Ramanujan (born: 22 December 1887, died: 20 April 1920) was a great Indian mathematician. His contributions to mathematics are amazing. Srinivasa Ramanujan was very much interested in mathematics from school itself. Due to this interest in mathematics, he solved many problems and formulated new theories.
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Introduction to Mathematician Ramanujan
- Name Srinivasa Ramanujan
- Born 22 December 1887, Erode, Tamil Nadu
- Mata tendernammal
- Father Kappuswamy Srinivasa Iyengar
- Wife Janaki (married at the age of 10)
Contribution Mathematics
Cause of Fame Great Mathematician
Died April 20, 1920, Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu
Lifespan 32 Years
Srinivasa
Ramanujan was born on 22 December 1887 in Erode, present-day Tamil
Nadu. His father was Kappuswami Srinivasa Iyengar, who worked as a clerk
in a sari shop. His mother was Komalammal, who was a duodenum. His
family used to live in Kumbakonam town.
Ramanujan had smallpox
(smallpox) in December 1889 but he got cured after some time. After this
he went to Nanihal Kanchipuram (Madras/Chennai) with his mother.
When
Ramanujan was one and a half years old, a younger brother was born to
him. But, after three months this newborn baby died. His mother gave
birth to two more children in 1891 and 1894. After only a year of life,
both of those children also died.
Ramanujan spent most of his
time with his mother during his childhood. His father used to go on job,
due to which he had less time for family. Srinivas learned things from
his mother in rituals, Puranas, texts, singing of religious hymns, etc.
Ramanujan's Education
Ramanujan
was first admitted to a local school in Kanchipuram. However, he did
not like the schools in Madras and tried not to attend the school there.
At
the age of 11, he beat two college students in mathematics. He was then
given a book on Advanced Trigonometry written by a mathematics
professor named Loni.
At the age of 13, Srinivas got a deep hold on
the subject of mathematics. At the age of 14, he received many awards
and certificates.
Ramanujan used to complete his maths exams half
the time before the scheduled time. In 1902 he was taught to solve
quadratic equations. In the following years, he developed his own method
to solve the quadratic equation.
In 1903, he read a book, due to which he understood the basics of mathematics. The name of this book was -
"A Synopsis of Elementary Results in Pure and Applied Mathematics."
College
Ramanujan passed his graduation from Town Higer Secondary school in 1904 AD.
Seeing his excellence, the Headmaster of the school also rewarded him.
According to the head master, he was intelligent enough to deserve more
than the maximum marks.
For further studies, Srinivas joined the
Government Arts College, Kumbakonam. He had become very intelligent in
mathematics and for most of the time used to study only mathematics, due
to which he failed in other subjects.
He moved away from home in
August 1950 and stayed in Rajahmundry for a month. He joined
Pachaiyappa College, Madras. Even there, he always topped in
Mathematics, but could barely pass in other subjects like English,
Sanskrit etc.
He dropped out of college without a degree and
began his personal research in mathematics. At that time he did not have
any means of income, due to which he was working on his research even
in extreme poverty.
Personal Life
Srinivas was a shy and calm person.
Ramanujan
was married to a girl named Janaki on 14 July 1909. Ramanujan's age at
the time of marriage was about 21 years while Janaki's age was 10 years.
This marriage was arranged by Srinivas's mother. Janaki remained at her
maternal home for three years of marriage. In 1912 Janaki, her
mother-in-law and Srinivas all three started living in Madras.
After marriage, Ramanujan had hydrocele ketosis. His family could not afford to get his treatment. In January 1910, a doctor voluntarily performed his surgery without any money.
After recovering, Ramanujan went to find a job. To earn money, he went door-to-door in Madras looking for a clerk's job. He also taught children at Presidency College.
Help to Ramanujan
In 1910, Ramanujan met Ramaswamy Iyer, the founder of the Indian Mathematical Society. He showed his math work to Iyer, which impressed Iyer, and praised him a lot. Iyer sent Ramanujan to his math friends. They praised seeing the work of Srinivas.
Who sent it to Ramachandra Rao, the District Collector of Nellore and the Secretary of the Society of Mathematicians of India. Rao was also impressed by Ramanujan's work. But, they doubted his abilities. After a few tests, his doubts were cleared.
Rao provided job and financial assistance to Srinivas. Srinivas came back to Madras and from there resumed his research at Rao's expense.
Contact with British Mathematicians
In 1913, people like Narayan Iyer Ramachandra Rao tried to take Ramanujan's work to the British mathematician of the British. He sent letters to MJM Hill, HF Baker, EW Hobson but all three of them rejected Ramanujan's work.
After this, he did G.H. Wrote a letter to another British mathematician named Hardy and sent his papers. Hardy saw Ramanujan's work and was very much impressed. Such principles had never been propounded before. Hardy also showed Ramanujan's papers to other fellow mathematicians.
Hardy wrote a letter to Ramanujan to come to Cambridge. But Ramanujan refused to go to the foreign land.
The University of Madras offered Ramanujan a scholarship of Rs-75 per month for 2 years. From there, he began publishing his mathematical works and research papers.
Hardy made up with a professor named Neville and asked to bring Ramanujan to England. On being asked this time, Ramanujan gave his approval and agreed to go to England. Ramanujan reached England by ship on 17 March 1914.
Life of Ramanujan in Britain
Ramanujan reached London on 14 April 1914. There Neville was waiting for him with his car. From where he took Ramanujan to his home. After staying for 6 weeks, Srinivas left Neville's house and took his residence.
Ramanujan's fellow mathematicians, Hardy, and Littlewood checked his notes and papers. Both came to the conclusion that Srinivasa Ramanujan is indeed a very intelligent mathematician. Srinivasa spent about 5 years at Cambridge. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts by Research degree in March 1916. He was elected to the London Mathematical Society on 6 December 1917. He was elected as a member of the Royal Society on 2 May 1918. .
Death of Ramanujan
There were many health problems in Ramanujan's life. His health worsened when he was living in England. Being associated with the customs of the Hindu religion, they used to take vegetarian food only. It was very difficult to find such food in England. During the First World War, from 1914 to 1918, his health deteriorated due to the lack of a purely vegetarian diet.
Ramanujan returned to Kumbakonam from England in 1919. He died in 1920 in Kumbakonam, Madras due to poor health at the age of 32.
After the death of Srinivas, his widowed wife Janaki Devi was given a pension by Madras University. They also adopted a son named W. Narayan was
