Mathematical Contribution of First Nepali Women Mathematician Chandrakala Devi Dhananjaya
Date
2015
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Mathematics Education
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.
Description
Keywords
Mathematical Contribution, Women mathematician, Shishubodha tarangani, Learning mathematics