EAM Jaishankar inaugurates ‘Shunya to Ananta’ exhibition at UN, highlights India’s global contribution to mathematics

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday inaugurated the exhibition “From Shunya to Ananta” at the United Nations headquarters in New York, highlighting India’s historic contribution to mathematics and its enduring influence on global scientific thought.

Addressing the exhibition, Jaishankar said the global spread of mathematics reflects the interconnectedness of civilizations, while noting that many foundational ideas originated in India. He emphasized that the history of scientific progress has long been viewed through a narrow geographical and historical lens, but changing geopolitical and economic realities are now paving the way for a broader cultural rebalancing as well.

In a post on X, EAM Jaishankar said, “The global diffusion of mathematics is a story of interconnectedness. But every supply chain of ideas has a starting point, often India.” He added that the exhibition serves as a reminder that mathematics is a universal language whose spread has benefitted humanity as a whole.

Jaishankar further noted that the United Nations, as the world’s foremost platform for international cooperation, can draw inspiration from the message of shared knowledge and collaboration represented by the exhibition.

The exhibition showcases India’s contributions to mathematics across centuries, tracing the journey from the concept of “Shunya” or zero to broader advancements that shaped global mathematical understanding.

India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Parvathaneni Harish, also welcomed the initiative and invited delegates and visitors to attend the exhibition.

In a post on X, Harish said it was an honour to host Jaishankar at the UN headquarters in New York. He informed that the “Shunya to Ananta” exhibition will remain open till May 15 at the Delegates Entrance of the United Nations headquarters and invited people to witness India’s contributions to what he described as the world’s “universal language.”

The exhibition is part of India’s broader efforts to showcase its civilisational heritage and intellectual legacy on global platforms, while promoting greater recognition of India’s role in the development of mathematics and scientific knowledge.