Srinivasa Ramanujan (1887–1920) – A Detailed Life History of the Self-Taught Indian Mathematical Genius
Srinivasa Ramanujan was one of the most brilliant and naturally gifted mathematicians the world has ever witnessed. Unlike most legendary scholars who rose through structured academic pathways, Ramanujan’s journey was powered by raw curiosity, self-learning, deep intuition, and a relentless passion for numbers. His life was short, filled with struggle, illness, rejection, cultural shock, and poverty—but equally filled with discoveries so powerful that they shaped modern mathematics, theoretical physics, cryptography, and computer science.
Early Life, Family Background & Childhood
Ramanujan was born on 22 December 1887 in Erode, Tamil Nadu, India. His father K. Srinivasa Iyengar worked as a clerk in a sari shop, while his mother Komalatammal was a deeply spiritual and disciplined woman who sang devotional hymns in temples. Soon after his birth, the family moved to Kumbakonam, a town famous for its temples, culture, and tradition—where his mathematical roots unknowingly began to grow.
Even as a child, Ramanujan was exceptionally sharp. However, his health was fragile. At age 2, he survived a life-threatening smallpox attack, which left scars on his skin forever. Despite physical weakness, his mind was unstoppable. He joined primary school at the age of 5, and by age 10, he was already collecting merit certificates across all subjects. But something else had begun to consume him—numbers.
Mathematical Awakening – The Book That Changed Everything
At the age of 12, Ramanujan discovered his true world when he borrowed G. S. Carr’s book – "A Synopsis of Elementary Results in Pure and Applied Mathematics". The book contained more than 6000 formulas and theorems—but almost none of them included proofs. For most students, this would have been useless. For Ramanujan, it became a universe.
He began deriving the missing proofs on his own. Without teachers, without guidance, without even knowing he was doing “research,” he started creating original mathematical results. He filled pages after pages with solutions, expansions, identities, and number relationships. This was the beginning of his famous mathematical notebooks, which later stunned Cambridge professors and continue to influence mathematical research even today.
School & College Education – A Genius Misfit in Formal Academia
By age 14, Ramanujan had already mastered advanced trigonometry and even discovered original results. His obsession with mathematics grew so intense that he began ignoring other academic subjects. He won a scholarship to Government Arts College, Kumbakonam, but lost it later due to poor performance in non-mathematical subjects.
He then joined Pachaiyappa’s College, Madras (Chennai), but dropped out again. Not because he was weak—but because the curriculum felt too small for the mathematics expanding inside his mind. He didn’t study mathematics—he lived inside it. While struggling financially, he continued working as a clerk and writing formulas at night, often on slate boards or loose paper due to lack of money.
Marriage, Responsibility & The Search for Stability
In 1909, Ramanujan married Janaki Ammal, following the traditions of that time. With family responsibility now on his shoulders, he started searching for a job. Although he worked briefly at the Madras Port Trust, his real support came from Indian mathematicians like R. Ramachandra Rao and S. Narayana Iyer, who recognized his talent and encouraged him to write to foreign mathematicians.
The Hardy Correspondence – The Letter That Opened Cambridge
In 1913, Ramanujan wrote letters to multiple mathematicians abroad, but most ignored him. One man did not:
Professor G. H. Hardy (Cambridge University)
Ramanujan sent Hardy a letter containing 120 original mathematical results. Hardy first suspected it was a prank—but after careful study, he realized:
Hardy immediately arranged his travel to Cambridge. And thus began Ramanujan’s greatest transformation—from a struggling clerk in India to a global mathematical phenomenon.
Cambridge Life – Achievements, Isolation & Discovery
Life in England was not easy for Ramanujan. The cold climate, cultural differences, and strict vegetarian diet created survival challenges. He faced loneliness and discrimination. But mathematics did not discriminate. His papers on number theory, elliptic functions, continued fractions, and infinite series began changing the mathematical world.
His major honors include:
- Election to London Mathematical Society (1917)
- Becoming one of the youngest Fellows of the Royal Society (1918)
- Becoming Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge (1918) – The First Indian to receive this honor
1729 – The Taxicab Number That Became Legendary
During Ramanujan’s illness, Hardy visited him and casually remarked that his taxi number was 1729, calling it “dull.” Ramanujan instantly replied:
\[ 1729 = 1^3 + 12^3 = 9^3 + 10^3 \]
This incident immortalized 1729 as the Hardy–Ramanujan Number, also known as the first Taxicab Number.
Mathematical Notebooks – The Treasure of Unproved Theorems
Ramanujan left behind 3 major notebooks and several unpublished pages filled with over 3900 results. These notebooks were later compiled and studied by the mathematical community. Many results were decades ahead of formal proofs. Some are still being researched today.
Illness, Return to India & The End of a Legend
In 1919, due to worsening health (tuberculosis and vitamin deficiency), he returned to India. Even in his final year, he continued producing mathematical work. But his body could no longer support the storm inside his brain. He died on 26 April 1920 at age 32.
Legacy, Global Influence & National Mathematics Day
Today:
- 22 December is celebrated in India as National Mathematics Day
- SASTRA University awards the prestigious Ramanujan Prize
- His life inspires students, researchers, and scientists worldwide
Modern Fields Influenced by Ramanujan
His work now contributes to:
✔ Cryptography & Security Algorithms✔ Black Hole & String Theory Physics
✔ Computer Formula Discovery (Ramanujan Machine)
✔ Fast Converging 1/π Formulas
✔ Partition Function & Congruences
Inspirational Learnings for Students & Youth
Ramanujan proved that genius is not a privilege of universities, it is a privilege of curiosity. His life teaches that limitations are temporary, but discovery is permanent.
Written & Compiled By: BK Pawar
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