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**Eminent Scholar of Indian Astronomy and Mathematics, Balachandra Rao, Passes Away**

Bangalore, India – May 16, 2025 – The world of Indian astronomy and mathematics mourns the loss of Balachandra Rao, a renowned mathematician, astronomer, and historian of science, who passed away recently. Rao dedicated his life to meticulously researching and decoding India’s rich intellectual heritage, while simultaneously advocating for a scientific temper and challenging pseudoscientific claims.

Rao, with his unique training in mathematics and Sanskrit, was a leading expert in understanding and interpreting ancient Indian astronomical texts. His seminal works, “Indian Astronomy: Concepts and Procedures” and “Ancient Indian Astronomy: Planetary Positions and Eclipses,” are considered essential resources for anyone studying classical Indian astronomy. He taught mathematics at National College, Bangalore, for 35 years, later advising organizations like the National Commission for History of Science and the Indian Journal of History of Science. He authored over 30 books and numerous research papers.

His expertise extended to unraveling complex astronomical algorithms within ancient texts, explaining phenomena like solar and lunar eclipses, planetary transits, and occultations. He and Padmaja Venugopal published works explaining these phenomena. However, Rao was also deeply critical of the misuse and misrepresentation of India’s intellectual legacy. He actively challenged unfounded claims about “Vedic science,” distinguishing genuine knowledge from speculation in his book “Vedic Mathematics and Science in Vedas.”

A staunch advocate for reason, Rao’s influential works, “Tradition Science and Society” and “Astrology – Believe It or Not?”, promoted a rational perspective on tradition and modernity. His legacy lies in his rigorous scholarship, promoting truthful understanding over uncritical glorification. He is survived by his spouse, Anasuya Shiraly, and two sons, Kedar and Karthik.

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