125th Birthday of Srinivasa Ramanujan

QualityPoint Blogs 22 Dec 2012

On December 22, 2012, Google India celebrates the 125th Birthday of Srinivasa Ramanujan with a Doodle.It also marks the National Mathematics Day.

Srinivasa Ramanujan FRS 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.

Srinivasa Ramanujan was born on December 22, 1887 in Erode, Tamil Nadu.

At the of five Ramanujan went to primary school in Kumbakonam. In 1898 at age 10, he entered the Town High School in Kumbakonam. At the age of eleven he was lent books on advanced trigonometry written by S. L. Loney by two lodgers at his home who studied at the Government college. He mastered them by the age of thirteen.

He was given a scholarship to the Government College in Kumbakonam which he entered in 1904. But he neglected his other subjects at the cost of mathematics and failed in college examination. He dropped out of the college.

In 1906 Ramanujan went to Madras where he entered Pachaiyappa’s College.

On 14 July 1909 Ramanujan marry a ten year old girl S Janaki Ammal. During this period Ramanujan had his first paper published, a 17-page work on Bernoulli numbers that appeared in 1911 in the Journal of the Indian Mathematical Society. In 191,1 Ramanujan approached the founder of the Indian Mathematical Society for advice on a job. He got the job of clerk at the Madras Port Trust with the help of Indian mathematician Ramachandra Rao.

University of Madras gave Ramanujan a scholarship in May 1913 for two years and, in 1914, Hardy brought Ramanujan to Trinity College, Cambridge, to begin an extraordinary collaboration. Right from the start Ramanujan’s collaboration with Hardy led to important results. In a joint paper with Hardy, Ramanujan gave an asymptotic formula for p(n). It had the remarkable property that it appeared to give the correct value of p(n), and this was later proved by Rademacher.

Ramanujan fell seriously ill in 1917 and his doctors feared that he would die. He did improve a little by September but spent most of his time in various nursing homes. On February 18, 1918 Ramanujan was elected a fellow of the Cambridge Philosophical Society and later he was also elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of London. By the end of November 1918 Ramanujan’s health had greatly improved.

Ramanujan sailed to India on 27 February 1919 arriving on 13 March. However his health was very poor and, despite medical treatment, he died on April 6, 1920.

On the 125th anniversary of his birth, India declared the birthday of Ramanujan, December 22, as ‘National Mathematics Day.’ The declaration was made by Dr. Manmohan Singh in Chennai on December 26, 2011.Dr Manmohan Singh also declared that the year 2012 would be celebrated as the National Mathematics Year.

An equation for me has no meaning, unless it represents a thought of God.
- Srinivasa Ramanujan

Finding Meaning at Work, Even When Your Job Is Dull

by HBR :Morten Hansen and Dacher Keltner  |  10:02 AM December 20, 2012

Do you experience meaning at work — or just emptiness?

In the United States people spend on average 35 – 40 hours working every week. That's some 80,000 hours during a career — more time than you will spend with your kids probably. Beyond the paycheck, what does work give you? Few questions could be more important. It is sad to walk through life and experience work as empty, dreadful, a chore — sapping energy out of your body and soul. Yet many employees do, as evidenced by one large-scale study showing that only 31% of employees were engaged.

Work can, however, provide an array of meaningful experiences, even though many employees do not enjoy those in their current job. So, what are the sources of meaningful experiences at work?

We have compiled a list based on our reading of literature in organization behavior and psychology. Many theories speak to meaning at work, including need-based, motivational, status, power, andcommunity theories. The phrase "meaning at work" refers to a person's experience of something meaningful — something of value — that work provides. That is not the same as "meaningful work," which refers to the task itself. Work is a social arena that provides other kinds of meaningful experiences as well.

Before we run through the list, it is important to note;

• Different people look for different types of meanings;
• Different workplaces provide different meanings.

Purpose

1. Contributions beyond yourself. The people at Kiva, a non-profit, channel micro-loans to poor people who can use the money to get a small business going and improve their lives. Their work clearly has a greater purpose — that of helping people in need. This taps into a longing to have a meaningful life defined as making contributions beyond oneself.

The problem is, however, that most work doesn't have such a higher purpose, either because work is basically mundane or because — let's face it — the company doesn't really have a social mission. Critics like Umair Haque argue that work that involves selling yet more burgers, sugar water, fashion clothes and the like has no broader purpose whatsoever. In this view, Coke's "Open Happiness" is just a slogan devoid of meaning. However, as Teresa Amabile and Steve Kramer argue, much work can be infused with some level of purpose. Companies that make real efforts in social responsibilities do this; for example, Danone, the $25-billion large and highly successful consumer goods company selling yogurt, has defined their business as providing healthy foods (which led them to sell off their biscuit business). The litmus test here is whether employees experience that their work makes positive contributions to others. Then they experience meaning at work.

Self-realization

2. Learning. Many MBA graduates flock to McKinsey, BCG and other consultancies so that they can rapidly acquire valuable skills. General Electric is renowned for developing general managers; and people who want to become marketers crave to learn that trade at Procter & Gamble. Work offers opportunities to learn, expand the horizon, and improve self-awareness. This kind of personal growth is meaningful.

