Infinite Ramanujan

Infinite Ramanujan

Shri. Srinivasa Ramanujan

Born: 22 Dec 1887 in Erode, Tamil Nadu state, India
Died: 26 April 1920 in Madras, Tamil Nadu state, India

Shri. Ramanujan was one of the world’s greatest mathematical geniuses. Substantial contributions were made by him to the analytical theory of numbers, continued fractions, and infinite series, during the British Rule in India.

At the young age of 15 – Shri. Srinivasa Ramanujan obtained a book containing thousands of theorems, which was verified by him and he also developed his own ideas from the book. In 1903 he attended the University of Madras. He is an alumnus of Trinity College, and pursued his Bachelors from Cambridge University, in 1914.

He initially developed his own mathematical research: according to Hans Eysenck, “He tried to show his work to the leading professional mathematicians but failed because what he showed them was too novel, too unfamiliar, and additionally in unusual ways; they might not be bothered”. taking care of mathematicians who could understand his work better, he began a postal partnership with English mathematician G. H. Hardy, in 1913 at the University of Cambridge, England. Having a look at Ramanujan’s work as extraordinary, G. H. Hardy arranged a journey to Cambridge for him. Hardy commented in his notes that, Ramanujan had produced innovative new theorems, having some that “defeated Hardy completely; He had never seen anything like them before.

During Ramanujan’s short life, he independently assembled nearly 3,900 results. All his claims have now been proven correct.

Shri. Ramanujan became one of the youngest Fellows of the Royal Society and only the second Indian member too, he also became the first Indian to be elected a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. Hardy stated that a look was enough to prove that they are written only by a great mathematician with the very best talent while comparing Ramanujan to mathematical geniuses.

 The last and only letter he wrote to G.H.  Hardy in January 1920, four months before his demise, after his return contained only information about his latest work and no news about his shrinking health which mentions that he discovered very interesting functions recently which he calls `Mock’ theta-functions. With his letter, he also sent some examples … ”. Can we attempt to imagine the standard of Ramanujan’s mind, one which drove him to figure continuously while deathly ill? We substitute awe of his accomplishments; understanding is beyond us. Could we admire any mathematician whose whole life’s work was half what Ramanujan found within the ending year of his life”?

There is a British biographical drama film named “The Man Who Knew Infinity”  that is based on the book by Robert Kanigel. The film actor Dev Patel plays Srinivasa Ramanujan. In 2015 at the Toronto International Film Festival, the film had its world premiere as a gala presentation and was selected as the opening gala of the 2015 Zurich Film Festival. 

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