Remembering the Great Mathematician on the International Mathematics Day
Srinivasa Ramanujan the Fellow of Royal Society (22 December 1887 - 26 April 1920) turned into an Indian Mathematician and was a legendary mathematician whose contribution to the field led to the resolution of many unsolved theorems.
History of Srinivasa Ramanujan
National Mathematics Day is marked to recognize and celebrate the works of Srinivasa Ramanujan. You will be shocked to know that Srinivasa never had any formal degree in Mathematics. But he has contributed a lot in this field leading to significant growth of mathematics in India especially. He went to London and joined Trinity College to pursue education. Srinivasa was joined the college just one month before world war -1 broke out. He was referred to Professor GH Hardy by a colleague. 1916 and 1917 were the year that brought light to his life as he was awarded the Bachelor of Science degree and elected to the London Mathematical Society respectively. For his research on Elliptic Functions and the theory of numbers, he made it to the Royal Society as a fellow in 1918. At the age of 32 in 1920, he passed away. Before his death, he returned to India in 1919 because of poor health.
The realities about Srinivasa Ramanujan
At the age of 13, Ramanujan used to solve Loney’s Trigonometry exercises. And to amaze, he used to solve the exercises without any help. He was a genius in mathematics but failed to get a degree because he didn't qualify for the exams in other subjects. Ramanujan was honored as the Fellow of the Royal Society in 1918. He was the second Indian who made it to the Royal Society
Importance of National Mathematics Day:
Ramanujan was a self-taught mathematician and is considered one of the greatest Indian mathematicians of all time. Former Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh in 2012 announced that December 22 will be celebrated as National Mathematics Day to mark the birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan. "A genius like Ramanujan would shine bright even in the most adverse of circumstances, but we should be geared to encourage and nurture good talent which may not be of the same caliber as that of Ramanujan," Singh said during his speech at a function to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Ramanujan.
The Celebration of National Mathematics Day
National Mathematics Day is celebrated in various schools, colleges, universities, and educational institutions in India. Even the International Society of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) and India had agreed to work together to spread mathematics learning and understanding. Along with this, various steps were taken to educate the students in mathematics and spread knowledge to students and learners all over the world. NASI (The National Academy of Science India) is the oldest science academy situated in Allahabad. To celebrate National Mathematics Day, NASI conducts a workshop on applications of Mathematics and Ramanujan. The workshop is attended by popular lecturers and experts in the field of mathematics from across the nation. Speakers at the country and world levels discuss Srinivasa Ramanujan's contribution to mathematics. The two days workshop on the topic 'History of Indian Maths before 16th Century' was organized during 30-31 December 2019 at the NASI headquarters at Prayagraj.
A Film That Looks Into The Inspiring life of Srinivasa Ramanujan:- 'The Man Who Knew Infinity'
The brilliant mathematician inspired the field of mathematics and many students across India. If you don’t know much about him, you can watch his incredible story of success from the comfort of your own home. Consider watching ‘The Man Who Knew Infinity’ starring Dev Patel. It’s a great biopic of Ramanujan’s inspiring journey. A Film That Looks Into The Inspiring Life Of A Genius From A Small South Indian Town. The Man Who Knew Infinity has been written and directed by Matthew Brown based on a 1991 book by Robert Kanigel. This heart-affecting bio-drama stands shoulder-to-shoulder with other top-drawer films about mathematicians and theoretical physicists — A Beautiful Mind, Proof, and The Theory of Everything. While many in the audience may not understand the talk about infinite series, prime numbers, and partitions, they will sense in their bones the passion and the thrills that accompany Ramanujan's math discoveries and triumphs.
