Dear All, I wish to bring to your attention the publication of the Origin of the Number Zero in the Smithsonian Magazine in the December 2015 issue. Attached is the link to read the article:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/origin-number-zero-180953392/?no-ist The publication of the Origin of the Number Zero in this first-rated magazine is very important for us, Khmer, and for our nation. Until there is another finding predating the number zero inscribed in the K-127 stele, we can claim that the number Zero was invented by Khmer. We should be very proud of our ingenuity and I propose to our government to set a specific date to celebrate the invention of the number Zero every year to remind our people and the world of this great Khmer invention. Besides George Coedes who was the first person who discovered the K-127 stele and deciphered the date and the number Zero, Mr. Amir Aczel who had read about Coedes' discovery should also be hailed as a hero. If it were not for his dedication and pursuit of the truth, the world would have forgotten about this extremely important invention and the number Zero would still have been attributed to the work done by either the Arab or the Indian. As of now, we can claim without a shadow of a doubt that Khmer was the first who invented the number Zero. Another person that should be given credit and also hailed as a hero is Mr. HabTouch, the Director General of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. If it were not for Mr. Touch directing Mr. Aczel to look at the Angkor Conservation site and also giving him permission to enter the site, the K-127 stele may have been sitting among the piles of steles scattered in the area and still undiscovered to this date. It seems that fate has favored our nation to be recognized as the inventor of the number Zero, which could be argued as the most important invention in human history. Without the number Zero, the world would not have been able to progress as it is. The modern world cannot function without using the number Zero. The K-127 could have disappeared and/or changed hands many times. If it were not for the French to reclaim Siem Reap for us from Thailand, the Thais would have claimed that they were the inventors of the number Zero. The Khmer Rouge, with their stupidity and ignorance of anything of importance, could have destroyed the K-127 stele. Yet, this stele had beat all the odds as if it awaits to be rediscovered and to be reclaimed by its true owner, the Khmer. Thank You, Kenneth So Kenneth So Aryasatya (Sanskrit) Chattari Ariyasachchani (Pali) Chatuk Arei Sachak (Khmer) The Four Noble Truths (English) In Steps with Khmer Soul & Khmer Conscience -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Cambodia Discussion (CAMDISC) - www.cambodia.org" group. This is an unmoderated forum. Please refrain from using foul language. Thank you for your understanding. Peace among us and in Cambodia. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/camdisc Learn more - http://www.cambodia.org --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Cambodia Discussion (CAMDISC) - www.cambodia.org" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
