శ్రీనివాస రామానుజం హార్డీకి వ్రాసిన మొదటి లేఖ

Ramanujan, the great Indian mathematician began correspondence with G H Hardy, the Fellow of Trinity College.  His first letter to Hardy, dated January 16, 1913 goes as follows

 

“Dear Sir,

 

“ I beg to introduce my self to you as a clerk in the Accounts Department of the Port Trust Office at Madras on a salary of 20$ per annum.  I am now at 23 years of age . I have had no university education but I have undergone the ordinary School course. After leaving school I have been employing the spare time at my disposal to work at mathematics. I have not trodden through  the conventional regular course which is followed in a University course, but I am striking out a new path for my self. I have made a special investigation of divergent series in general and the results   I get are termed by the local mathematicians as ‘starling’ …

 

I would request you to go through the enclosed papers. Being poor, if you are  convinced  that there is any thing of value I would like to have my theorems published. I have not given the actual investigations nor the expressions that I get but I have indicated the lines on which I proceed. Being inexperienced I would very highly value any advice you give me. Requesting to be excused for the trouble I give you.

 

I remain, Dear Sir, Yours Truly,

                                                                                                               S. RAMANUJAN

  

To the letter attached was 120 theorems.

  

Ramanujan used to say that goddess Namagiri the goodess of Namakkal inspired him with the formulae in dreams.  It is remarkable fact that on rising from bed he would frequently note down the results and verify them.  This pattern repeated itself through out his Life.