3. Accomplishment. Work is a place to accomplish things and be recognized, which leads to greater satisfaction, confidence and self-worth. In the documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi we see Japan's greatest sushi chef devote his life to making perfect sushi. Well, some critics like Lucy Kellaway at the Financial Times say there isn't a real social mission here. But, from watching the movie, his quest for perfection — to make better sushi, all the time — gives his life a deep sense of meaning. And for Jiro, the work itself — making the sushi — gives him a deep intrinsic satisfaction.

Prestige

4. Status. At cocktail parties, a frequent question is, "where do you work?" The ability to rattle of a name like "Oh, I am a doctor at Harvard Medical School" oozes status. For some, that moment is worth all the grueling nightshifts. A high-status organization confers respect, recognition, and a sense of worth on employees, and that provides meaning at work for some.

5. Power. As Paul Lawrence and Nitin Nohria wrote about in their book Driven, for those drawn to power, work provides an arena for acquiring and exercising power. You may not be one of those, but if you are, you experience work as meaningful because you have and can use power.

Social

6. Belonging to a community. Companies like Southwest Airlines go out of their way to create a company atmosphere where people feel they belong. In a society where people increasingly arebowling alone, people crave a place where they can forge friendships and experience a sense of community. The workplace can complement or even be a substitute for other communities (family, the neighborhood, clubs etc.). Workplaces that provide a sense of community give people meaning.

7. Agency. Employees experience meaning at work when what they do actually matters for the organization — when their ideas are listened to and when they see that their contributions has an impact on how the place performs. A sense of real involvement gives people meaning.

8. Autonomy. As Dan Pink shows in his book Drive, autonomy is a great intrinsic motivator. Some people are drawn to certain kinds of work that provides a great deal of autonomy — the absence of others who tell you what to do, and the freedom to do your own work and master your task. For example, entrepreneurs frequently go into business by themselves so that they can be their own boss. This kind of freedom gives work meaning.

There are no doubt other sources as well, but these eight seem to be especially important.

Which of these are important to you? And which does your current workplace give you?

The more of these is not necessarily better. Experiencing one deeply may just be enough. But it's an issue if you don't experience any of these.

MORTEN HANSEN AND DACHER KELTNER

Morten Hansen is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and at INSEAD, France, as well as author of Collaboration. Dacher Keltner is a professor of psychology at UC Berkeley and author of Born To Be Good: The Science of A Meaningful Life.

ராமானுஜனின் மேஜிக் எண்கள்.

                             


byG.M Balasubramaniam
74 years young and vibrant,particular about values in life,
 love all, always try to do better the next time, am an open book.


                       22         12         18          87

                       88          17          9          25

                       10          24          89        16

                       19          86          23         11    

மேலே உள்ள எண்கள் ஒவ்வொரு கட்டத்தில் இருப்பதாக
 பாவித்துக் கொள்ளுங்கள். (கட்டம் போட்டுக் காட்ட
என் கணினி அறிவு போதவில்லை.) இது ஒரு மேஜிக் சதுரம்.
 இதில் உள்ள  தனித்தன்மை என்ன என்று புரிகிறதா. ?

இது நம் கணித மேதை ஸ்ரீனிவாச ராமானுஜன் வடிவமைத்தது
. அப்படி என்ன தனித் தன்மை என்று கேட்கத் தோன்றுகிறதல்லவா.
?இதில் எந்த வரிசையில் கூட்டினாலும் கூட்டுத்தொகை
(இடமிருந்து வலம் அல்லது மேலிருந்து கீழ்.) 139வரும்.

குறுக்காகக் கூட்டினாலும் கூட்டுத்தொகை 139 வரும்.( 22+17+89+11 = 139
                                                    87+9+24+19  = 139

மூலைகளில் இருக்கும் எண்களைக் கூட்டினாலும்
கூட்டுத் தொகை 139 வரும்.
                                                    22+87+11+19 =139
நடுவில் இருக்கும் நான்கு எண்களின்
கூட்டுத்தொகை 139 (17+9+89+24 =139 )

மேல்வரிசை கீழ்வரிசைகளில் இருக்கும் இரண்டாவது
மூன்றாவது எண்களின் கூட்டுத்தொகை 139 வரும் ( 12+18+86+23 = 139 )

மேலிருந்து கீழாக உள்ள வரிசைகளில்முத்ல் வரிசையின்
இரண்டாம் மூன்றாம் எண்களும்  கடைசி வரிசையின்
இரண்டாம் மூன்றாம் எண்களும் கூட்டினால் வரும்
கூட்டுத்தொகை 139.( 88+10+25+16 =139 )

இதோ இன்னொரு கூட்டின் எண்ணிக்கை:
முதல் வரிசை இடமிருந்து வலம் இரண்டாவது எண்.
முதல் வரிசை மேலிருந்து கீழ் இரண்டாவது எண்
இடமிருந்து வலம் கடைசி வரிசை மூன்றாவது எண்
மேலிருந்து கீழ் கடைசி வரிசை மூன்றாவது எண்
இவற்றின் கூட்டுத்தொகை 139.
18+10+86+25=139
( 12+88+23+16 =139.

