Bharat has been home to many mathematical geniuses, from Aryabhata and Varahamihira to Srinivasa Ramanujan. We shall now explore the life of mathematical genius Srinavasa Ramanujan.
Introduction
Bharatiya civilization dates back thousands of years and has long held the reputation of giving the world some of the most advanced discoveries at a time when much of the world was still discovering the meaning of civilization itself. In keeping with that tradition, Bharatiya scholars have etched their names in history, and their extraordinary genius deserves to be widely celebrated. It is indeed a matter of pride that we belong to a country and civilization that has contributed path-breaking discoveries in almost every field—education, literature, linguistics, grammar, astronomy, astrology, science, and mathematics.
Life journey of Srinivasa Ramanujan
On 22 December 1887, K. Srinivasa Iyengar and Komalatammal were blessed with a son who would grow up to become a mathematical marvel. From a young age, Ramanujan’s inclination towards mathematics was evident—he spent much of his time solving mathematical problems in Mandir mandapas rather than attending regular school classes. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he spent more time outside school than within it. It is said that when he could not solve a mathematical problem, he would seek its solution in his dreams. His passion for mathematics was so profound that he failed in other subjects.
An interesting instance that highlights his deep attachment to mathematics is when his classmate Sarangapani once scored higher marks than him in the subject—Ramanujan stopped speaking to him! While it may sound childish, it also reflects his intense love for mathematics and his drive to always excel in it. By the age of 13, he was discovering sophisticated theorems independently and had developed the habit of recording his findings. Since paper was a precious commodity, he would work out derivations on a slate and note only the important results and summaries in his notebooks.
In 1909, Ramanujan married Janakiammal. With the added responsibility of family, he began searching for employment to support them. During this search, he met V. Ramaswamy Aiyer, the founder of the Indian Mathematical Society. Aiyer, who worked in the revenue department where Ramanujan sought a job, was astonished by the contents of Ramanujan’s notebooks. Recognizing the brilliance of the young man, Aiyer did not want to stifle his genius and introduced him to his mathematician friends in Madras. On 1 March 1912, Ramanujan secured a job in the office of the Chief Accountant of the Madras Port Trust. His boss, Sir Francis Spring, and colleague Narayana Iyer encouraged him to pursue his mathematical interests.
In January 1913, Ramanujan wrote a letter to G. H. Hardy, a renowned English mathematician at Cambridge University. At first, Hardy recognized some of the formulae but suspected the rest of the work might be fraudulent due to their complexity. However, after carefully studying the nine-page manuscript sent by Ramanujan, Hardy was convinced of its authenticity. He realized that the theorems were too profound to be products of imagination alone. After much persuasion and with the blessings of his mother, Ramanujan left for Cambridge in 1914.
There, he achieved remarkable distinctions—becoming the second Bharatiya and one of the youngest ever to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. On 13 October 1918, he became the first Bharatiya to be elected a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. Unfortunately, his health deteriorated due to tuberculosis, forcing him to return to Kumbakonam in 1919. Tragically, he passed away at the young age of 32 in 1920.
His contributions
Ramanujan’s contributions to mathematics far outlived him and continued to intrigue scholars worldwide long after his death. Despite having almost no formal training in mathematics, he mastered the subject entirely on his own. A devout and religious Hindu, Ramanujan credited all his discoveries to his family deity, Devi Mahalakshmi of Namagiri. He once remarked, “An equation for me has no meaning unless it represents a thought of God.”
Today, his ancestral home on Sarangapani Sannidhi Street in Kumbakonam has been converted into a museum in his honour. His birth anniversary, 22 December, is celebrated across Bharat as National Mathematics Day. He was a genius who not only understood infinity but became one with it, leaving behind a legacy that the world of mathematics remains indebted to. It is noteworthy that countries like Sweden and Germany hold annual mathematical conferences to honour this Bharatiya prodigy.
We, as Bharatiyas, can take immense pride in knowing that centuries after Aryabhatta and Varahamihira, it is Ramanujan and his timeless theories that continue to inspire and lead the world of mathematics.
(Featured Image Source: Wikipedia)
