Mathematical Contribution of First Nepali Women Mathematician Chandrakala Devi Dhananjaya

Abstract

The objective of the study was to expose the biography of Chandrakala Devi Dhananjaya(1915-2002) and her contributions in Nepalese Mathematics and characterize her book ShishubodhaTarangini. Furthermore, the researcher intent to explore the mathematics practiced around 1933A.D. in Nepal. To achieve the objective of this study, the researcher conducted within qualitative paradigm and design of the study was historical type based on document analysis and biographical study. The primary and secondary source of the data consisting of the study of profiles, consulting with the resource persons and study of related journals, books etc are used as tools of data collection for this study. Researcher used in-depth interview with resource persons for the biography of Chandrakala Devi Dhananjaya and snowball sampling was used. In the introductory part, Chandrakala's biography is described to point out some of the formative instances in the creation of one of the important mathematicians of the first half of the nineteenth century in the context of Nepal. Finding of the study shows thatbymeans of publishing the book Shishubodh Tarangini, Chandrakala Devi Dhananjaya had played the great role in the development of mathematics.She was inspired with the educational environment in her family.The book Shishubodha Tarangini is no more in practice at present days, however, the content of the book are still being practiced in a reformed manner. Moreover,ShishubodhaTarangini was mainly based on the practical mathematics.Chandrakala focused on arithmetic and mensuration but cannot see a problem of geometry.In Shishubodha Tarangini she also expressed inductive approach as a pedagogical view for teaching learning mathematics.