Ramanujan: Stupendous Mathematician of India -Erakina

Whenever we talk about mathematics and its experts, there is some obvious name that strikes our minds. Pythagoras, Archimedes, Issac Newton, and other stupendous mathematicians have done great work in the field of mathematics. But when we talk about India, we should be proud of the brilliant Ramanujan, the great mathematician born in our country. His commendable work in the field of mathematics is a revolutionary contribution to the whole world. 

The fabrication of decimal systems, elliptical integrals, the Riemann series, etc. that are used to study by students and applicable even now are some excellent works of Ramanujan. Keep reading to know more about the extraordinary man. 

Passionate History of Ramanujan…

Srinivas Ramanujan was born on December 22, 1887, in Madras. He had a tough childhood. His father used to work as a simple clerk in a sari store. His mother was a homemaker. She also used to sing at a regional temple. He lost his three-month brother when he was one and half years old and left his family in suffering. 

His excellence was visible since his childhood. He got the best marks in his primary school in the whole district of Kumbakonam when he was only 10 years old. He was equally excellent in his higher secondary school. At the age of 11, He achieved more knowledge in mathematics than a usual college student. At the age of 15, he developed several methods on his own to solve various math difficulties. He was awarded the Ranganatha Rao prize for his excellent knowledge of mathematics in his higher secondary school.

These small achievements of Ramanujan highlighted that coming event cast their shadows before. After this, He went through many struggles to achieve the best mathematician title. 

The emergent but problematic career of Ramanujan…

He used to get sick all the time since his childhood. But he never made his sickness an excuse. R.Ramachandra Rao, the secretary of the Indian Mathematical Society provided him, the first financial help to pursue his research in the field of mathematics.

He is very first work was disclosed in the Journal of the Indian Mathematical Society in which he asked one question that nobody was able to solve. Later on, Ramanujan solved it by himself and published it again.

He got his first job at a salary of only Rs.20 at the Accountant General’s Office. Later on, Ramanujan, because of his terrific work, was called by Hardy to Cambridge and spent 5 years working with Hardy. He returned in 1919 and died at the age of 32 in 1920 due to his illness.

Success in the field of Mathematics…

He is one of greatest achievements was the discovery of infinite series for pie. He achieved 39,000 results in Mathematics. His outstanding work in the field of Mathematics includes the formation of:

• Infinite series of pie
• Ramanujan Sato Series
• Circle Method
• Mock theta functions
• Elliptic curves

There are more than the above-mentioned work of him which was incomplete and later on completed and proved by other mathematicians. He has indeed won one’s spurs when it comes to contributions in Mathematics. Hardy compared him with the great mathematicians Jacobi and Euler. His work is still saturating the modern fields of mathematics and physics.  

22 December- National Mathematics Day…

• The Indian Government acknowledged 22 December as the National Mathematics Day in the year 2011, on his 125th birthday.
• Later on, Manmohan Singh, the then prime minister of India acknowledged 2012 as the National Mathematics Year.

• The National Mathematics Day has been celebrated to acclaim the work of the great Ramanujan and his contributions in the field of mathematics. 

Thrilling facts about Ramanujan…

• Do you know that he had accumulated about 39,000 results in Mathematics? You can think on your own how many years of dedication and effort would be required to achieve such a considerable figure. Indeed, he was a genius.
• He was a failure too. Yes!! He failed to take admission to art college to pursue his degree. Then he went to another college where he again failed his art of fellow exam. He was excellent in mathematics but he faced problems in other subjects. But as everyone knows, failure is necessary for success. So, He decided to pursue his career as a researcher in mathematics that made him the Saint of Mathematics.
• He married only at the age of 10 to a girl named Janaki. But they had no children. After the death of Ramanujan, his wife adopted a child who later became the office holder of the State Bank of India.
• When at first, He was invited to Cambridge by Hardy, he refused the invitation because his mom was not prepared to send him foreign as it was against their Brahmin religion. But, great things take time. So, after some time, His mom had a dream where the goddess of Namagiri ordered her to send his son to foreign and not become the barrier in his son’s life so that he can achieve the objective of his life.
• Ramanujan was the second and the youngest one to be appointed a fellow of the Royal Society.

Hence, this was all about Ramanujan and his life. He achieved what he wanted to do in his life. His dedication and efforts are an inspiration to the young generation. We should remember him and praise the contribution of Ramanujan. Ramanujan made India proud through his deeds.

-by Aditi Jain (Content writer Intern)

 31-10-2023