The man who knew infinity by Robert Kanigel

"The man who knew infinity" by Robert Kanigel - Ramajujan or Hardy?

This edition of the book is published by Little, Brown Book Group in 1992 and has 448 pages. 

This book is the biography of great Indian mathematician Ramanujan. The book takes us through his school and college days where he excelled in mathematics but flunked in other subjects, his struggle to find work and sustenance, his stay in England, his success as mathematician and eventually his demise at a very young age.

Author determines that a combination of staying away from his family & country, lack of proper Indian food leading to lack of nourishment, impact of war leading to scarcity of already scarce Indian food items, not having someone to take care of his health while he dedicated all his time to mathematics led to Ramanujan's prolonged illness that eventually led to his premature death. 

Many of Ramanujan's early mathematical discoveries were actually rediscovered i.e. they have been discovered earlier by someone else. He realized it upon coming to England. If he had formal education in mathematics, he would have studied them. 

Author spends a lot of time on tuberculosis (TB), situations conducive for TB and how Ramajujan was a sitting duck due to the circumstances, issues on family front, disagreements between his wife and mother and not meeting his family and friends for years. He was lonely and although Hardy was his closest and they interacted a lot on mathematics, Hardy hardly knew him as a person. This and rejection of his candidature for the fellowship of Trinity - Cambridge, on racial grounds, led to his attempted suicide. Eventually fellowship of Royal Society and fellowship of Trinity were deservedly awarded. 

He then returned to India, already sick. He continued his work despite being sick and invented 'Mock Theta' function, a ground breaking work. He died at young age of 32,  in 1920. Differences between his wife and mother remained even after his death. 

55 years after his death, American mathematician  George Andrews discovered his notebook, his final contribution to mathematics in his last year of life, full of formulae without proofs. He published it as 'Lost notebook'. This notebook and it's contents created a lot if interest and excitement in mathematical world and gave Ramanujan more popularity and recognition than when he lived. Several books have been published in last 10 years to give proofs of Ramanujan's formulae in the lost notebook. 

Ramanujam did a lot of maths in his head. So what others did in 10 steps, he did in 2. He also used different symbols (as compared to conventional symbols). Hence even today some of the theorems in his notebook are being studied. His two notebooks have become legendary and are studied to this date.

There are a number of geniuses in this world who go unnoticed and whose work or potential work is not recognized simply due to lack of opportunity. Ramanujan was on the precipice of such anonymity but Hardy recognized the talent and provided the opportunity and Ramanujan or rather the world of mathematics wasn't deprived of wealth of knowledge. This may be one of the rare occasions where British tried to help an Indian and went out of the way to facilitate expansion of his intellectual horizons for the greater good of mathematics.

I could draw some parallels between the lives of Ramanujan and Anandibai Joshi (India's first lady doctor). Both went abroad. Both succeeded academically. Both had TB. Both returned to India ill. Both died in youth. 

It's one thing to write a biography of a mathematician and its another to try to explain his mathematical work in simple language in the biography. Author does a commendable job in both, but those who don't understand or are not interested in mathematics would be out of depth. 

A lot of page space is allocated to G. H. Hardy, Ramanujan's mentor, one who recognized his talent and was instrumental in bringing him to England. The book has one of the longest epilogue mostly dedicated to Hardy. Although Hardy's contribution in Ramanujan's life is immense, some times one wonders if it's Ramanujan's biography or Hardy's?

Author occasionally refers to Ramanujan's Indian biographies and biographers. Since I have not read those biographies, can't compare them with this. In a number of places he also uses conjecture to state what would have happened. This book is made into a movie in 2015, but I haven't watched it. 

Author also raises some important questions like was Ramanujan lucky to have born in brahmin cast known for nurturing education? Why did it take British to discover Ramajujan? Why is Indian education system so rigid that some one like Ramanujan, specialist of one subject and without a formal degree, does not get scholarship?

Author attributes the openness of Ramanujan's mind to the relaxed tolerance of Hinduism that allowed him a lot of creativity. He also lists a number of mathematicians who had a religious streak or were deeply religious. Hardy was an atheist. 

Why did I read this book? Wanted to know about the genius. 

What I didn't like? Too much Hardy. 

What did I like? Mathematics explained easily. 

Read to know about the genius.