The Seminal Contribution of K. S. Shukla to our Understanding of Indian Astronomy and Mathematics

By : M. D. Srinivas

Page No: 17-51

Abstract 
In this article we shall highlight some of the important contributions to the study of Indian astronomy and mathematics made by Prof. Kripa Shankar Shukla (1918 - 2007), on the occasion of his birth centenary. Shukla was a student of Prof. A. N. Singh (1905 - 1954) at Lucknow University and was also fortunate to have come in close contact with Prof. Singh’s renowned collaborator Bibhutibhusan Datta (1888-1958). Dr. Shukla became the worthy successor of Prof. Singh to lead the research programme on Indian astronomy and mathematics at Lucknow University. Prof. Shukla brought out landmark editions of twelve important source-works of Indian astronomy and mathematics. A remarkable feature of many of these editions is that they also include lucid English translations and detailed explanatory notes. This is indeed one of the greatest contributions of Prof. Shukla since, till the 1960s, there had been very few editions of the classical source-works of Indian astronomy which also included a translation as well as explanatory notes. The editions of Shukla have become standard textbooks for the study of development of Indian astronomy during the classical Siddhantic period from Aryabhata to Sripati.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/GB.2018.40.01.2