National Mathematics Day : 22 Dec 2020

National Mathematics Day is celebrated on 22 December every year to mark the birth anniversary of legendary Indian mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan and his contributions in the field of mathematics. Let us read more about National Mathematics Day, its history, significance and how is it celebrated in India.

As we know that since ancient times various scholars had made significant contributions to mathematics including Aryabhata, Brahmagupta, Mahavira, Bhaskara II, Srinivasa Ramanujan, etc. At a very young age, Srinivasa Ramanujan showed the signs of an unfolding genius, and his contributions regarding fractions, infinite series, number theory, mathematical analysis, etc. set an example in mathematics.

National Mathematics Day: History

On 22 December 2012, the former Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, paid tribute to Srinivasa Ramanujan at a function organised on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of the great mathematician Srinivasa Iyengar Ramanujan in Chennai. 22 December was declared as National Mathematics Day. Thus, on 22 December 2012, National Mathematics Day was celebrated across the country for the first time.

National Mathematics Day 2020: Significance

The main objective behind the celebration is to raise awareness among people about the importance of mathematics for the development of humanity. We can't ignore that several initiatives are taken to motivate, enthuse and inculcate a positive attitude towards learning mathematics among the younger generation of the country. On this day, training is also provided to the mathematics teachers and students through camps and highlights the development, production, and dissemination of teaching-learning materials (TLM) for Mathematics and research in related areas.

How is National Mathematics Day celebrated?

National Mathematics Day is celebrated in various schools, colleges, universities, and educational institutions in India. Even the International Society UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) and India had agreed to work together to spread mathematics learning and understanding. Along with this, various steps were taken to educate the students in mathematics and spread knowledge to the students and learners all over the world.

Born on this day in the year 1887, Srinivasa Ramanujan is a name to reckon among pioneers in Mathematics. In 2012 former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had declared his birthday (December 22) as National Mathematics Day. Today from every nook and corner of the country, tributes have been pouring in for the legend.

Legendary mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan made extraordinary contributions to mathematical analysis, number theory, infinite series & continued fractions.

In his college days, he failed in non-mathematical subjects due to negligence as he was always busy in studying mathematics.

His knowledge in mathematics was recognized by a mathematician at Madras Port Trust where he had started working as a clerk in 1912. The said colleague referred him to Professor GH Hardy, Trinity College, Cambridge University.

The Mathematics legend had joined the Trinity College a few months before the World War I began. In 1916 he was awarded the Bachelor of Science degree; the next year he was elected to the London Mathematical Society. In 1918 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society for his research on Elliptic Functions and theory of numbers. The same year in October he was became the first Indian to be elected a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1919, he returned to India. He breathed his last at the age of 32.