For
a young batch of students at Bhubaneswar Genius Academy, mathematics is
no longer a fretting subject and solutions to arithmetic, algebra,
geometry or trigonometry problems are ready in a jiffy.

At
the Genius Academy more than 100 students have enrolled for a course in
vedic mathematics and are enjoying maths like never before.

Vedic
mathematics is an older, Indian system of calculation based on rules
and principles with which any mathematical problem can be solved.

Thousands of years ago, mathematicians authored theses and dissertations on mathematics. The system is based on 16 vedic sutras or aphorisms that are word formulae describing ways to solve a whole range of problems.

These 16 one-line formulae originally written in Sanskrit, enables one to solve long problems in a much quicker manner.

“It
is believed that vedic mathematics has its roots in Orissa. The 16
formulae from the vedas that we use today was written by Jagadguru
Shankaracharya Sri Bharati Tirthaji Maharaja of Govardhan Matha in
Puri,” said Sanjukta Sarangi, the director of the institute.

The
vedic practitioners opine that the method is more systematic, coherent
and unified than conventional ones. It’s a mental tool that encourages
development and use of intuition and innovation, while giving students
flexibility, fun and satisfaction.

Last
year, three students of the academy cracked the new system of
management tests (CAT) successfully and one of them got into the XLRI,
Jamshedpur, using the old system.

The board curriculum has a chapter on vedic mathematics, but lack of qualified teachers have so far hampered effective classes.

“Several
English and Oriya medium schools have expressed interest to start
special classes. We are planning to reach out to rural areas and start
centres there,” Sarangi added.