About the Programme

Srinivasa Ramanujan was an Indian Mathematician and autodidact who, with almost no formal training in pure mathematics, made extraordinary contributions to mathematical analysis, number theory, infinite series and continued fractions. The English mathematician, G. H. Hardy placed Ramanujan on par with legendary Mathematicians such as Gauss, Euler, Cauchy, Newton and Archimedes and he is widely regarded as one of the towering geniuses in Mathematics.

In regarding of his contribution to mathematics, in December, 2011, Government of India declared 2012 as the "National Mathematical Year". Ramanujan's Birthday-22nd December is celebrated as National Mathematical Day every year.

Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) jointly with Kerala School of Mathematics (KSOM) proposes to organize the "National Mathematical Year" in a befitting manner with diversified activities throughout Kerala State. The state wide activities will be organised with effective participation of Education department, Higher Education Council, Universities, R & D Institutes and also with all concerned Departments and Academic institutions.

The State Level Launching of National Mathematical Year activities in Kerala State has been inaugurated by Hon'ble Chief Minister, Shri. Oommen Chandy on 13th January 2012, in a colourful function organised at Kanakakunnu Palace at Trivandrum. The year long activities will be culminated on National Mathematical Day on 22nd December 2012 in which the Prizes for the various competitions organised in this will be awarded. Malayalam translation of Ramanujan's Biography will be formally released on National Mathematical Day. Various institutional level programmes/Activities will be scheduled in the year 2012 before December 22, 2012.

Objectives of the Programme

-To create wide awareness about Srinivasa Ramanujan and his contributions amongst the academic community, researchers, school students and general public.

-To develop an interest in Mathematics among the students at various levels.

-To enthuse students at the school and college level in Kerala to opt for research in Mathematical Science as a career.

-To keep up the awareness and interest in mathematical science and also about great mathematicians of India among students during 'National Mathematical Year' by a continuing one year long across kerala state throughout 2012.

Activities Proposed

State Level Ramanujan - Maths Quiz

State level Ramanujan Elocution Competition

Ramanujan Lecture Series

Seminars & Workshops on Mathematics Teaching & Education

Maths Expo

Translation of the book - "The man who knew infinity" by Robert Kanigel to Malayalam.

Various Institutional Level Programmes in Kerala State.

Seminar, Workshops, Syposia etc.

Details of Activities Proposed

1. State Level Ramanujan - Maths Quiz

As part of the programme, KSCSTE plans to conduct a State level Ramanujan - Maths Quiz in association with Kerala School of Mathematics (KSOM) for High School and Higher Secondary School students. For selecting the students for the State Level Ramanujan - Maths Quiz, educational district level quiz competiotions will be convened at various venues throughout the state. The two toppers of High School and Higher Secondary school students from each educational district will be selected for the state level Quiz competiotion. Attractive prizes will be given to the winners.

2. State level Ramanujan Elocution Competition

State level Ramanujan Elocution Competion for the Highe School and Higher Secondary School students will be conducted in association with Kerala School of Mathematics (KSOM). For selecting the students for the State level Competition, educational district level competiotions will be convened at various venues throughout the state. Attractive prizes will be given to the winners.

3. Ramanujan Lecture Series

The Ramanujan Lecture series is designed to provide students an insight into the contributions of Shri. Ramanujan. Since Kerala has a rich tradition and history of noted mathematicians, the Lecture Series will highlight the past glory in mathematics, especially by ancient mathematicians from Kerala so as to enhance the awareness and appreciation of mathematical science among the budding talents. A series of lectures by eminent mathematicians at national as well as International level will be conducted during Jan 2012 - Nov 2012 at different locations in Kerala. The venues will be centres of higher education in the different districts of Kerala. The target audience will mainly be students from the High School, Higher Secondary Schools and Colleges.

