When we were asked to prepare a proposal highlighting the uniqueness of River Nila by department officials, we started jotting down few things. When we started looking at some of the writings that came from the banks of river, the list went on like this:
Scientific works like "Drikanita" of Vadasseri Parameswaran (Astronomer),
'Dasadhyaayi' of Thalakulathu Bhattathiri(Astrologer),
'Goladeepika' of Trikandiyoor Achyutha Pisharadi(Mathematician),
'Maathanga Leela' (on Elephants),
"Manushyalaya Chandrika"a work on architecture,
"Prakriya Sarwasam" of Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri (on Sanskrit grammar),
"Tantra Samuchaya" by Neelakanda Somayaji on Tantric practices
the list goes on...
When we opened The Hindu newspaper this morning, there was an article in the Kerala section about sixth century mathematician and astronomer Aryabhatta (India's first experimental satellite was named after him) that he was born in Ponnani!! (Estuary and old harbour where River Nila joins the Indian Ocean). Trikandiyoor and Alathiyoor near Ponnani has been traditionally known for its mathematicians.
We have been told by scholars from this part of the world that Aryabhatta was from Alathiyoor gramam (village) and not from Bihar as it is commonly believed.
K. Chandra Hari, senior geoscientist at the Institute of Reservoir Studies of Oil and Natural Gas Commission, Ahmedabad now says that "Aryabhata lived precisely in the modern Ponnani-Chamravattom area (latitude 10N51 and longitude 75E45) in Kerala in 6th Century AD. " Birth place of Aryabhatta has been a debate.
In any case its quite a list of famous people who came from the banks of river nila!!
(It's just a tragedy for all these geniuses that Arun and I were born in these villages (Trikandiyoor and Alathiyoor) and have absolutely no clue of mathematics, forget the fact that we can't keep counting straight;)! Arun, sorry, I didn't really mean to let the world know of our struggles of clearing maths exams in school!)
Tirur © GP 2007
About Me
- GP
- Bangalore, Karnataka, India
- Been working in the field of Responsible Tourism since early 2004. Founded Nila Foundation and The Blue Yonder out of the passion for the region I come from. These two initiatives helped me discover myself and it’s been a beautiful journey ever since; personally as well as professionally. In the constantly evolving dynamics, I felt the need to document thoughts, developments, and changes. What you read here are my personal thoughts and not necessarily endorsed by the organisations I represent in various capacities. I am also a palliative care volunteer. Peace!
5 comments:
Claiming what is not yours? HA!
http://ezinearticles.com/?Aryabhatta,-The-Indian-Mathematician&id=580066
haha, GP,i havent stopped laughing thinking about the two geniuses. when will i see the master arun :)?
You guys should make a list of all the famouns people and their works that came from your area. What say?
ezinearticles.com on aryabhatta contains erroneous statements.
1. 'Arya' is hardly a southindian name.
Yes, but it was much popular with namboodiri cast (cast brahmins of kerala). Aryabhatta could be a namboodiri.
2. 'Bhatt' or Bhatta is a typical north indian name.
May be true but tamil brahmins are called 'pattar' which came from 'bhattar' and 'bhattathiri' is a sub-cast (not in the real sense) among namboodiri cast. Bhatta was an award given to scholar brahmins all over India.
Here in this case Aryabhatta could be a namboodiri who got the award called bhatta.
Isnt the late communist leader EMS Namboodiripad's wife's name 'Arya Antarjanam'? She is from Malappuram district I presume?
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