Srinivasa Ramanujan was a self-taught Indian mathematician whose intuitive grasp of numbers led to groundbreaking work in number theory. Despite little formal training, he made profound discoveries that still influence mathematics today.
From fun stalls, games to lively activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy throughout the event!
Vishwa Vidyapeeth with a passion for mathematics during the Math Mela, featured ‘Lilavathi.’ This Kannada play delves into the enduring legacy of Bhaskaracharya II, the esteemed 12th-century Indian mathematician renowned for his seminal work, Siddantha Shiromani, notably ‘Lilavathi.’ His contributions marked the peak of the Indian mathematical tradition that began with Aryabhata.
Lilavathi gained immense popularity and was extensively studied and commented upon. It was translated into Persian by Faizi during Emperor Akbar’s reign and later into English by H.T. Colebrooke in the 18th century, helping spread Indian mathematical knowledge to Europe and beyond.
Originally written in Kannada by Sri Shashidhara Dongre—an engineer by profession and a passionate playwright—the play is directed by Prof. H. S. Umesh, a renowned theatre artist and Nataka Academy awardee.
With a runtime of around 100 minutes, Lilavathi is both a tribute to ancient Indian scholarship and an engaging theatrical experience.
The event showcased the Jugalbandhi of two Indian classical dance styles – the South Indian classical dance form Bharathanatyam and the Northern Indian classical dance form Kathak by Smt. Kirti Ramgopal and Shri. Sweekruth B P. Celebrating the contrasts and parallels in styles and exploring the beauty of Mathematics (in tandem with the spirit of the festival) that is present through symmetry, geometry, calculations, permutations, progressions, speed and so much more, this presentation is a beautiful amalgamation of art and science.
Among the diverse performances, Prof. Samuel Joseph and Prof. Supurna Sinha’s exhibit stood out, showcasing mastery in curved geometry through intricate soap carving, a testament to precision and innovative artistry. This engaging session demonstrates simple yet fascinating experiments using soap films to illustrate key mathematical and physical concepts. Through visually captivating and hands-on activities, participants can explore ideas such as minimal surfaces, tension, and geometry in a fun and accessible way. It’s a creative approach to making abstract principles come alive through everyday materials.
The students witnessed an unforgettable experience as Magician Sanjay captivated the audience with a spectacular blend of magic, illusion and mind-reading in connection with Math. Padma Shri Parshuram Gangavane’s performance of Kalsutri Bahulya, a traditional string puppet show, alongside shadow puppetry (Dayati) and ritual theatre (Pangul Bael) which combines visuals, dialogue and live music stole the show.
The final day witnessed the Music Jugalbandi – SamYukth, a collaborative concept of melody-rhythm This is a music template where all the respective instruments will have utmost freedom to express their art and virtuosity, bringing out the best possible instrumental music dynamics in Indian Classical system. This is a 3 member music team with violin, mridangam and ghatam which orchestrates a symphony that transcended borders, showcasing the profound dynamism of Indian classical music.
Mridangam: Sai Shiv
Violin: Keshav Mohankumar
Ghatam : Shamith S Gowda
Enjoy vibrant performances by our talented students, adding energy and charm to the entire event!
