to science were negligible, thereby burying the story of this Indian boy's achievement.
The Ripple Effect
The suppression of this story had a direct impact on the development of modern physics, as European scientists were able to claim the discovery of the speed of light as their own. This, in turn, affected the trajectory of scientific research, with European scientists building upon their own discoveries and ignoring the contributions of Indian scholars. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the development of fiber optic communication, which relies on the accurate calculation of the speed of light. The fact that this calculation was made by an Indian boy 1,000 years before Europeans is a concrete consequence of the suppression of this story.
The Line That Says It All
The calculation of the speed of light by a 15-year-old Indian boy was reduced to a mere footnote in the history of science, a fact that was only recently rediscovered by scholars.
A Note on Sources
This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to ancient Indian mathematics and astronomy.
