Indian books teach students that ZERO is India’s contribution to mathematics.
Aryabhata, a 5th century Indian mathematician, first used zero in the decimal-based place-value system.
Zero's impact on mankind is almost similar to the invention of fire or the wheel.
“The invention of zero is the most important in the whole history of mathematics. The bulk of literature on mathematics could not have been written without zero,” notes Professor Laurent Lafforgue of the Institute of Advanced Scientific Studies, France.
WATCH VIDEO: Interview Vincent Icke - the significance of Zero
In 2016, Aryabhata's bronze bust was installed at the UNESCO office in Paris.
Indians all over the world celebrate this achievement.
Aryabahat's bronze bust at UNESCO, Paris Source: Aryabhata - Twitter
Hindi Cinema has immortalized India's contribution ZERO in a famous song.
WATCH VIDEO: "Jab zero diya mere bharat ne"
A team of researchers - ZerOrigIndia - wants to go deeper into this issue by asking: If Indians invented Zero? What made this invention possible in India?
The group's petition page says that their aim is to "attempt to settle once and for all the continuing controversy in the world, among mathematicians and laymen alike, as to when, where and why the zero digit was invented, and if possible to determine who the genius was that first thought of it."
WATCH VIDEO: Zerorigindia crowd funding
At a three-day event in New Delhi - 4-6 April 2017 - called Camp Zero several scholars will brainstorm on the origin, contribution and the concept of Zero.
This project will boost “the imagination and the image of India,” Robinder Sachdev, President of Imagindia Institute told the Washington Post.
Former Vice-Chancellor of the UNiversity of Delhi adds - “Finding the source of zero is a bit like finding the source of the Nile. Nobody has a clue about exactly when and how the zero came into play.”
Professor Singh is not associated with Project Zero. He is a member of the Indian Society for History of Mathematics.
The origin and invention of zero has been a debatable issue.
As other ancient cultures, such as the Mayans, also claim to have used the zero.
Camp Zero, with mathematicians, philosophers, astrophysicists, archaeologists and numismatists, hopes to settle the question of Zero or shunya once and for all.
Bollywood knows it is confusing to unravel the mystery of ZERO or as a famous song says "Ande ka funda."
WATCH VIDEO: "Ande ka funda"
