A True Friend of Numbers1887 - 1920

Brief Introduction:Born : 22 December, 1887

Erode, PresidencyDied : 26 April, 1920 (aged 32)

Chetput, Madras, Madras PresidencyResidence : KumbakonamNationality : IndianAlma mater : Government Arts College

Pachaiyappa’s CollegeAcademic advisors : G.H. Hardy and J.E. LittlewoodKnown for : Landau – Ramanujan constant

Mock theta functions Ramanujan conjecture Ramanujan prime Ramanujan Soldner constant Ramanujan theta function Ramanujan’s sum Rogers – Ramanujan identities

Signature :

In 1887, in the town of KumbakonamA baby boy, Ramanujan, was born.His mom knew in her heart,From the stars she could chart,This was no ordinary mind.The boy grew and played,While the mother sat and prayed,Namagiri give us guidance and strength.With each passing year,It grew increasingly clearThis was no ordinary mind.The teachers at school,Didn’t know what to doWith this young man, so many years ahead.One gave him a math book by Carr –5000 equations to explore.For better or worse, a blessing may be a curse.He lost interest in everything but math.

Ramanujan's home on Sarangapani Street,

Kumbakonam.

Early Life:Ramanujan was born on 22 December 1887 in Erode, Madras Presidency, at the residence of his maternal grandparents.His father, K. Srinivasa Iyengar, worked as a clerk in a sari shop and hailed from the district of Thanjavur.His mother, Komalatammal, was a housewife and also sang at a local temple.They lived in Sarangapani Street in a traditional home in the town of Kumbakonam. The family home is now a museum.On 1 October 1892, Ramanujan was enrolled at the local school.In March 1894, he was moved to a Telugu medium school. After his maternal grandfather lost his job as a court official in Kanchipuram,Ramanujan and his mother moved back to Kumbakonam and he was enrolled in the Kangayan Primary School Since Ramanujan's father was at work most of the day, his mother took care of him as a child. He had a close relationship with her. From her, he learned about tradition and puranas. He learned to sing religious songs, to attend pujas at the temple and particular eating habits – all of which are part of Brahmin culture.At the Kangayan Primary School, Ramanujan performed well. Just before the age of 10, in November 1897, he passed his primary examinations in English, Tamil, geography and arithmetic. With his scores, he stood first in the district.That year, Ramanujan entered Higher Secondary School where he encountered formal mathematics for the first time.By 11, he had exhausted the mathematical knowledge of two college students who were lodgers at his home. He was later lent a book on advanced trigonometry written by S. L. Loney. He completely mastered this book by the age of 13 and discovered sophisticated theorems on his own. By 14, he was receiving merit certificates and academic awards which continued throughout his school career .

His notebooks filled with formulasthat no one had conceived;but his college courses suffered,so he was asked to leave.His mother arranged him a marriageTo nine-year old Janaki.Now he had to beg for a job to feed his new family.Boarded a train bound for MadrasLeaving his family, his new wife, far behind.Showed his notebook to Inida’s brightestHoping to find, at last, another brilliant mind.Someone who’d understand… his math…The math was too far above themAnd so his spirits sank.They had no way to determine was he a genius or a crank?And so he sent out lettersTo those who might understandTwas Hardy who finally recognizedThe brilliance of this man.He’d found someone to understand… his math…Boarded a ship, bound for CambridgeLeaving his country, his people, so far behind.Thus began math’s most famous collaboration,Between these two extraordinary minds.

Adulthood in India

Attention from mathematiciansRamanujan received a scholarship to study at Government College in Kumbakonam, but lost it when he failed his non-mathematical coursework. He joined another college to pursue independent mathematical research, working as a clerk in the Accountant-General's office at the Madras Port Trust Office to support himself. In 1912–1913, he sent samples of his theorems to three academics at the University of Cambridge. G. H. Hardy, recognizing the brilliance of his work, invited Ramanujan to visit and work with him at Cambridge. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society and a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. Srinivasa died of illness, malnutrition, and possibly liver infection in 1920 at the age of 32.

During his short lifetime, Ramanujan independently compiled nearly 3900 results (mostly identities and equations).Most of his claims have now been proven correct, although a small number of these results were actually false and some were already known.He stated results that were both original and highly unconventional, such as the Ramanujan prime and the Ramanujan theta function, and these have inspired a vast amount of further research. However, the mathematical mainstream has been rather slow in absorbing some of his major discoveries. The Ramanujan Journal, an international publication, was launched to publish work in all areas of mathematics influenced by his work.

His works: an interesting example

G. H. Hardy The Guide

In December 2011, in recognition of his contribution to mathematics, the Government of India declared that Ramanujan's birthday (22 December) should be celebrated every year as National Mathematics Day, and also declared 2012 the National Mathematical Year

A

Project

Made by

ANUJA GUPTA

And

JYOTI RAWAT

Of

VII C

KV OFD Raipur

Dehradun

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSWe are thankful to• Wikipedia•Our learned Sir Arun Kumar•The Principal, KV, OFD Raipur Dehradun