Foundations of Astrophysics with NEP & IKS Perspectives by Dr. Preeti Pandey

Theoretical astrophysics has emerged as one of the most intellectually rich and rapidly advancing branches of modern science, offering profound insights into the structure, dynamics, and evolution of the universe. This book, Foundations of Astrophysics with NEP & IKS Perspectives, is conceived to bring conceptual coherence to diverse approaches by presenting astrophysics as an integrated discipline grounded in physical principles, mathematical rigor and philosophical understanding. A distinctive feature of this work is its integration of contemporary astrophysical theory with perspectives drawn from Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Ancient Indian astronomical traditions developed by scholars such as Aryabhata, Varāhamihira, Brahmagupta, and Bhāskara II demonstrate a deep engagement with celestial motion, cyclic cosmology and mathematical abstraction. This book adopts an inclusive framework that respects scientific rigor while recognizing the value of indigenous intellectual heritage in shaping holistic scientific education. The text places particular emphasis on the theoretical foundations of motion, gravitation, space-time, and large-scale cosmic structure. Topics such as curved space-time, gravitational redshift, N-body dynamics, thermodynamical limits of large systems and nonlinear collective behavior are discussed to illustrate how mathematical models approximate physical reality. This book is intended for undergraduate and postgraduate students, research scholars and educators seeking a foundational yet forward-looking perspective on theoretical astrophysics. By bridging modern scientific frameworks with IKS insights and NEP-aligned educational goals, the authors hope to inspire a deeper appreciation of the universe as a coherent, dynamic system understood through the integration of theory, observation and computation. Read more