The Man Who Knew Infinity: A life of the genius Ramanujan

Before i read this book i knew only one thing about Ramanujan ,that he was a mathematician, nothing else and did not know about his theorems or his struggles. Before i write about this book , i should blame the state and central government for not putting Ramanujan's life in school or college syllabus and highlighted his life.

This book was written by Robert Kanigel. The book starts with bit of history of south India and the birth of Ramanujan.Born to a poor family Ramanujan did not fared well in his school and college.He showed remarkable ability in problem solving from very early in life. By the age of thirteen he mastered S.L Loney's  "Trigonometry".He finished his mathematics exam in half the time and many of his seniors who were in upper classes handed him problems for solving and he did easily.He received K.Ranganatha Rao prize for mathematics in 1904.

When he is in third form , he challenged his teachers.One day,the math teacher pointed out that anything divided by itself was one: Divide  three fruits among three people, he was saying ,and each would get one.Divide a thousand fruits among a thousand people, and each would get one.So Ramanujan piped up:"But is zero divided by zero also one?If no fruits are divided among no one,will each still get one?"

His family dedicated all his skills including mathematics,interpreting dreams and reciting of Vedas and Upanishads  to Goddess Namagiri of Namakkal .By 1903 he started doing problems based on " A Synopsis of Elementary Results in Pure and Applied Mathematics" by George Shoobrige Carr.He was engrossed in that book, which he kept throughout his life.

The genius... Ramanujan

In 1904 he joined in Kumbakonam Government College and took Fine Arts.Since he concentrated more on mathematics , he failed in English Composition and lost his scholarship.He struggled so much to get that certificate.He was not able to bear all the problems associated with his education and family and  he ran away from house at the age of 17 to Calcutta.And brought back to home a month latter.He did disappeared many times after this first escape.In 1906 he went to Madras and joined in Pachaiyappa college.Here also everyone wondered at his problem solving skills including his teachers. He did not like other subject much. once he wrote "Sir,this is my undigested product of the Digestion chapter" in his exam that deals with digestive system.He appeared for F.A examination for the second time and again he failed with less than 10% mark in Physiology.From 1904-1907 he did not pass the F.A exam.

In 1907 he started writing in his famous noteooks , over the years the notebooks were filled with hundreds of theorems and formulas. Most of his theorems were difficult to understand for his contemporaries ,even today it puzzles many of them.He used to write theorems without producing proofs.After a long struggle,he got permission to travel across the sea to England,there awaited him a genuine friendship which gave him fame and immortal status among mathematicians.

G.H.Hardy

 Hardy was a famous and accomplished mathematician by the time Ramanujan wrote letter to him.The author gives semi-biography of Hardy.He was benefited from the public schooling and his parents were teachers whom made sure that their kids were good at education.Hard had one elder sister,they both had a good relationship till their death.

Great friend... Hardy

Hardy guided Ramanujan in publishing his papers along with his life altogether.Ramanujan kept on producing theorems after theorems everyday.Hardy invited his friends to assess those theorems.They took care of him very well. Ramanujan even tried to commit suicide for not getting FRS .Hardy and his friends was trying to get him the coveted "F.R.S - Fellow of Royal Society " and he became a one at 1918.

Ramanujan was a strict vegetarian and followed all the rituals of Brahmin.He never ate anything that  was not approved by his religion.Those and his family problems specially the constant quarrel between his mother and his wife caused him his life.When he was in England he was diagnosed with tuberculosis,when he returned to India,he suffered more and died at the age of 32.

Author -Robert Kanigel

The book was written beautifully  even the mathematics terms were clearly explained ,the authors research on Ramanunjan was visible throughout the first part of the book where he explores the culture,habits and traditions of South India.Excellent work.He changes gear and gives details of old oxford and its culture. The author did not dwell into any unnecessary personal details of Hardy or Ramanujan , thanks to him for that. Over all a great book and must for all youngsters.

More of Ramanujan :
A musical tribute
A beauty of maths
About Ramanujan's wife
More about Hardy
More about the author
Parents : Srinivasa Iyengar and Komalatammal
Nickname : chinnasamy (his mother called him like this)
Born on Thursday ,22 December 1887