The Man who knew Infinity by Robert Kanigel

Srinivasa Ramanujan may have had a short life but his short life had captured the imagination of a cross section of Mathematicians, intellectuals , commoners for the sheer romanticim of rags to riches of an intellectual type.What adds to the aura was that he almost completely self learnt maths and rediscovered in quite a number of cases already discovered Higher mathematics on his own.

Robert Kanigel has brought a deep understanding , a humility in trying to learn and understand the social miilieu , at that point of time,in South India, the social millieu , more specifcally of the South Indian Brahmin community. The way he has reasearched and brought out the background and underlying meanings of certain practices , words ,is remarkable. He throws in underlying meanings of Sannidhi, derivation and meaning of Triplicane( Tiru alli keni which means sacred lily tank ) talks how Ramanujan developed his skills playing Adu Puli ( Tiger and Goats literally ) with his mother or was it Pallanguzhi ?. He beautifully brings out the earlier generation practice of child marriage and the convictions surrounding it, the conflicts between a young daughter in law from a lower strata ( economically ) of the society and the domineering mother in law. How the daughter in law is kept away from the son.

Very perceptive observations by the author.

He explores the mind of the genius , how from a person who was excelling in all aspects of academia, he gets so focussed on mathematics to the exclusion of all other subjects.

He talks of how the education system was not quite amenable to encouragement of a genius. Our education system encourages average ability or to put it crudely, mediocrity across rather than extraordinary ability in one area . How success or view of success by society and how job opportunities are dependent on a formal degree rather than just ability.

One thing to be said in favour is that there were quite a few people who saw the genius in him and gave him a leg up starting from Ramachandra Rao, to Narayanaswami Iyer to Seshu Iyer.

etc.

The author also delves on the system in Cambridge, Tripos which was possibly the toughest and which to a large extent encouraged problem solving of known things rather than a laissez faire of an open research. The author does extensive research on Hardy and the English millieu at that point of time.Hardy was one of those great intellectuals who found the Tripos very oppressive . He was all for pure reasearch. The author captures a view that post Newton, there was an era of English mathematicians living in a world of ,mathematics of taking past as sacrosanct, as axioms and not really questioining or even exploring newere concpets. The rigour of proofs and evidence brought in by the European mathematicians was lacking. Hardy was one of thos who took the lead in bringing back the rigour and spirit of exploration .Hardy remained a bachelor all his life . Was a devoted brother , his sister too remaining a spinster. Was a man with great interest in Cricket. Typical English Intellectual with interest in Cricket and great interest in Pure maths .

After several failures in Coleges starting from Kumbakonam Colege and Pachaiyappa's college, Ramanujan does get some encouragement from people within the Mathematics Community. Was afforded for sometime some private scholarship by oen Ramachandra Rao. Later based on recommendations by various people manages to land up a job in Port Trust.Gets encoraged by some Englishman in India who were in Government employment.

Encourage by local support and prodded on, Ramanujan does manage to write to Hardy. Introduces himself as a clerk who is not formally trained in Maths and not following the treaded groove/beaten track but is striking out his path. Sends several formulae on prime numbers, infinite series, sends his article on Bernouli's numbers. Send enough to create interest in Hardy but also no proofs that also creates doubts in Hardy's mind

Hardy refers the letter to another great mathematician of his time. Littlewood, to ascertain the genuinness of the person and the capability of the writer (Ramanujan). Comes to a conclusion that , the writings were not that of a quack but a brilliant mind , probably not trained. Makes arrangement to get him over to Englang. After initial reservations, Ramanujan undertakes the journey to England. First two years makes significant progress. His area of spcialisation was more on numbers, Prime numbers, Composite numbers, integers , inifnite series, partitions, continous franctions. He does add to his arsenal under Hardy's tutelage without really losing his originality and creativity.

Lack of vegetarion food during wartime ( First world war ), the cold weather , lack of communication from wife and simmering unrest on the home front between his mother and wife , his own reluctance to take proper care of his health, sickness etc , renders him sick or aggravates the sickness. Diagnosed at various points of time as Tuberculosis, amoebiasis, he had to return to India in 1919 after of course a great recognition in the form of Fellow of Royal Society. Hardy plays a pivotal role in having this expedited.

After return to India, while he does have access to good food, the damage had already been done,. It was just downhill in terms of health, he does prodice some great matehmatics towards the end, which is termed the " Lost notebook". Dies in 1920 at the age of 32.

Great life cut short at the prime. Imponderable are, what coul dhave been the achievement if only

- he had got more training at an early stage

- if he had been familiarised with development in mathematics the last 100 years

( he spent significant time rediscovering several aspects of mathematics)

-he had lived a bit longer

But one also has to concede that he acheieved what he did only because by a starnge quirk of fate and circumtsances. his capability and work came to the fore and he spent time in England and quite a number of his work found its way to good mathematcians.

His notebooks filled with several theorems and formulae when he was in India as also his : lost notebook" have been researched and are still being researched and some new applications and use are being discovered.First by Watson , later by George Andrews and much later by Bruce Brendt .

One things is sure, he had caught the fascination of the south Indian brahmin psyche so much that , post his death for almost 40-50 years, good mathematicians who came out from south were inspired by Ramanujan to take up mathematics .He still is a great inspirational figure. What is amazing was single minded focus on mathematics and fiery desire to do what he liked best , in the midst of huge personal problems, relative poverty .

Very well researched and written.

Sad news- Passing away of an ex colleague

Got to know the shocking news of passing away of Venkateswaran ( Venkat ), who used to work along with the undersigned in APC . Excellent person, very calm but extraordinarily efficient and effective person. He used to take care of Engineering. Was in Motorola before joining APC. In between left APC , joined Elcoteq but rejoined APC.Was a vey active member of the APC team under Javed.

Was an excellent engineer , good organiser and a very good human being.

Recall the very effective way he used to organise APC Annual days along with Suneeta ,Praveen Das and Devdas.

Understand that he was diagnosed with Bone marrow cancer just about a month back . Came out when they tried to probe reasons for fever. Very sad. Found it very diificlut to digest the fact. He was just 36-37. Prosys Manju sent across a message. Later spoke to him. Shivram spoke and later Suneeta.

Sadder part is , he is survived by his old parents , his wife and sister .

Srinivas babu just now spoke .

May his soul rest in peace. Sincerely pray that God gives his family the strength to bear the loss.