4. Seminars & Workshops on Mathematics Teaching & Education

With a view to highlight the new teaching pedagogy and professional issues in mathematical science and also to address the advancement in mathematics, Seminars & workshops on mathematics Teaching & Education will be organised. The programme will bring together eminent senior mathematicians, to foster future collaborations and also to provide opportunity to young researchers to exchange their ideas and to motivate them to pursue a career in mathematics. The Seminars & Workshops will be organised at various institutions of higher education and Universitiies.

5. Maths Expo

In order to exhibit the Contributions of Ramanujan and also the various advancements in the field of Mathematics and teaching aids, mathematical Exhibition will be organised. The Expo will be conducted in 5 regions in the State, with the active participation of major R&D Institutions and Universities targeted to school students. Different mathematical forms, geometrical shapes and their equations, coordinate geometry and other interesting theorems and theories of mathematics will be displayed and animated to develop interest and curiosity among school students and to know more about basic mathematics.

6. Translation of the book - "The man who knew infinity" by Robert Kanigel to Malayalam.

"The story of mathematician genius Srinivasa Ramanujan is a story of Human triumph and an example of what genius can accomplish against the odds", Robert kanigel said about Ramanujan in the book authored by him about Ramanujan. The book was first published in 1991 and has undergone several printings and considered to be the best and most influential work. The biography highlighs the greatness of the picture of Ramanujan's life in 19th Century in South India, locates him in everyday life and brings live the emotional geography of family relationships and the imprint on a young man of the cultural ethos and religious values and rituals of the time. Ramanujan cultivated his love for mathematics single handly and in total isolation. As a child, he was quiet and often kept to himself. Those that knew him were impressed of his shining large eyes which were his prominent feature. He had a prodigious memory and at school, he would entertain his friends by religious declinations of Sanskrit rules and by repeating the value of constant 'pi' to any number decimal places. The book brings in more details of Ramanujan, his schooling and college days and also his association with G. H. Hardy at Trinity College, Cambridge University. Translation will be carried out by The State Institute of Languages.

7. Various Institutional Level Programmes in Kerala State.

It is also proposed to organise various institutional level programmes to inculcate i nterest in Mathematics among the students at academic institutions in Kerala. With a view to mark the importance of National Mathematical Year and also to generate awareness about the contributions of Shri. Ramanujan, various programmes will be organised, as follows:

Schools

-School level Maths Quiz competitions

-Elocution competitions on mathematics

-Invited talks/lectures to inspire the students in Maths

-Popular slid shows

-Exhibition on Mathematics etc.

ITIs, Govt. Polytechnic Colleges, Engineering Colleges, Universities, R&D Centres & other Research Organisations

-Seminars, Symposia, Workshops on latest advancements in Mathematics

-Invited Lectures on Maths

-Popular Slid Shows

-Debates on the subject

-Mathematics Populasiation programmes/activites

-Exhibition on Mathematics etc

Non-Government Organisations

-Popular Lectures

-Seminars/Lectures on Mathematics

-Village/block level Debates/Competitions

-Exhibition on Mathematics etc

SPECIAL PROGRAMMES AT KSOM

The year 2012 has been declared as mathematical year by the Govt. of India to celebrate the 125th birth year of Srinivasa Ramanujan. As a part of this, Kerala School of Mathematics (KSOM) intend to organise four workshops and one international conference at KSOM. The tentative programme is as given below:

May 06 - 10	Theory of Prime Numbers and related areas.
July/August	Theory of partition and circle method Number of days (workshops) : 6
September/October	Theory of modular forms Number of days (workshops) : 10
November/December	Mock Theta Functions Number of days (workshops) : 6
After the last workshop	International Conference for 3 days

Three major conferences will be announced later. Research Scholars/Junior teaching staff/bright P.G. students will be invited for the workshops. Apart from the workshops and conference, KSOM intends to organise a short term course (Probably once in a month) by experts which will be beneficial for local participants from Kerala. Quiz programmes will also be part of this monthly programme, and will be conducted at KSOM.