National Mathematics Day is observed every year on December 22 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan, one of India’s most influential and globally recognised mathematicians. The day will be marked across educational institutions, research bodies and academic forums to highlight the importance of mathematics in scientific progress and everyday life.
The observance was formally instituted by the Government of India in December 2011, and December 22 was designated as National Mathematics Day in recognition of Ramanujan’s extraordinary contributions to the discipline. The following year, 2012, was observed nationwide as the National Mathematics Year, giving further institutional push to mathematical learning and research.
Why December 22 holds national significance
December 22 marks the birth of Srinivasa Ramanujan, whose work continues to influence modern mathematics more than a century later. National Mathematics Day is celebrated to recognise his original thinking, his solutions to problems that were considered intractable during his lifetime, and the global impact of his discoveries.
According to official accounts, the observance is intended not only as a tribute to Ramanujan but also as a platform to encourage students and researchers to engage with mathematics as a discipline central to innovation, technology and scientific inquiry.
India’s long mathematical tradition
India’s association with mathematics predates modern history by several centuries. According to a statement cited by the Press Information Bureau, India’s contributions to mathematics can be traced from as early as 1200 BCE to 1800 BCE. Foundational concepts such as the decimal number system, the idea of zero, and the use of negative numbers originated in the subcontinent, alongside significant developments in arithmetic, algebra and trigonometry.
The classical and golden periods of Indian mathematics, spanning roughly from the fourth to the sixteenth century, saw seminal contributions from scholars such as Aryabhatta, Varahamihira, Brahmagupta and Bhaskara II. National Mathematics Day is also seen as an occasion to situate Ramanujan within this longer intellectual tradition.
Srinivasa Ramanujan and his enduring legacy
Ramanujan is remembered for his pioneering work in mathematical analysis, number theory, infinite series and continued fractions. Despite limited formal training, he independently compiled nearly 3,900 results, many of which later proved to be both original and profound. His intuitive approach and unconventional methods reshaped key areas of twentieth-century mathematics and continue to influence research in the twenty-first century.
Story continues below this ad
As noted in official references cited by the PIB, Ramanujan’s ideas opened new directions in mathematical thought and inspired generations of mathematicians across the world, making his legacy central to the significance of National Mathematics Day.
