Indian Inventions

1. The discovery of the concept of zero (0) was attributed to the Indians. They treated 0 just as we do now, as any other number.

2. The multi-barrel was created by Fathullah Shirazi an Indian engineer. He also created the auto-cannon.

3. Binary numbers was first found in the works of Pingala, an ancient Indian writer. Binary numbers is a number system that represents number values using two symbols.

4. The first bow drill was found in the Indus Valley Civilization. It was used to drill holes into hard substances just as drills are used today.

5. Buttons were also first found in the Indus Valley Civilization. They were made out of seashell’s and and had holes to attach a string through. It was actually used more as an ornament than as a fastener.

6. Calico, an woven textile, was first found in India. The textile was traded with Africans and eventually spread around to other countries. Calico was actually derived from the Indian city of Calcutta.

7. The game of chess was attributed to India as well as some other middle eastern countries. Middle Eastern countries would actually use chess as a form of higher education. Chess was eventually carried to N. Africa, Sicily and Spain.

8. Iron and mercury were discovered by Indian physicist, Jagdish Chandra Bose.

9. Corrosion resistant iron was created by Indians and was used in the Iron pillar of Delhi which withstood some 1,600 years without corrosion.

10. The cotton gin was first found in The Ajanta Caves in India and it was hand cranked, some were found that used water power.

11. The use of diamonds as a gemstone originated in India. Sanskrit texts describe the diamond trade. Also other texts talk about its durability, brilliance, and ability to scratch metal. Central India remained to be the major source of diamonds until they were discovered in Brazil.

12. Plastic surgery originated in India as a form of punishment. Surgeons would perform “surgery” to dismember/disfigure the miscreants body. These same surgeons went on to do dental surgery and cataract surgery.