The world of classical Indian astronomy and arithmetic has misplaced one of its most distinguished voices. Balachandra Rao, a mathematician, astronomer and historian of science, was a scholar who dedicated his life to decoding India’s rich intellectual heritage whereas fearlessly difficult pseudoscience and advocating a scientific mood.
Trained in arithmetic and Sanskrit, Rao had the uncommon means to decode India’s rich astronomical heritage. His books Indian Astronomy: Concepts and Procedures and Ancient Indian Astronomy: Planetary Positions and Eclipses, turned customary references for anybody eager to perceive the ideas and procedures of classical Indian astronomy.
Rao taught arithmetic at National College, Bangalore, for 35 years. After retiring, he directed Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Gandhi Centre, lectured on the National Institute of Advanced Studies, suggested the National Commission for History of Science and served the Indian Journal of History of Science for INSA. He has authored greater than 30 books in English/Kannada and ground-breaking papers in IJHS, JAHH, and Ganita Bharati, illuminating India’s astronomical heritage for all.
Rao’s experience lay in unravelling the complicated astronomical algorithms of historical Indian texts. He has touched upon: A photo voltaic eclipse happens when the Moon blocks the Sun; a lunar eclipse happens when Earth’s shadow engulfs the Moon. Similarly, Mercury/Venus crossing the Sun’s face is a ‘transit’ (asta). These are occultations when planets or stars get occulted by the Moon (samāgama) or one another (yuddha). Rao and Padmaja Venugopal decoded these phenomena in Sanskrit/Tamil texts, publishing landmark works ‘Eclipses in Indian Astronomy’ and ‘Transits in Indian Astronomy’, shining new mild on Indian astronomy.
Yet, whereas celebrating these achievements, Rao was deeply involved in regards to the misuse of India’s intellectual legacy. He lamented how imprecise or exaggerated claims about “Vedic science” have been being propagated with out proof. Determined to separate truth from fiction, he authored vedic arithmetic and Science in Vedas (additionally accessible in Kannada as Vedic Mathematics Mattu Vedagalalli Vijnaana). In this essential work, he examined populist assertions, akin to superior vedic physics or interplanetary spacecraft, methodically distinguishing real data from unfounded hypothesis.
Rao was a staunch advocate for a scientific mood. Two of his most influential works, “Tradition Science and Society” and “Astrology – Believe It or Not?”, have been translated into Kannada. These Kannada Sahitya Parishat are important studying for these looking for a rational perspective on custom and modernity. Rao‘s legacy endures through his diligent scholarship, which never sacrificed rigour for popularity.
In times when ancient knowledge is often politicised and fictionalised, Rao stood as a steward of reason. His work remains a guide star, demonstrating how to critically appreciate the tradition through truthful understanding rather than uncritical glorification. His passing marks the end of an era. Still, his meticulous approach to India’s astronomical heritage will proceed to encourage future researchers. He is survived by his partner, Anasuya Shiraly and two sons Kedar and Karthik.
Published – May 16, 2025 10:33 am IST
