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| Photo: Manjul Bhargava |
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Speaking to TOI on the sidelines of the ICTS at Ten event, the maths professor from Princeton University cracks the code on why mathematics is different for a researcher when compared to a student. According to Bhargava, mathematics gets an altogether different look when poetry, history and more are weaved into it.
You approach mathematics from an artistic perspective. How hard is it to bridge the gap between maths and fun?
Most mathematicians think of their works as art rather than science. Any pure mathematician would be delighted if they hear their work is elegant or beautiful. But the problem is that today's kids are unable to look at the subject this way. I was lucky to learn maths on my own. My mother was a mathematician who always asked me to figure out problems in the subject by myself. This was how I started perceiving the subject as fun.
Why aren't we able to achieve these forms of learning and teaching in today's classrooms? How is it different from the maths pedagogy in US?
Our textbooks today have largely remained the same since the pre-colonial era. Students are forced to learn rote and not given the opportunity to explore the subject on their own. There's not much difference in the way it's taught in the US either. Maths isn't taught too well there much like here.
What inspired you to take up mathematics and how are people getting attracted to research in this field?
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Source: Times of India
