The ancient wisdom of Vedic Maths is gaining popularity at home and abroad for its enhanced computational proficiencies and problem-solving abilities. In the process it is rekindling love for an otherwise dreaded subject.
When you type Vedic Maths in the Google search bar, the search engine throws up an interesting prompt – “Is vedic maths useful for IIT?” The question reflects the traction mathematical methods dating back to the Vedic Age are getting from aspirants trying to crack the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) entrance exams, with just one percent of the applicants making the cut.
This is quite understandable as Vedic Maths is believed to improve the speed of calculations by 1500 percent. It’s a much-needed skill in the tough world of competitive exams where speed, accuracy and time make a world of difference in the results.
Vedic Mathematics (VM) was rediscovered between 1911 to 1918 by Sri Bharti Krishna Tirthji, the Shankaracharya of Govardhan Math in Puri, from the Atharva Veda and other ancient Vedic scriptures.
It is essentially a collection of 16 sutras, or formulae, and 13 sub-sutras called sub-formulae that can be efficiently applied to arithmetic, algebra, geometry and calculus to perform mathematical operations with greater speed and accuracy.
It provides multiple operations to solve the same problem and most of the calculations can be done mentally. Beyond that it also fosters high order thinking by improving critical reasoning and analysis.
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Gaurav Tekriwal, along with his wife Anushree Tekriwal, launched the Vedic Maths Forum in the year 2008 and has witnessed its journey from close quarters since. “Back then the awareness about Vedic Maths was almost non-existent. Even the heads of mathematics departments in schools were unfamiliar with the concept. There was hardly any literature available on the subject by Indian authors – most of the material was generated by foreign authors,” says Tekriwal, Founder President, Vedic Maths Forum India (VMFI).
It was YouTube and massive open online courses that really tipped the scales in favour of Vedic Maths. Tekriwal’s Ted Talk in New York further amplified global interest in the subject, while being featured in Mann Ki Baat, the monthly programme hosted by the PM of India, fuelled viral interest in India.
“Platforms like Tata Sky brought Vedic Maths to living rooms, and online education marketplaces like Udemy connected us to over 23,000 students worldwide,” shares Tekriwal.
He has seen growing interest from countries like the USA, South Africa, Australia, the Middle East (especially the UAE), Singapore, UK, South Korea, Egypt, Ghana and Nigeria. “Parents are keen on helping their children excel in mathematics through Vedic Maths,” he adds.
The first pilot project he conducted in South Africa showed the math scores of students jump by 40 percent due to these unique methods. The feedback from other programmes has been equally encouraging and optimistic.
Online learning startups like Udemy are offering courses in “High Speed Vedic Maths”, with the purpose to not only calculate faster but also develop both the left and right sides of the brain by increasing visualisation and concentration abilities. For instance, imagine multiplying 998 x 997 in a matter of five seconds.
Ambar Ahluwalia, a grade eight student in Delhi NCR, was nudged by her mother to enroll in a short online course in Vedic Mathematics during the Covid pandemic. “I was never fearful of numbers, so I can’t say whether Vedic Maths takes away the fear of the subject. But I learnt some basic techniques for faster calculations and they’ve really helped me in school. I plan to do another course before I begin my preparations for IIT,” she says.
There is a lot happening at the institutional level in India. Banaras Hindu University (BHU) offers a one-year diploma course in Vedic Mathematics. And recently, Delhi University added courses on the topic to its pool of value addition courses to help students appreciate ancient Indian mathematics and its contribution to the world, which includes the invention of zero and the decimal system.
The course includes seminal contributions and pioneering discoveries by Indian mathematicians like Varahmihir, Brahmagupta, Srinivasa Ramanujan, Neelkanth Somayya, and Bharti Krishna Tirtha in advancing the glorious Indian heritage. Vedic Maths was reportedly among the three most sought-after programmes last year at the university.
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The National Education Policy (NEP) and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) are also focusing on ancient Indian systems of knowledge such as Vedic Maths. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has also directed higher education institutions to incorporate Vedic Maths into its degree courses.
Under the government’s flagship Samagra Shiksha programme, Vedic Maths teacher training initiatives are being implemented through partners like Vedic Maths Forum, across multiple states and union territories, including Delhi, Assam, Gujarat, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Sikkim, Manipur, Karnataka, Haryana, etc.
The Indian Institute of Vedic Maths & Abacus (IIVA), for instance, in collaboration with the National Skill Development Corporation, has been running courses to train teachers in Vedic Maths.
“We’ve trained more than 10,000 teachers till date. Vedic Maths is gaining popularity amongst teachers and students alike and presents ample employment and business opportunities as well. You can open a franchise or build your own skill centre. We support by providing the entire training and business plan, technical backup and many services,” shares Puneet Ahuja, Director & COO, IIVA.
IIVA is also associated with more than 200 schools across India and has coached one lakh students so far. Learning Vedic Maths has helped students overcome their fear of the subject.
It’s only a matter of time before Vedic Maths becomes a standard part of the curriculum across education boards nationwide. What was once dumbed down and disowned by the country’s own mathematicians is now shining and seeing its rightful position globally.
shares Tekriwal.
Meanwhile, this is just the beginning. Vedic Math is just one part of ancient Indian knowledge that is gaining traction and popularity, so much that there is a movement to integrate the “Indigenous Knowledge System” (IKS) as part of the mainstream education curriculum.
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The lead image at the top shows a session of Vedic Math in progress at a school. Students are reportedly finding the techniques simple to execute. It is also making the math subject less intimidating for them. (Photo credit: IIVA)
Kiran Yadav is a Delhi-based freelance journalist.
