National Mathematics Day is celebrated in India on December 22 to mark the birth anniversary of the pioneer of mathematics, Srinivas Ramanujan. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced the day in February 26, 2012. He also announced the year 2012 as the National Mathematics Year. Celebration all across the country are seen.

Ramanujan’s achievements are known to the entire world. It was because of him that the field of mathematics developed as much as it has. From his magic number 1729, to his research works and discoveries, Srinivas Ramanujan’s intellectual brilliance is not hidden from the world.

On the occasion of Ramanujan’s birth anniversary, here are some lesser-known facts about the great Indian mathematician and his personal life:

His roots

Srinivas Ramanujan was born in Erode, then Mardras Presidency. He lived through British Raj in India. His father was a clerk and his mother was a housewife. His family was Tamil Brahmin Iyengar.

The loss he went through

When he was almost two years old, he lost his first brother Sadagopan. He lost two other siblings after that. He was also hit by smallpox in December, 1889. Fortunately, he managed to recover unlike the other 4,000 people who lost their lives.

His relationship with his mother

Ramanujan’s mother took care of him while his father used to go for work. They had a very close bond. From her, he learned about tradition and puranas.

He was a child prodigy

When he was merely 10, he aced all of his examinations with the best score. After encountering formal mathematics, he learned college-level mathematics from two students who lived nearby. He mastered advanced trigonometry by the age of 13 and started formulating theorems of his own. By 14, certificates of merit and academic awards became normal for him. This went on for his entire school life. Surprisingly, he never received proper training in pure mathematics.

What awakened his genius?

When he was 16, he borrowed a book from his friend called A Sypnosis of Elementary Results in Pure and Applied Mathematics. This book, written by G. S. Carr, is a collection of 5,000 theorems. This book is said to be the key element in awakening his genius.

He ran away from home to pursue his passion

After being offered a scholarship from Government of Arts College in Kumbakonam, Ramanujan realised his love for mathematics. He ran away from his home. He failed multiple failures an extreme poverty. Somedays the outstanding scholar even lived on the brink of starvation.

Read Also: National Mathematics Day 2021: 20 mind-boggling maths facts we bet you didn’t know

He was a man of faith

Ramanujan has been described as an orthodox Hindu by biographers. He prayed to Goddess Mahalakshmi, and credited all his acuity to her. No equations had any meaning to him unless it expressed a thought of God. Even after being an orthodox Hindu, he never believed in the religion-based division. He had a remarkable character indeed.

How he died

His life changed after he earned his due recognition. However, the young and brilliant mind caught hepatic amoebiasis in 1919, which led to his demise in 1920, at a very young age of 32 years.

The post National Mathematics Day 2021: Here are some less-known facts about Srinivas Ramanujan on his birthday appeared first on APN News.