Nagpur University celebrates National Mathematics Day

Nagpur: Mathematics and mathematicians were the toasts of the day as Nagpur University celebrated National Mathematics Day, in memory of famed mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan at its campus off Amravati Road, on Tuesday. This event was organized by the department of mathematics, internal quality assurance cell and technology park.
NU vice-chancellor SP Kane was the chief guest of the function which saw him share the dais with pro-VC Pramod Yeole and registrar Niraj Khaty, both of whom were the guests of honour. The event started with the lighting the lamp by guests, including keynote speaker Prof Madabusi S Raghunathan.

The gathering became all the more maths-literate as the noted mathematician and distinguished visiting professor Raghunathan of DAE-UM Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences, Mumbai, threw light on Fermat’s last theorem — a mathematical treasure hunt. In a lucid style yet comprehensive manner, Raghunathan went about explaining every little nuance of the mathematical theorem.

“The title of today’s talk is ‘Fermat’s last theorem — a mathematical treasure hunt’ and as the title says it is the story of the hunt for a mathematical treasure,” he said. Way back in 1637 Pierre de Fermat conjectured the theorem for the first time.

“The story has an interesting prologue. The mathematics that lies behind the story itself is deep,” said Raghunathan. Later, he explained in detail about the theorem till the patient gathering gave him a vociferous round of applause.

(Reporting by Grace Arora)