Srinivasa Ramanujan was one of the most extraordinary mathematicians in world history. He was born on 22 December 1887 in Erode, in the Madras Presidency (present-day Tamil Nadu), India. Coming from a modest Brahmin family, Ramanujan showed an exceptional talent for mathematics from an early age, even though he had limited access to formal education.

During his school years, Ramanujan became deeply fascinated with numbers and mathematical patterns. He mastered advanced mathematical concepts on his own by studying old textbooks. However, his obsession with mathematics led him to neglect other subjects, which resulted in academic failure and financial difficulties. Despite these hardships, Ramanujan continued his independent research and filled notebooks with original formulas and theorems.

In 1913, Ramanujan took a bold step by writing a letter to the famous British mathematician G. H. Hardy at Cambridge University. The letter contained numerous original mathematical results that immediately caught Hardy’s attention. Recognizing Ramanujan’s extraordinary genius, Hardy invited him to England in 1914. At Cambridge, Ramanujan produced remarkable work in number theory, infinite series, partitions, and continued fractions.

Ramanujan’s contributions earned him international recognition. In 1918, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, becoming one of the youngest and the first Indian mathematician to receive this honor. He was also elected a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.

Unfortunately, the cold climate, strict vegetarian diet, and intense work schedule severely affected Ramanujan’s health. He returned to India in 1919 and passed away on 26 April 1920, at the age of only 32. Although his life was short, his mathematical discoveries continue to influence modern science and technology.

Today, Srinivasa Ramanujan is remembered as a symbol of natural genius and perseverance. His birthday, 22 December, is celebrated in India as National Mathematics Day, honoring his lasting legacy in the history of mathematics.

Srinivasa Ramanujan was a legendary Indian Mathemtics Day