India's contribution to global research may seem neglible in the 21st century, but the fact remains that India has played a key role in products, ideas and technologies that are used in everyday life around the world. The great indian consumer still pays premium to the know-hows of technology that should have come to him at no extracost. Patents are not something we invented but patents have certainly masked our capabilities. Had Patanjali applied for patent, many people around the world would not have benefited from yoga.
5. Ayurveda and Siddha (Ancient medicines still in use)
Today, Ayurveda and Siddha are considered alternative medicines, but before the invention of allopathy and western medical treatments, India had developed highly reliable medical treatments based on Ayurveda and Siddha systems. Even in the 21st century, people turn to these practises for treatments not found in main stream methods. With little or no side effects, herbs, fruits and vegetables are used to prepare medicines which cure diseases and ailments naturally.
4. Contribution of Ramanujanto Mathematics
Srinivasa Ramanujan demonstrated his mathematical genius even as a 10 year old. He died at the age of 32, but his contribution to mathematics such as Landau-Ramanujan constant, Mock theta functions, Ramanujan conjecture, Ramanujan prime, Ramanujan-Soldner constant, Ramanujan theta function, Ramanujans sum, Rogers-Ramanujan identities, Ramanujans master theorem. His discoveries are original and not influenced by the mathematical community centered in Europe in that era. National mathematics day (december22) is celebrated to commemorate his birthday.
3. Raman effect
The famous Indian physician Sushruta mentions cataract in his work Compendium of Sushruta or Sushruta Samhita as early as 29 AD. Putting a knife inside the eye is a daunting task and imagine the expertise that would have gone to perform a surgery (These days Cataract is called as a procedure rather than a surgery). Further, according to the text, the surgical method was clearly explained with step-by-step procedures, precautions, post surgical care etc.
2. Ink
More inks are used in printer catridges these days, but Indians were the first to use them for writing/drawing. Though these inks differed from the modern ink (the early inks were made by burning bones, tar and pitch), documents using the Indian ink are still intact and legible. Many religious sutras were sourced from documents written using the Indian ink.
1. Zero
There is enough evidence and acknowledgement that Indians are the first to use zero for arithmetic calculations. Without zero, we cannot imagine about science and technology. Many might argue that inventing zero in not rocket science, but there is no rocket science without zero. It is only after the invention of zero, did the scientific innovations of the cave man came to real practical use.
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