Master Class: The Pursuit of π & the Advent of Calculus in India
This two-day Master Class with Prof. K. Ramasubramanian, to be conducted by INDICA in collaboration with Central Sanskrit University
@CentralSanskrit , on 19–20 December 2026 in Noida, explores the remarkable mathematical traditions through which Indian scholars pursued π, developed sophisticated methods of approximation, and laid important conceptual foundations for calculus.
The sessions will examine the Sanskrit mathematical tradition, including the use of sūtras, kārikās and commentaries; foundational ideas in geometry, proportion and trigonometry; and the polygon-doubling approach associated with Āryabhaṭa.
The Master Class will then trace the movement from finite summation and interpolation to infinite series and limit-like reasoning, with particular attention to Mādhava’s series for π and the Kerala school’s techniques for improving convergence and reducing error.
The concluding sessions will consider functions, rates of change, derivatives and infinite series, leading to a nuanced historical and mathematical inquiry into the question: What was the nature of the Indian contribution to the development of calculus?
Register Here:
indica.events/event/master-c…