Aidan93118681 at 23:34, 3 February 2026

2026-02-03T23:34:52Z

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{{Short description|Indian science author (1944–2025)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox biography
| name = Balachandra Rao
| other_names = S Balachandra Rao
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1944|12|24|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|05|14|1944|12|24|df=y}}
}}

'''Balachandra Rao''' (Devanagari: बालचंद्र राव; 24 December 1944 – 14 May 2025) was an Indian mathematician at [[National Institute of Advanced Studies]] in Bangalore. He authored several books in the field of science, astronomy, mathematics. He was also trained in Sanskrit literature. He dedicated his life towards decoding the rich intellectual heritage of the ancient India.<ref>{{Cite news |last=T.V.Venkateswaran |date=16 May 2025 |title=Balachandra Rao: The pillar of Indian astronomy who dedicated his life to decoding India’s rich intellectual heritage |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/balachandra-rao-the-pillar-of-indian-astronomy-who-dedicated-his-life-to-decoding-indias-rich-intellectual-heritage/article69578023.ece |access-date=17 May 2025 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Balachandra Rao |url=https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=2vmfeHUAAAAJ&hl=en |access-date=17 May 2025 |website=scholar.google.com}}</ref> He was also called ''S Balachandra Rao''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Ravi |first=Archana |date=21 February 2015 |title=Studying Ancient Texts on Astronomy, Maths |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2015/Feb/21/studying-ancient-texts-on-astronomy-maths-719978.html |access-date=17 May 2025 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gandhi Centre Of Science and Human Values |url=https://www.bvbgandhicentre.org/bookstore/sku/indian-mathematics--astronomy-some-landmarks |access-date=17 May 2025 |website=www.bvbgandhicentre.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/indian-astronomy-an-introduction-s.-balachandra-rao |title=Indian Astronomy - An Introduction - S.Balachandra Rao}}</ref>

His quotes on [[Vedanga Jyotisha|Vedanga Jyotish]],

{{Quotes|text=“It is not just we who say that the Indian numeral system is a remarkable contribution. It has been acknowledged by European critics and mathematics historians, the world over. However, our affair with mathematics and astronomy dates back to 1200 BC, when Vedanga Jyotisa originated.”|author=Balachandra Rao}}

== Background ==
Rao was born on 24 December 1944.<ref name="venkateswaran">{{cite news |last1=Venkateswaran |first1=TV |title=S Balachandra Rao obit: Pillar of classical Indian astronomy, defender of rational thought |url=https://thefederal.com/category/obituary/s-balachandra-rao-obit-pillar-of-classical-indian-astronomy-defender-of-rational-thought-186885 |access-date=15 June 2025 |work=[[The Federal]] |date=14 May 2025}}</ref> He started his career as a professor of mathematics at National College in Bangalore. He later became the principal of the college. After retirement, he served at National Institute of Advanced Studies as a mathematician. Later he joined Gandhi Centre of Science and Human Values in Bengaluru. There he became the director of the institute.<ref name=":0" />

Rao died on 14 May 2025, at the age of 80.<ref name="venkateswaran"/>

== Researches and notable works ==
In 1992, Rao started his journey of research in the field of the ancient Indian mathematics. He studied in details about the contributions of ancient India to science and astronomy. In an interview, he dismissed the idea of the ancient ''Vimana Sasthra'' which got popularity in the recent [[Indian Science Congress Association|Indian Science Congress]].<ref name=":0" />

After his research on the Vedanga Jyotish, he pointed out that there should be some improvements in the parameters and the values in the age-old computational algorithms of the Vedanga Jyotish to get an accurate result as the orbits and the angular velocities of the heavenly bodies had changed with time.<ref name=":0" /> He quoted,

{{Quotes|text=“The algorithms in Vedanga Jyotisa give a fairly accurate result. If we predict an eclipse or solstice using it, the result will differ by a minute. This is because the orbits of heavenly bodies have become larger with time and angular velocities have changed. We improve the parameters and refine the values in the age-old computational algorithms, to get an accurate result.”}}

Rao extensively researched the ancient Sanskrit astronomical and mathematical texts of India. He unraveled the complex astronomical algorithms of the ancient Indian texts. He clarified the obscure ancient Sanskrit astronomical and mathematical texts for easy access of these texts to modern readers. In his research, he revealed the sophisticated knowledge of the classical Indian science. He also demonstrated the precise methods used by the classical scholars like [[Aryabhata]], [[Bhāskara I|Bhaskara]], and [[Varāhamihira|Varahamihira]] for calculating planetary positions, [[Eclipse|eclipses]], and timekeeping.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Dr. S. Balachandra Rao {{!}} Astronomical Society of India |url=https://demo.astron-soc.in/node/807 |access-date=20 May 2025 |website=demo.astron-soc.in}}</ref>

Apart from decoding the rich intellectual heritage of the ancient India, he also combated and criticized the false claims and misinformation in the name of Vedic science.<ref name=":1" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian mathematicians]]
[[Category:Indian scientists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian astronomers]]
[[Category:Indian male non-fiction writers]]

{{India-mathematician-stub}}

Balachandra Rao - Revision history

Aidan93118681 at 23:34, 3 February 2026