Unknown Facts about Mount Everest | The Great Mathematician Radhanath Sikdar
A Bengali computer measured this height whose name was Radhanath Sikdar. This measurement was taken without climbing! Who was he? And How did he pull off this great feat? We will answer questions like this in this article.
Radhanath Sikdar was born in 1813 in Bengal. Due to financial constraints, he studied at a village school. On the basis of his brilliant mind he earned a scholarship. In 1824, He enrolled in Hindu College of Calcutta. This college is now well known as Presidency college.
In 1830 he started taking lessons from the renowned mathematician John Tytler. John Tytler considered Radhanath to be a genius. He also recommended him to George Everest. Computers and calculators had not been invented in the 19th century. In those times a person who would do complex calculations using his brains was known as a computer.
On 19th December 1831, Radhanath was selected for the project of George Everest known as GTS (The Great Trigonometrical Survey of India). Radhanath was only 19 years old when he was paid 30 rupees per month to work in the post of a computer. After working for years on the GTS project, Radhanath was promoted as the chief computer considering his brilliant mind.
He was also appointed as the superintendent of the Meteorological Department. After George Everest retired, he was replaced by Colonel Andrew Scott Waugh. Andrew asked Radhanath to measure the heights of mountain peaks. It was a challenging task for Radhanath. To measure the heights of mountain peaks, genius Radhanath used simple geometric ideas. He also used a gigantic telescope like theodolite. Today a person can carry Theodolite in his bags but back in those days, a Theodolite weighed almost 1000 pounds, that is 450 kilos! It would take the strength of at least 12 mens to lift it. Using this theodolite, Radhanath measured peak 15 height by collecting data from six different locations.
Interesting Facts about Mount Everest | Mind-blowing facts about Mount Everest
Back then, the entry was banned from certain areas surrounding peak 15. Every survey site was more than 100 kilometers away from the mountain peak. The average height was measured from Mirzapur, Jarol, Janjipat, Landania, Harpur and Minai. Towers were erected at the survey site. With the help of thode towers peak 15's triangulation started by measuring the height of the peak from the sea level. Many scientists, historians, experts have analysed Radhanath's extraordinary and unique method in the following manner.
For example, consider two locations A and B. The distance between these two locations was already known. To find out angle, Radhanath first went to location A. He pointed the theodolite towards the peak 15 and noted down the reading. Then he rotated the theodolite towards location B and noted down that reading also. In this manner he recorded the angle A correctly. Then he went to location B and repeated the process at B also. That's why he got angle B also. After noting down the distance between the two locations and measurement of two angles A and B, he used triangulation and trigonometry to measure the height of the peak.
He collected the data and for the next 4 years, he used the method of minimum squares, method of averages, trigonometric calculations and also used many of his own methods until one morning in 1852. Radhanath ran into the colonel's room and told him excitedly, "lSir I have discovered the highest mountain in the world." Peak 15 measured by Radhanath was 29,000 feet. This disto left Kanchenjunga Second, which was until then the highest peak. Mount Kanchenjunga was 28,169 feet. After comparing it to all other peaks Radhanath learned that peak 15 is the highest peak in the world.
Interesting Facts about Mount Everest | Mind-blowing facts about Mount Everest
Sikdar measured peak 15 in 1852. But it took Waugh four years to confirm his findings. In the end, considering all the experts Waugh added two feet to Radhanath's Calculations and gave a stamp of approval on his findings at 29,002 feet. He declared the result in 1856 to the world. Colonel Waugh considered George Everest as his mentor and named Peak 15 after him as Mount Everest though he had never seen it! If all things didn't happen then that peak 15 would never have been known as mount Everest.
Radhanath had worked hard to discover it. The British never gave Radhanath the credit for this great accomplishment. In one of the British Survey manual dated 1891, it was mentioned that Radhanath Sikdar had written it's technical and mathematical chapters. This manual helped other surveyors a lot.
In 1864, Sikdar was awarded membership into the Philosophical Society of Germany for his unique contribution. He was the first Indian to get this honour. Radhanath died in May 1870. His name stopped being published in the subsequent editions of survey manuals.
Later on writers, historians and scientists also tried to find out the connection between mount Everest and Sikdar. They also published lots of articles about him. After the 96 years of his history in 1948 his name was given to the small road of Chandan Nagar. There is one statue of Radhanath installed there.
In 2004, the government of India issued a postal stamp in the honor of Radhanath Sikdar. Today our science has progressed by leaps and bounds in 21 st century. We also landed on Mars. I think Radhanath has a major contribution in mathematics so we must salute their work!
Unknown Facts about Mount Everest | The Great Mathematician Radhanath Sikdar
People also ask
Who is the youngest person to climb Everest?
Jordan Romero (born July 12, 1996) is an American mountain climber who was 13 years old when he reached the summit of Mount Everest.
Is Mt. Everest a volcano?
Answer and Explanation: Mount Everest is not an active volcano. It is not a volcano but a folded mountain formed at the point of contact between the Indian and Eurasian plates. Mount Everest is the highest point on earth and it is found in the Himalayas mountain range.
Who named Mt. Everest?
29B, paragraph 9). The Royal Geographic Society subsequently pronounced the official name "Mount Everest" in 1865 based on the recommendation of Andrew Waugh, the British Surveyor General of India. Sir George Everest was Waugh's predecessor in the post of Surveyor General.
Can I climb Mount Everest for free?
All foreign climbers are required to obtain an $11,000 permit that allows a mountaineer to climb Everest. Those caught climbing without a permit face a fine of twice the fee they were trying to evade. Fees are less for other mountains.
Who Is Sleeping Beauty on Everest?
Francys Arsentiev, not an experienced climber, would tragically become known as Sleeping Beauty on Mount Everest following her tragic death in 1998. Arsentiev and her husband Sergei, a skilled and experienced climber, both attempted to tame Everest without the help of suppemental oxygen
Who is the oldest person to climb Mt. Everest?
Yuichiro Miura - An 80-year-old Japanese mountaineer has become the oldest person to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Despite a history of heart problems, Yuichiro Miura, who climbed Everest when he was 70 and then again at 75, reached the peak early on Thursday morning.
Related searches
- unknown facts about mount everest
- what are facts about mount everest
- an interesting fact about mount everest
- 10 interesting facts about mount everest
- 3 interesting facts about mount everest
- what are some facts about mount everest
- five interesting facts about mount everest
- 5 interesting facts about mount everest
- 15 interesting facts about mount everest
- interesting facts about mount everest in hindi