To:  

The Honourable Prime Minister of India,  

Ministry of External Affairs,  

Ministry of Education,  

Survey of India,  

Geographical Naming Authorities of India,  

 

We, the undersigned citizens of India, respectfully submit this petition to urge the Government of India to take the necessary steps to rename 'Mount Everest' as 'Sikdar शिखर' within India, in honour of the Indian mathematician and surveyor Radhanath Sikdar, who was the first person to measure its height.

Background:

In 1852, as part of the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India, Radhanath Sikdar, a brilliant Bengali mathematician, used his expertise to calculate the height of Shikhar XV (later named Mount Everest). He determined that it was the tallest mountain in the world, standing at a staggering 29,000 feet. This remarkable scientific feat was a milestone in the field of geography, achieved entirely by an Indian mathematician using his intellect and ingenuity.

However, despite Sikdar’s groundbreaking contribution, Shikhar XV was renamed in 1865 to honor Sir George Everest, a British surveyor who had no direct involvement in the measurement of the Shikhar. Sir Everest himself had never even seen the mountain. This decision, made by Andrew Waugh, the Surveyor General of India at the time, completely overlooked Sikdar’s rightful place in history.

Why This Petition Matters:

Radhanath Sikdar’s extraordinary achievement has long been overshadowed, his name largely forgotten, and his contribution ignored in favour of a British colonial official. It is an unfortunate reflection of how many historical narratives were shaped during colonial rule—minimizing the contributions of Indian scientists and intellectuals in favour of their British counterparts.

As a nation that celebrates the achievements of its people, it is time for India to honour the legacy of Radhanath Sikdar and recognize his contribution to global geography by renaming Mount Everest as Sikdar Shikhar, at least within our country. This act will not only rectify a historical injustice but also serve as a symbol of India’s rich intellectual heritage and scientific contributions.

Our Request:

We, therefore, call upon the Government of India to take the following actions:

1. Rename Mount Everest as Sikdar Shikhar in India, to properly honour Radhanath Sikdar’s pioneering role in measuring the height of Shikhar XV and his contribution to global geography.

2. Ensure that Radhanath Sikdar’s name and achievements are prominently featured in India’s educational curriculum, especially in history, geography, and science textbooks.

3. Engage with international geographical bodies and stakeholders to advocate for global recognition of Radhanath Sikdar’s work in the field of geography, and to support any future efforts toward renaming the Shikhar internationally.

India’s scientific heritage is vast and deserves to be celebrated. By renaming Mount Everest as Sikdar Shikhar, we can ensure that Radhanath Sikdar’s name takes its rightful place in the annals of history and inspire future generations of Indian scientists, surveyors, and mathematicians.

We respectfully urge the Government of India to take this important step in honouring an overlooked hero of Indian science and global geography.

 

Sincerely,  

Delhi Association of Mathematics Teachers (DAMT) & countingwell