இன்னுமொரு காம்பினேஷன்
முதல் வரிசை இடமிருந்து வலம் மூன்றாவது எண்
முத்ல் வரிசை மேலிருந்து கீழ் மூன்றாவது எண்
இடமிருந்து வலம் கடைசி வரிசை இரண்டாவது எண்
மேலிருந்து கீழ் கடைசி வரிசை இரண்டாவது எண்
 இவற்றின் கூட்டுத்தொகை 139(18+10+86+25 = 139 )



இந்த சதுரத்தை நான்கு சம சதுரங்களாகப் பிரித்தால் ஒவ்வொரு
சிறிய சதுரங்களில் உள்ள எண்களின் கூட்டுத்தொகை 139
உ-ம் 22+12+88+17= 139
      18+87+9+25= 139
      10+24+19+86=139
      89+16+23+11= 139.

இன்னும் சில காம்பினேஷன்களை முயற்சி செய்து பாருங்கள்.

இதோ முத்தாய்ப்பாக ஒரு செய்தி. ஸ்ரீனிவாசன் ராமானுஜனின்
பிறந்த நாள் உங்களுக்குத் தெரியுமா.? முதல் வரிசை எண்களைப் பாருங்கள்.
என்ன தெரிகிறது.?

22   12   18   87   விளங்க வில்லையா.?

அவரது பிறந்த நாள் 22 -12 -1887......!

இந்தியனாய் இருப்பதில் பெருமை கொள்ளுங்கள்.

அப்பாதுரை said...

'the indian clerk' என்ற புத்தகம் படித்திருக்கிறீர்களா? 
கண்ணில் நீர் முட்டும் ராமானுஜரின் கதை.

Features of The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill 2011

Simple Tax India :SATURDAY 22 DECEMBER 2012:

The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill 2011 was introduced in order to amend the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970/1980. The said Bill has been passed by both the Houses of Parliament during its just concluded Winter Session. 

This Bill would strengthen the regulatory powers of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and to further develop the banking sector in India.

 It will also enable the nationalized banks to raise capital by issue of preference shares or rights issue or issue of bonus shares. It would also enable them to increase or decrease the authorized capital with approval from the Government and RBI without being limited by the ceiling of a maximum of Rs. 3000 crore. 

Beside above, the Bill would pave the way for new bank licenses by RBI resulting in opening of new banks and branches. This would not only help in achieving the goal of financial inclusion by providing more banking facilities but would also provide extra employment opportunities to the people at large in the banking sector. 

The salient features of the Bill are as follows: 

• To enable banking companies to issue preference shares subject to regulatory guidelines by the RBI; 

• To increase the cap on restrictions on voting rights; 

• To create a Depositor Education and Awareness Fund by utilizing the inoperative deposit accounts; 

• To provide prior approval of RBI for acquisition of 5% or more of shares or voting rights in a banking company by any person and empowering RBI to impose such conditions as it deems fit in this regard; 

• To empower RBI to collect information and inspect associate enterprises of banking companies; 

• To empower RBI to supersede the Board of Directors of banking company and appointment of administrator till alternate arrangements are made; 

• To provide for primary cooperative societies to carry on the business of banking only after obtaining a license from RBI; 

• To provide for special audit of cooperative banks at instance of RBI by extending applicability of Section 30 to them; and 

• To enable the nationalized banks to raise capital through “bonus” and “rights” issue and also enable them to increase or decrease the authorized capital with approval from the Government and RBI without being limited by the ceiling of a maximum of Rs. 3000 crore under the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970/1980.

Certain additional official amendments have been proposed on the basis of recommendations of the Standing Committee of Finance which gave its report on the Bill on the 13th December, 2011 and has recommended enactment of the Bill, subject to the following modifications: 

i) Voting rights in banks may be restricted up to 26%. 

ii) The Depositors’ Education and Awareness Fund may be used for the purpose of promoting depositors’ interests. 

Further, pursuant to the discussion with Indian Banks’ Association (IBA), RBI and Industry Associations, the following additional amendments are proposed: 

a) to exempt guarantee agreements of banks from the purview of the section 28 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 to bring finality to redemption of such guarantees; 

b) to allow select Directors on the Board of RBI a fixed maximum tenure of eight years with terms of not more than two terms of four years each either continuously or intermittently in consonance with the directions of the ACC; 

c) to exempt conversion of branches of foreign banks to wholly owned subsidiary entities of foreign banks and transfer of shareholding of banks to the Holding Company structure pursuant to guidelines of RBI from payment of stamp duty; and 

d) to ensure that unnecessary inspections are avoided and to encourage regulatory coordination, a condition has been added such that the inspection of the associate enterprise of a banking company would be conducted by RBI jointly with the sector regulator.