Ramanujan

Srinivasa Ramanujan: Early Life

Srinivasa Ramanujan was born on December 22, 1887, in Erode, Madras Presidency (now in Tamil Nadu, India), was a self-taught mathematical prodigy. Despite a tragically life, his extraordinary achievements in mathematics left a lasting impact on the world. Born into a poor Brahmin family, Ramanujan’s early life was marked by challenges. He faced financial hardship and struggled in conventional schooling. He showed little interest in subjects other than mathematics. However, within the realm of numbers, his brilliance shone through. He devoured any mathematical text he could find, even creating his own theorems and formulas inspired by his dreams and visions.

Fascination with Numbers

Ramanujan’s was fascinated with numbers and had an innate mathematical intuition even from the very young age. Born into a modest Brahmin family, he displayed an early aptitude for mathematics. He often explored advanced topics with an intuitive understanding. His formal education was disrupted because of financial challenges. At the age of 16, Ramanujan independently discovered complex mathematical theorems and methods, showcasing an extraordinary depth of mathematical insight. His talent, though unrecognized locally, would soon attract the attention of the global mathematical community.

A Leap of Faith: Seeking Recognition

Ramanujan had no formal training, but he believed his work was important. In 1911, he wrote to the famous English mathematician G.H. Hardy, sending him a letter with his findings. Hardy, initially skeptical, was astonished by the depth and originality of Ramanujan’s ideas. Appalled by the poverty and substandard education in which this extraordinary talent was toiling, Hardy brought Ramanujan to Cambridge University in 1914.

Navigating Cultural Clashes

Ramanujan faced both opportunities and challenges while in England. He collaborated with Hardy and other mathematicians to refine his work and publish his discoveries. He also struggled with cultural and social barriers, including loneliness and adjusting to a new lifestyle.

A Legacy of Mathematical Marvels

Ramanujan was a revolutionary mathematician in the domain number theory. His findings in partitions, elliptic functions and continued fractions were revolutionary. Finding the balance between intuition and rigor was another hallmark of his work. His Ramanujan prime and its modular function are still the subject of active study by mathematicians, and his ideas live on in many fields of mathematics and physics.

Beyond the Theorems

Even after all this success, Ramanujan was still a humble, devout man. He described his insights as being woven into his faith and experience with the divine. He led a relatively simple life, focused mostly on his research and family. His own formal education was limited, but he had a piercing intellect and a profound knowledge of philosophy and literature.

Death and Enduring Legacy

While in England, Ramanujan became ill with tuberculosis in 1917. He recovered quickly, returned to India in 1919, and died within a year. However, the cause of death was actually hepatic amoebiasis. His untimely death in 1920 at the age of only 32 did not silence the legacy which continues to inspire generations of mathematicians and scientific minds. His work has been translated into many languages, his story adapted into films.