• The numeral system was invented by India and is known as Hindu-Arabic numeral system.

• The first university in the world was established in Takshashila, also known as Taxila, during 700 BCE.

• Aryabhata (476–556 CE), the astronomer and mathematician, discovered ‘shunya’ or zero.

• Many languages originated from Sanskrit. Some of the first words of the English language came from Sanskrit words, such as ‘father’ from ‘pita’ and ‘mother’ from ‘mata’. According to Forbes magazine, Sanskrit is the most suitable language for computer software.

• The decimal system as well as the place value system were developed in India in 100 BCE.

• Electric Battery: Maharishi Agastya (approximately 1500–1200 BCE) invented electricity generation as well as the use of electricity, electric wire and battery cells (formula for electric battery).

• The value of pi was first calculated by Baudhayana, who lived around 800 BCE, and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this long before Pythagoras.

• Surya Siddhanta has calculations of the diameters of Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Earth, Moon and Sun, as well as their distances from the planets.

• Mathematical subjects like algebra and trigonometry were discovered by Indians. Quadratic equations were invented by Bhaskaracharya (1114–1185 CE).

• Mayasura, in his treatise Surya Siddhanta, calculated the time taken for the Earth to orbit the Sun to nine decimal places (365.258756484).

• Ayurveda, which is a part of the Hindu Upavedas, is also one of the earliest schools of medicine in the world. Charvaka, the father of medicine, consolidated Ayurveda 2,500 years ago.

• Atomic Theory: Maharishi Kanada, the creator of Vaisheshika Upanishad, said in 600 BCE that paramanu (atom) is the indestructible particle of matter and discussed atomic theory long before the West did.

• Rishi Sushruta (800–700 BCE) is considered the ‘Father of Surgery’.

• The ‘vimana’ (aeroplane) that Mayasura built is said to be a three-storied flying craft operated by motive power generated by solar rays. Details of the Pushpaka Vimana are described in the Valmiki Ramayana.

• The art of navigation was born in the river Sindh, 5,000 years ago. The very word ‘navigation’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘navgati’. ‘Nav’ means a ship or a vessel and ‘gati’ means speed or progress.