India's Zero Gave Europe Its Rise

India, the most populous nation on Earth, deserves greater attention, argues Carl Rudbeck in Svenska Dagbladet. Despite its 5,000-year history and significant cultural contributions, the country remains largely unknown to many.

Rudbeck contrasts India's relative obscurity with the abundance of self-proclaimed experts on China. He suggests several reasons for this disparity, including language barriers. Knowledge of Sanskrit, Pali, or Prakrit, he notes, rarely leads to the kind of public platforms and think tanks that knowledge of Chinese might.

Historically, India was a vibrant cultural and intellectual hub during the High Middle Ages, giving rise to new religions and, crucially, the invention of the number zero. This innovation, Rudbeck emphasizes, is particularly "typically Indian."

While China is a recognized global power across most domains, India is not yet in the same position, though it is making significant progress. The article mentions William Dalrymple as someone who has long advocated for India's rise.