Update: we’re looking for some sketches to be made of our vision for the space. Do get in touch if you would like to contribute!
Here I will add updates/ideas to a project I am working on to build a museum/theme park dedicated to Srinivasa Ramanujan.
If you want to be involved, do reach out to me at [email protected]. There are many parts of the project which I have very little experience in e.g. it would be great to have some sketches for the museum so if you would like to help out, I would love to hear from you!
My Story
In celebration of the completion of my Undergraduate degree, I travelled to India to retrace the footsteps of Srinivasa Ramanujan – the legendary Mathematician from South India who voyaged to Cambridge for tutelage and mentorship from Professor G.H. Hardy.
My first interaction with Srinivasa Ramanujan began when, I stumbled upon ‘The Man who knew Infinity on my father’s bookshelf. Reading this epic biography proved to be a life changing experience. Since that moment, I have devoted my time to understanding his monumental legacy.
As I travelled around South India, visiting the key landmarks in Ramanujan’s life, I was overwhelmed with pride but also felt great disappointment and sorrow at India’s efforts to preserve and honour Srinivasa Ramanujan’s legacy. Being of Indian heritage and an ardent fan of Ramanujan, my heart bleeds at the little effort and resources that have been allocated to preserve his greatness.
This trip began as a personal journey but has now evolved into a bigger mission. A mission to celebrate Ramanujan and his monumental legacy and inspire the next generation of Scientists and Mathematicians.
In response, I sent a letter to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi and the Ministry of Education. You can find a copy of it below:
After being bounced back within the various departments of government of India, I was finally put in touch with the right people. Unfortunately due to the nature of project funding in India, I needed to already own the land for the museum to be built on! So I had to take a few steps back.
Nevertheless, whilst my letter was touring the various departments of India, I started to plan what the museum would look like. From the ideal location to the specific exhibitions and experiences, I penned all my ideas down and ‘built’ the museum on paper.
But funding was still an issue. This is when I started developing a business plan; I wanted the museum to be self sustainable and not have to consistently require patrons/donors to keep it afloat.
Here I started to look deeper into the experience I wished to create. What would make the museum an attraction? How do we stay true to our message but also make it a sought after experience? This trail of thought led me to find the original prospectus of Disney Land!
Reading Walt’s original plans and thought processes helped me craft the museum with a focus on the experience and sensations one should feel as they walk through. I went back and made huge edits to my initial plan but I still felt I was missing other opportunities e.g. an inTuition centre, partnerships with local universities, a possible research component.
It was about this time that the government announced their National Education Policy and their focus in the education space. I poured over the 500 page document to better understand what the future of education would look like in India and how we can both coexist and contribute.
I am currently putting the finishing touches on the business plan and the ‘report’ detailing what the vision for the museum is. Stay tuned!