The Vedic Maths Forum India (VMFI) is up in arms about a retired American pharmacist copyrighting a method of mental multiplication.
The Vedic Maths Forum India (VMFI) is up in arms about a retired American pharmacist copyrighting a method of mental multiplication.
“There may not be anybody else in the world who knows how to do this but me,” Albert Clay, 75, who has registered his formula titled ‘How to Multiply Any Number by Any Number in Your Head’ in the US copyright office, was quoted as saying by The News and Observer, a newspaper in North Carolina.
But Gaurav Tekriwal, president, VMFI, was not amused by Clay’s claim when he tripped upon the story on the Internet. “I came across the story as I subscribe to Google alerts. I realised it was my duty to inform everybody about what had happened, take feedback and then get proactive about it,” he said.
Tekriwal, currently in South Africa, has launched a campaign on his blog vedicmathsindia.blogspot.com, sought legal assistance and set aside funds for the purpose.
“We only wake up when we feel threatened. Our government has done nothing to protect us from misuse of our heritage. Today, we are under threat from Clay who after 10 years can sue us because he has a copyright and can also demand royalties from us for teaching students ‘his’ method,” Tekriwal says.
Dhaval Bathia, proprietor, Genesis Education, which imparts training in Vedic maths, said, “When I heard the news, I was angry and laughing at the same time. Angry because it is a clear attempt to acquire something which is ours and laughing as I know he will not succeed. The lobby of Vedic mathematicians in India is united and aggressive. We will never allow his claim to stay.”
Copyright experts say Tekriwal may be fighting over a non-issue. “A copyright is a piece of prima facie evidence. For a copyright to be tested in court, a registration with the US copyright office doesn’t confirm it. I don’t know why there is a need to challenge it. Clay’s copyright will not have any implications, as we (in India) don’t necessarily recognise anything registered with the US copyright office,” said Ravi Kadam, advocate-general, Maharashtra.
Vedic mathematics became popular in India after a book by the same name by Jagadguru Swami Sri Bharati Krishna Tirthaji, the shank-aracharya of Govardhan Math, Puri, from 1925 until he passed away in 1960, was published posthumously. Methods similar to the ones described in the book have been known to other nations too.
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