In the 1911, the Journal of the Indian Mathematical Society
published a 17-page paper by Ramanujan (on the topic of
Bernoulli numbers). Since mathematicians in India still doubted
his authenticity, Ramanjunan, at the behest of his friends, wrote
to several mathematicians in Cambridge. He found success on his
third attempt when he wrote to Professor G. H. Hardy.
Ramanujan’s handwritten mathematical works
Hardy validated the work of Ramanujan with great enthusiasm
and Hardy’s endorsement worked immediate miracles for
Ramanujan. He (Ramanujan) gained a noteworthy status
amongst his peers and was soon offered the position of a research
scholar at the University of Madras. Within a short span of time,
Ramanujan started getting a salary that was nearly double his
remuneration as a clerk. However, recognising the elements of a
genius, Hardy was determined to bring Ramanujan to England
and sent the latter an invitation to Cambridge. Ramanujan's
mother resisted at first driven by superstition and religious
beliefs, but finally gave in. In March 1914, Ramanujan boarded a
ship for England.
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