Albert Einstein, scientist "We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made.

"Henry David Thoreau, American Thinker & Author" Whenever I have read any part of the Vedas, I have felt that some unearthly and unknown light illuminated me.

• Mark Twain, American author "India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great-grandmother of tradition. Our most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only."