A Journey Through Time, Maths, and the Footsteps of a Genius: Unforgettable Lessons from a Remarkable Teacher

My School
Town Higher Secondary School, Kumbakonam
No Ordinary Institution
In a quaint Indian town stood my school with a rich history, established as early as the 19th century. This was no ordinary institution, for it was the same school where the great mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan, had studied. The school's legacy lived on in its students, who carried the weight of its history and the spark of mathematical brilliance.

During my higher secondary years, there was a remarkable math teacher, a man of talent but with no ambition beyond sharing his passion for mathematics with his students. He was one of those rare educators who could make even the most complex concepts come alive through his storytelling.

One of the most memorable lessons he taught us was about the ancient paradox of Achilles and the tortoise. As he narrated the story, we could almost see the mighty Achilles and the slow-moving tortoise racing before our eyes. This seemingly simple tale presented a mind-boggling puzzle, challenging our understanding of motion and mathematics.

Years later, I decided to pay a visit to our math teacher, the man who had inspired my love for mathematics. Joined by a classmate, we made our way to his home, reminiscing about our school days and the unforgettable lessons he had taught us. However, when we arrived at his doorstep, we learned that he had gone out of town.

Disappointed but undeterred, we decided to take a detour and visit our old school. As we walked through the corridors of the school, which had just finished celebrating 150 years since its inception, we couldn't help but marvel at the connection we shared with the brilliant Ramanujan, who had once walked the same hallways. It was in this very school that Ramanujan's extraordinary mathematical journey began, and it was here that our teacher had opened our minds to the world of calculus.

Reflecting on that impactful lesson, we realized that the paradox of Achilles and the tortoise had more to it than just a fallacy. Through the magic of calculus, the paradox could be unraveled, and the seemingly impossible became possible. Just as Achilles was destined to overtake the tortoise, we too found ourselves chasing our dreams and aspirations, fueled by the knowledge and wisdom that our teacher had imparted to us.

Today, I am with Tesser Insights, exploring new territories and discovering novel insights powered by AI and ML algorithms that have a foundational relation to my favorite subject – mathematics. As we unlock the secrets of data and harness the power of technology, I am reminded of the passion for learning and growth that was ignited by our teacher all those years ago.

In addition to our mathematics teacher, my grandfather also tremendously influenced me, shaping my passion for mathematics. He played a pivotal role in my life and helped nurture my love for this fascinating subject. I look forward to sharing more about his impact and our special bond in a future blog post.

And so, dear reader, I leave you with a thought: age is just a number, and our passion for learning and growth never truly ends. The power of a great teacher, the legacy of a school that has shaped the minds of geniuses, and the guidance of a wise family member can continue to inspire us, no matter how old we are.

In a race, the quickest runner can never over­take the slowest, since the pursuer must first reach the point whence the pursued started, so that the slower must always hold a lead.
— as recounted by Aristotle, Physics VI:9, 239b15

Can't forget the paradox, the teacher, his enacting the race, and the school



Comments

  1. Ganesh Swaminathan31 March 2023 at 08:35

    he paradox of Achilles and the tortoise is a classic philosophical problem that has been puzzling minds for centuries. In this paradox, Achilles, the Greek hero, is racing against a tortoise. However, the tortoise is given a head start. Even though Achilles is much faster than the tortoise, he can never catch up with it. This is because, by the time Achilles reaches the point where the tortoise started, the tortoise has already moved a little further. And by the time Achilles reaches that point, the tortoise has moved again. This pattern continues, and Achilles can never overtake the tortoise.

    Similarly, in Hindu mythology, Lord Muruga, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, was once challenged by Lord Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati's other form, to a race around the universe. The winner would be declared the most intelligent and powerful of the two brothers. Lord Muruga, being the younger and swifter one, started off on his peacock, confident of winning the race. On the other hand, Lord Ganesha, who is known for his intelligence and wisdom, sat at the starting line, looking relaxed and unfazed.

    As the race began, Lord Muruga raced ahead on his peacock, flying at great speed around the universe. But despite his speed and agility, he could not overtake Lord Ganesha, who sat there, still and composed. Lord Muruga raced on, but no matter how fast he went, Lord Ganesha remained ahead of him. Finally, Lord Muruga realized that Lord Ganesha was not moving at all, but rather, he had gone around his parents, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, who represented the entire universe, and declared himself the winner of the race.

    Both these stories may seem paradoxical in nature, but they carry a deeper message about the nature of competition and intelligence. In the story of Achilles and the tortoise, the paradox arises from the assumption that the distance between the two will always be infinite, and that Achilles can never make up the head start that the tortoise has. Similarly, in the story of Lord Muruga and Lord Ganesha, the paradox arises from the assumption that the race is a literal one, and that the winner will be the one who covers the most distance.

    However, both stories also teach us that intelligence is not just about speed or agility, but also about wisdom and understanding. Lord Ganesha, despite being physically slower than Lord Muruga, was able to outsmart him and win the race by using his intelligence and wisdom. Similarly, in the story of Achilles and the tortoise, the paradox arises from a flawed assumption, and the solution lies in understanding the nature of the problem.

    In conclusion, both these stories teach us that intelligence and wisdom are not just about physical speed or agility, but also about understanding the nature of the problem at hand. They teach us to question our assumptions and look beyond the obvious, in order to find solutions to seemingly paradoxical situations. As such, they offer valuable lessons for us to apply in our own lives, both in terms of problem-solving and in terms of our attitudes towards competition and intelligence.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mustafa1 April 2023 at 00:21

    Great description

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous2 April 2023 at 17:27

    Are you referring to Sri VVN?

    ReplyDelete

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