National Mathematics Day 2020: Remembering Srinivasa Ramanujan And Interesting Facts About The Genius

Srinivasa Ramanujan became popular worldwide for his extraordinary contributions to mathematical analysis, number theory, infinite series & continued fractions.

National Mathematics Day 2020: India observes National Mathematics Day every year on December 22, honouring the birth anniversary of mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan.  Ramanujan is a well renowned mathematician who has contributed immensely towards the subject. The legendary mathematician, who died at a young age, had already produced around 3500 mathematical formulae that scientists have still not been able to completely comprehend. Also Read: WBPSC Recruitment 2021: Online Application Process Begins From Dec 24; Check Important Dates, Age Limit, Vacancy He died at the age of just 32 from tuberculosis. The day is dedicated to the genius besides raising awareness among people about the importance of mathematics for the development of humanity. What are contributions of Srinivasa Ramanujan? Ramanujan became popular worldwide for his extraordinary contributions to mathematical analysis, number theory, infinite series & continued fractions. He not only compiled over 3900 mathematical results and equations along with discoveries named after him, his several theories in the field of mathematics opened up new vistas of research. A self-taught mathematician, he succeeded in making extraordinary contributions to the world of mathematics and still revered as one of the most influential mathematicians of his time. His made notable contributions include the hypergeometric series, the Riemann series, the elliptic integrals, the theory of divergent series, and the functional equations of the zeta function History of National Mathematics Day 2020 It was first observed in 2012 when former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh declared this day as National Mathematics Day on February 26, 2012, when he was visiting the Madras University. It was during the visit when the former PM celebrated his 125th birth anniversary and announced National Mathematics Day to honour Ramanujan's work in the field of mathematics. Little unknown facts about the Mathematic Genius Ramanujan was born on December 22, 1887, into a Tamil brahmin Iyenger family in Erode, Madras Presidency. He had developed interest in mathematics at a very young age, mastering trigonometry at the age of 12 and was eligible for a scholarship at the Government Arts College in Kumbakonam. He had enrolled in Madras’ Pachaiyappa College at the age of 14. In 1912, he picked up a job as a clerk in the Madras Port Trust where his mathematical knowledge was came to the fore because of a mathematician colleague. Hi co-worker then referred Ramanujan to Professor GH Hardy, Trinity College, Cambridge University. Ramanujan joined the Trinity College a few months before World War I began. In 1916, he received a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree. He got elected to the London Mathematical Society in 1917. He went to get elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society for his research on Elliptic Functions and theory of numbers. He also became the first Indian to be elected a Fellow of Trinity College. The renowned mathematician returned to India in 1919 and a year later, he breathed his last at the age of 32. Robert Kanigel authored a book about him named ‘The Man Who Knew Infinity’ in 2015.  A movie was also made with the same name where his character was portrayed by British-Indian actor Dev Patel.