Some people are not just born — they are sent. Srinivasa Ramanujan was one such person. He had no formal training, no fancy college degree, no bookshelves full of resources — and yet, the mathematics he created left the world stunned.
Early Life and Childhood:
Ramanujan was born on 22 December 1887 in Erode, a small town in Tamil Nadu, India. From a young age, it was clear that he wasn’t like the other children. While others played games, Ramanujan played with numbers. By the time he was 10, he had mastered high school mathematics. Not just solved problems — he created his own.
Struggles and Setbacks:
The biggest challenge Ramanujan faced was that his mind was far ahead of the textbooks. He found the school system too rigid. He dropped out of college because he failed in non-mathematical subjects. Without a degree, no one wanted to give him a job.
But when destiny has a plan, no obstacle is big enough.
A Letter That Changed Everything:
One day, Ramanujan sent a letter full of mathematical theorems to the famous British mathematician G.H. Hardy at Cambridge University. At first, Hardy thought it was a prank. But as he read more, he realized: this man from India was a genius.
Hardy invited Ramanujan to England.
🇬🇧 Work at Cambridge:
Ramanujan went to Cambridge in 1914. Despite the cold climate, cultural shock, and food difficulties, he produced some of the most brilliant mathematics the world had ever seen:
- He made deep discoveries in number theory, infinite series, modular forms, and partitions.
- His formulas for calculating π (pi) are still used by supercomputers today.
- He worked almost entirely from intuition — without formal proof — but was still right.
Hardy once said:
“Every positive integer is one of Ramanujan’s personal friends.”
Illness and Early Death:
The harsh English weather took a toll on his health. In 1919, he returned to India. Sadly, on 26 April 1920, at the age of just 32, Ramanujan passed away.
But he left behind over 3,900 formulas, many of which mathematicians are still trying to understand fully.
Legacy:
- 22 December is celebrated as National Mathematics Day in India.
- The number 1729, known as the Ramanujan number, is famous because of a story between him and Hardy.
- The Ramanujan Journal, Ramanujan Institute, and even a film titled The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015) honor his life.
What He Believed:
Ramanujan wasn’t just a mathematician — he was spiritual. He often said:
“An equation for me has no meaning unless it expresses a thought of God.”
Conclusion:
Ramanujan’s life reminds us that genius doesn’t always wear a suit or sit in a university. Sometimes, it lives quietly in a small Indian village, scribbling formulas on a slate — and waiting for the world to notice.
He was not just a mathematician. He was a miracle.
