3. MUSLIM CONTRIBUTION TO SCIENCE

~ 126 ~ English entitled, ‘The Story of Zero,’ which has been written for the general reader as well as for children by Dilip M. Salwai. Before this invention there existed no simple method of representing large figures. According to one method, certain words were fixed for particular figures like Sahasara for 1,000, Aayota for 10,000, Laksha for 100,000, and Koti for 1,000,000. The invention of zero revolutionized the science of mathematics, for now it became extremely easy to denote large figures. Brahma Gupta (598-660), who was born in Multan, was the first notable person to work out a method of using the zero. However his method had some shortcomings. Later on Bhaskar (1114-1185), who was born in Bijapur, wrote a book in Sanskrit called Lailawati, in which he described the zero concept in simpler and more understandable terms. R. K. Murthi, in his review of this book, writes: “It boosts our sense of national pride to note that the zero was conceived of in India. “58