A mathematical poetry book from Nepal

Abstract

The Rana regime (1846–1951) in Nepal is widely known for its lack of support for public education and its notorious opposition to women's rights. Near the end of that regime, a mathematical textbook composed in the form of poetic verses was published in the Nepali language, purportedly written by a female author. This article explores the provenance, presentation style, authorship mystery, and unique mathematical content of this book. Furthermore, we explore how mathematical problems may reveal socio-cultural aspects of a country, and how original historical sources such as the one examined in this paper can be useful in the teaching and learning of mathematics today.