National Mathematics Day 2021: What is the significance of this day?
Mathematics is one of the foundational subjects in everyone’s life. But not many Indians know that there’s a day dedicated to Mathematics in India.
Every year, on 22nd December, India observes National Mathematics Day to celebrate the life and contribution of mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, popularly known as the Father of Indian Mathematics. This renowned mathematician was on this day in 1887. Every year, India celebrates this day to encourage people to value self-learning and develop rational skills.
History behind National Mathematics Day
In 2012, on Ramanujan’s 125th birth anniversary, the then Prime Minister of India, Mr. Manmohan Singh had declared 22nd December as the National Mathematics Day. In fact, 2012 was also announced as the National Mathematics Year.
Significance of the National Mathematics Day
National Mathematics Day is commemorated every year on 22nd December to create awareness about the importance of mathematics in the growth of a nation and development of humanity at large. It also encourages young people to take up mathematics as a career option and explore it. Several educational seminars and contests are held every year in schools and universities to celebrate this auspicious day.
Srinivasa Ramanujan: Life and works
Srinivasa Ramanujan was born on 22nd December, 1887, at Erode, Tamil Nadu, to a Brahmin Iyengar family. He studied at the local government school and college but was always negligent towards academics, except in Mathematics.
In 1912, while working as a clerk in the Madras Port Trust, he met a fellow mathematician who, impressed with Ramanujan’s prowess in mathematics, referred him to a renowned Mathematics professor in Trinity College, London.
Having got this opportunity, Ramanujan travelled to London just a few months before the start of the First World War, finished his education by 1916 and received the Bachelor of Science degree. Within a few months out of college, he was elected as a member of the London Mathematical Society in early 1917 for his Elliptic function’s theory. He also became the first Indian to be a fellow at the prestigious Trinity College.
Although Ramanujan never really got a chance to study Pure Mathematics, the self-taught man made unparalleled contributions in the field of Mathematics, including solving unsolvable sums. In fact, he had independently compiled almost 3900 results. His mathematics theorems on infinite series, continued fractions, improper integrals and number theory are still extensively taught all across the globe. Unfortunately, he lived a very short life and breathed his last in 1920, at the age of 32.
American biographer and science enthusiast Robert Knaigel had written the biography of Srinivasa Ramanujan called ‘The Man Who Knew Infinity.’ The book was later adapted into a movie in 2015 and portrayed the legendary mathematician’s life, works and journey towards establishing his legacy.