How a Man Without a Degree Became One of the World’s Greatest Mathematicians: The Timeless Genius of Srinivasa Ramanujan

On December 22, India celebrates National Mathematics Day in memory of one of the most extraordinary minds the world has ever known—Srinivasa Ramanujan. Mathematics, often feared by students, became a divine language in the hands of this self-taught genius who, despite having no formal degree, reshaped modern mathematics with ideas that continue to astonish scholars globally.

Born on 22 December 1887 in Erode, Tamil Nadu, Srinivasa Iyengar Ramanujan lived a remarkably short life, passing away on 26 April 1920 at the age of just 32 due to tuberculosis. Yet, in this brief span, he left behind a mathematical legacy so profound that he is regarded as one of the greatest mathematicians in history.

A Self-Taught Prodigy

Ramanujan had no formal training in higher mathematics. He learned the subject largely on his own, working through old textbooks and developing original ideas independently. By the age of 12, he had mastered trigonometry, and by 16, he had already derived thousands of original results. Poverty was a constant companion—there were days when hunger overshadowed his studies—but his passion for numbers never wavered.

His brilliance was evident early on. He topped his district in primary school and displayed an intuitive understanding of numbers that set him apart from his peers. Mathematics, for Ramanujan, was not a subject—it was a living, breathing force.

Thousands of Theorems, One Singular Mind

Ramanujan is credited with 3,884 original theorems, many of which were recorded in notebooks that mathematicians are still studying today. His contributions span number theory, infinite series, continued fractions, mathematical analysis, and the now-famous mock theta functions, which have found applications even in modern physics.

He treated mathematics like a game, joyfully experimenting with numbers. Creating magic squares was among his favourite pastimes, and he often arrived at results through intuition rather than formal proof—a quality that made his work both mysterious and revolutionary.

Cambridge and the Hardy Partnership

Ramanujan’s life took a decisive turn when his work caught the attention of Professor G. H. Hardy of Cambridge University. Recognising his unparalleled genius, Hardy invited Ramanujan to England and helped secure him a Royal Fellowship. Together, they authored more than 50 research papers, forming one of the most celebrated collaborations in mathematical history.

Hardy famously rated great minds on a scale of 100. While most top mathematicians received scores of 30 or 40, and exceptional ones reached 60, Ramanujan alone was awarded a perfect 100.

The Magic of 1729

One legendary anecdote perfectly captures Ramanujan’s brilliance. During his illness in Cambridge, Hardy once remarked that the taxi number 1729 seemed dull. Ramanujan immediately corrected him, saying it was a very special number—the smallest number expressible as the sum of two cubes in two different ways:
1729 = 1³ + 12³ = 9³ + 10³
Today, 1729 is famously known as the Hardy–Ramanujan Number.

Faith, Spirituality, and Mathematics

Deeply spiritual, Ramanujan believed mathematics was a divine pursuit. He once said, “An equation for me has no meaning unless it expresses a thought of God.” To him, logic and spirituality were inseparable, and numbers were a pathway to higher truth.

An Immortal Legacy

Though illness cut his life tragically short, Ramanujan’s influence remains timeless. His story has inspired books, research, and the internationally acclaimed film “The Man Who Knew Infinity” (2015), which introduced his extraordinary journey to a global audience.

Srinivasa Ramanujan proved that genius needs neither degrees nor privilege—only passion, perseverance, and an unyielding faith in one’s inner calling. His life stands as a beacon for generations, reminding the world that true knowledge knows no boundaries.