Researcher in Indian Astronomy

Dr.S.Balachandra Rao has been researching in Indian Astronomy under successive research projects sponsored by the National Commission for History of Science (INSA), New Delhi since 1993. He is also a member of the Research Advisory Council for History of science and also the editorial board of the Indian Journal of History of Science, INSA.

He has authored numerous books on astronomy and mathematics in English and Kannada. The following lists some of the books.
  • Indian Astronomy - A Primer, Gandhi Center, 2008  
    This is the first book that one should read in order to familiarize onself with Indian astronomy
  • Eclipses in Indian Astronomy,  Gandhi Center, 2008    
    This book has an interesting chapter on determining the date of Mahabharatha apart from covering the methods for computing eclipses, including improved siddhantic procedures.
  • Transits And Occultations in Indian Astronomy, Gandhi Center, 2009    
    This book is a sequel to the eclipses book dealing with transits. It also has interesting accounts of modern Indian astronomers
  • Indian Mathematics And Astronomy, Gandhi Center, 2004      
    This is a "must read and have a copy" book. It introduces contributions in mathematics and astronomy from India. 
  • Astrology : Believe It Or Not?, Navakarnataka Publications, 2000    
    For all the believers of astronomy, this book is a must. It is an eye opener which analyzes astrology from a scientific point of view.
  • Tradition Science And Society, Gandhi Center, 2009
  • Indian Astronomy : An Introduction, Universities Press, Hyderabad, 2002 (Alternate link).      
    This book has computer programs for calculating all the algorithms discussed
  • Indian Mathematics And Astronomy: Some Landmarks, Gandhi Center, 2004
  • Ancient Indian Astronomy: Planetary Positions and Eclipses, B.R.Publishing Corp, Delhi, 2000 (Alternate link)
  • Differential Calculus (with programs), New Age International, New Delhi, 2005
  • Numerical Methods with programs (Alternate link), Universities Press, Hyderabad, 2004
  • Differential Equations with applications (with programs), Universities Press, Hyderabad, 2002

Apart from the ones listed above, there are other books as well - 
  • Aryabhata I and his astronomy, Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, Tirupati, 2003
  • Bhaskara I and his astronomy, Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, Tirupati, 2003  
  • Grahalaghavam of Ganesha Daivajna - English Exposition with Math Notes, Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi, 2005
  • Karanakutuhalam of Bhaskara II - English Translation with Math Notes.
This is a list of English books only. There are Kannada editions as well. Some of them are out of stock. So do check the alternate links.


He is a Hon. Director, Gandhi Centre of Science & Human Values, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bangalore. He is also Hon. Professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore. He retired as a Professor of Mathematics and Principal of National College, Basavanagudi, Bangalore. His doctorate was in the field of Fluid Mechanics.

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