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In conversation with podcaster Lex Fridman, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke about renowned mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, invoking a connection between science and spirituality. He said that Ramanujan derived his ideas from spiritual discipline, where one integrates self and work.
"I deeply respect him (Ramanujan), and everyone in my country respects him as well because I strongly believe there's a deep connection between science and spirituality. If you closely observe many scientifically advanced minds, you'll find they're often spiritually advanced, too. They're not disconnected from spirituality," the Prime Minister said. "Srinivasa Ramanujan once said that his mathematical ideas came from the goddess he worshipped, meaning ideas emerge from spiritual discipline, and discipline is more than just hard work. It means fully devoting yourself to a task and completely immersing yourself in it so much that you become one with your work," he added. Srinivasa Ramanujan (1887-1920), the man who reshaped twentieth-century mathematics with his various contributions in several mathematical domains, including mathematical analysis, infinite series, continued fractions, number theory, and game theory is regarded as one of the greatest mathematicians of all time. He was self-taught and grew up in poverty in Tamil Nadu's Kumbakonam. He left the the world at the youthful age of 32, Ramanujan made significant contributions to mathematics that only a few others could match in their lifetime. Every year, Ramanujan's birth anniversary on December 22 is observed as National Mathematics Day in India. By his own admission, he received formulae from Hindu goddess Namagiri, a form of goddess Mahalakshmi. Highlighting the difference between information and knowledge, PM Modi said that possessing information doesn't reflect knowledge. He said that knowledge evolves through reflection and understanding. The PM suggested that people should be open to different sources of knowledge, which would help them form new ideas. "The more open we are to new and different sources of knowledge. The newer ideas we'll have. I think it's important for us to clearly understand the difference between information and knowledge. Some people mistakenly confuse information with knowledge, carrying around large amounts of information, but I don't believe information alone equals knowledge. Knowledge is something deeper. It gradually evolves through processing, reflection and understanding. Recognising this difference is important in how we handle both," he added. Speaking about his experience in the Himalayas, PM Modi recounted that he roamed the mighty Himalayas for two years during a period of self-experimentation. This journey, the Prime Minister said, played a pivotal role in strengthening him and enabling him to discover his "inner power." The PM said he embraced the solitude of the mountains during these two years. "I spent time in the Himalayas, embracing the solitude of the mountains. I met many remarkable individuals along the way. Some were great ascetics, people who had renounced everything, but still, my mind remained restless. Perhaps it was my age of curiosity, of wanting to learn and to understand. It was a new experience, a world shaped by the mountains, ice, and towering, snow-covered peaks. But all of this played a huge role in shaping me. It strengthened me from within and enabled me to discover my inner power," the PM said. (ANI)
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