Srinivasa Ramanujan Biography – Life, Achievements, and Contributions to Mathematics, Full details 2025 updated.
Srinivasa Ramanujan Biography – A Mathematical Genius from India
Srinivasa Ramanujan is considered one of the greatest mathematicians the world has ever seen. Born into a humble Tamil Brahmin family in British India, Ramanujan made extraordinary contributions to mathematical analysis, number theory, infinite series, and continued fractions—all without any formal training in pure mathematics.
Table of Contents
Early Life and Education
Srinivasa Ramanujan was born on 22nd December 1887 in the town of Erode, located in Tamil Nadu, India. He grew up in Kumbakonam, where his father worked as a clerk and his mother was a homemaker who also sang in local temples.
From a very young age, Ramanujan showed a keen interest in mathematics. By the age of 11, he had already exhausted the mathematical knowledge of two college students who were staying in his house. At 16, he obtained a copy of G.S. Carr’s “A Synopsis of Elementary Results in Pure Mathematics”, which introduced him to thousands of theorems that he would later expand upon.
Despite his brilliance, he failed in most of his school subjects due to his obsession with mathematics. As a result, he couldn’t complete his college education.
Mathematical Contributions
Ramanujan’s work was deeply original and ahead of his time. Some of his major contributions include:
- Ramanujan Prime and Ramanujan Theta Function
- Mock Theta Functions, which later became a foundation for modern string theory
- Partition Function P(n) – describing how numbers can be broken into sums
- Highly Composite Numbers, a field he developed in depth
- Continued Fractions and Infinite Series, where he found new formulas and identities
He compiled nearly 3900 results, most of which were completely novel and later proven correct.
Collaboration with G.H. Hardy
In 1913, Ramanujan wrote a letter to G.H. Hardy, a renowned British mathematician at Cambridge University. Hardy recognized Ramanujan’s genius and arranged for him to come to Cambridge in 1914.
The partnership between Hardy and Ramanujan led to groundbreaking work and remarkable discoveries in mathematics. Together, they worked on some of the most complex problems in mathematics. Hardy once remarked that Ramanujan’s theorems were beyond anything he had ever seen and unlike any known mathematical work.
Health Issues and Early Death
Ramanujan struggled with England’s cold climate and unfamiliar food, which eventually took a serious toll on his health. He returned to India in 1919 and died a year later on 26 April 1920 at the age of just 32.
Despite his short life, Ramanujan’s work continued to influence generations of mathematicians. Many of his notebooks were studied for decades, and new discoveries were still being made from his unpublished work as late as the 21st century.
Legacy and Honors
- Ramanujan was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1918, one of the youngest in history and only the second Indian.
- In 2012, the Indian government declared 22 December as National Mathematics Day in his honor.
- His life inspired the movie “The Man Who Knew Infinity” (2015), starring Dev Patel.
- The Ramanujan Journal is a research publication that focuses on mathematical fields inspired by his groundbreaking work.
Five Inspiring Lessons from Ramanujan’s Life
- Genius Can Come from Anywhere – A poor boy from a small town became one of the world’s greatest mathematicians.
- Follow Your Passion – Ramanujan’s love for math gave him a sense of purpose.
- Self-Learning is Powerful – He taught himself high-level math without formal training.
- Seek Mentorship – His connection with Hardy changed his life.
- Make Your Time Count – In just 32 years, he made discoveries that still baffle mathematicians.
Final Thoughts
Srinivasa Ramanujan’s life is a shining example of how passion, perseverance, and natural talent can break through even the most difficult circumstances. His legacy continues to inspire not just mathematicians, but anyone who dares to dream beyond boundaries.