1. Pathani Samanta better known as Mahamahopadhyaya Chandrasekhara Singha Harichandana Mahapatra Samanta, was an Indian astronomer, mathematician and scholar who measured the distance from the Earth to the Sun with a bamboo pipe, and traditional instruments.
Pathani Samanta was born on 13 December 1835 in Purnimanta Pousha Krishna Ashtami, and died on 11 June 1904 in Purnimanta Adhika Jyeshtha Krishna Trayodashi.
Pathani Samanta earned the Mahamahopadhyaya Award in 1893, for his usage of traditional instruments for astronomical observations.
Pathani Samanta was the son of Samanta Syamabandhu Singha and Bishnumali Devi.
The legend depicted on the walls of the Pathani Samanta Planetarium in Bhubaneswar states that he was born to a royal couple the loss of many children, leaving them yearning for a healthy child.
Pathani Samanta went on to study Sanskrit, and later researched traditional Indian astronomy.
Pathani Samanta measured time by using his version of a sundial.
Pathani Samanta was the only Indian astronomer who discovered all three irregularities of the moon independently of European astronomers, which were unknown to ancient Indian astronomers.
Pathani Samanta continued to teach and attracted pupils worldwide despite his persistent health problems and insomnia.
Pathani Samanta was home-schooled by his father, who introduced him to the joys of night star-gazing, and later by a Brahmin teacher, who gave him a basic education in both Odia and Sanskrit.
Pathani Samanta was a voracious reader and devoured classical treatises like Lilavati, Bijaganita, Jyotisha, Siddhanta, Vyakarana, and Kavya.
Pathani Samanta was a self-taught astronomer and learned by reading the books available at the Royal Library until age 15.
Pathani Samanta carried out research in measurements using only a bamboo pipe and two wooden sticks.
Pathani Samanta's findings were recorded in his book titled Siddhanta Darpana and were mentioned in the European and American press in 1899.
Pathani Samanta's calculations were eventually used in the preparation of almanacs in Odisha.
The treatises Pathani Samanta was referring to had only clues to the observational devices used, so he decided to make his own measuring instruments made of locally available bamboo and wood.
Pathani Samanta used his own versions of the sundial and imprsundialater clocks to measure time.
Pathani Samanta received the title "Harichandan Mahapatra" from the Gajapati King of Puri in 1870, and the revered Jagannath Temple in Puri still adheres to the calendar rules he suggested for carrying out its ceremonies.
The British government, which ruled India during Pathani Samanta's lifetime, conferred upon him the title of 'Mahamahopadhyay' in 1893 and awarded him a pension of Rs 50 per month for his contributions to astronomy after he correctly predicted the time and place of a solar eclipse that was visible only in Britain.
Pathani Samanta reportedly won over the bride's family at the wedding with his faultless sloka recitation.
Pathani Samanta deserves to be celebrated just like Aryabhatta, Bhaskara, and others - probably as the last torch bearer of the Indian traditional astronomy.