Capt Litty Chacko | Capt. Litty Chacko | TEDxThiruvananthapuram

Quick Overview

Capt. Litty Chacko details her extensive research into the Kerala School of Mathematics, emphasizing that their sophisticated mathematical, astronomical, and linguistic concepts—including the development of a mathematical formula for celestial movements—predate Western science and warrant greater recognition and preservation efforts, particularly through digitization.

Key Points: Litty Chacko is researching the 14th-century Kerala School of Mathematics, which developed sophisticated concepts that predate Western science. The school developed a mathematical formula for calculating celestial movements (planets and Moon) using trigonometry (sine/cosine series) centuries before similar concepts appeared in Europe. The speaker argues against the common perception that India only adopted scientific methods from the West, citing the mathematical rigor and advanced techniques used by figures like Madhava and the development of a 'Mathematical Tradition'. Chacko highlights the importance of preserving ancient manuscripts (like those written on palm leaves) through digitization, noting that physical documents face decay and mold. She mentions her own work, including designing a course on Malayalam and Manuscript Management, and successfully getting her research work recognized by UGC. The presentation references specific historical figures like Madhava, Jyerēkhō, Francis Bacon, and his work on 'Novum Organum' and 'The Golden Road' as context for understanding the historical scientific exchange. The ultimate goal of the research is to elevate the status of this indigenous knowledge system, which she suggests is often overlooked due to colonial biases.

Context: The video features a TEDx talk by Capt. Litty Chacko, identified as a Research Scholar on the 14th-century Kerala School of Mathematics. She addresses the audience at TEDxThiruvananthapuram ('Local Mission, Global Vision') to advocate for the recognition and preservation of the profound scientific and mathematical contributions made by this ancient Indian school, arguing that their work often surpasses or predates equivalent Western scientific advancements.