Childhood Dream Realized

One of many of my childhood dreams was to visit Science Activity Center (called Muktangan Vidnyan Shodhika) at  Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), (inside Savitribai Phule Pune University). This is a place that came into existence due to efforts of a great human named : “Arvind Gupta“. I also wanted to meet him but unfortunately he was out of city. This is a beautiful place and everyone who has any kind of relation with science must visit this place before he/she dies. At this place you will find science blossoming everywhere.

One of the person working here explains me : ” At this place we find science behind jugaad”. [“Juggad” is a slang for Hindi speaking people meaning: collect waste material and construct some thing useful out of it]. He also demonstrated me several things that they have developed out of trash like “infinite ink pen” ; “indigenous award winning levitation model”; “box out of cold drink bottle” (not yet on internet), so on there are more than 300 such ” toys from trash”..

Here you see science in its true divine form. Everybody is welcome here. Whoever reading this post, must visit : www.arvindguptatoys.com (I am a regular visitor for last 8 years).

Kya Mangta hai?

My hostel

The first expression I came across here in Marathi was “Kya mangta hai?” i.e “What do you want?”. In case of Odiya, ” Kona?” i.e. “What?” was the first expression that I encountered (10 months ago). It has been a week in Pune. So far I have visited ILS Law College and Film and Television Institute in addition to Bhaskaracharya Pratisthana. I also got an opportunity to “see” IMO medalist teaching young students for upcoming INMO.

BP Lobby

This is India’s oldest Olympiad training center located at end of a small street at heart of the city. Here I am left alone with my mathematics for whole day (just get out of my room for having meals). This is a wonderful place to do mathematics since there is no distraction (yesterday only my mother made me realize that there is no television here). Only problem I have here is high level of air pollution. Sometimes I feel to go out of room for a walk but unlike Bhubaneswar here there is lot of pollution (may be comparable to that of New Delhi). But food here (as well as Mohali) is much better than at Bhubaneswar (whether road side stalls or restaurants).

Spotted a beautiful bird eating wild red berries from tree adjacent to window of my room (sorry I don't own a good camera)

A Mathematical Journey

As I had quoted Paul Erdős in my earlier post, “The Bitter Truth of Love” :

Another Roof, Another Proof.

It is really boring to be lonely and remain fixed at one point. Also you have no one to share thoughts. You just have to keep your thoughts and ideas buried deep inside your heart because you know that there is nobody to listen them. So I decided to visit mathematics hotspots this sizzling summer.

1.  Ajitgarh (formerly Mohali), Punjab

Rock Garden

At the start of my summer break I will be attending 30th Annual Conference of Ramanujan Mathematical Society (14th May – 17th May 2015) at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali (as a student). There I would be able to meet some Big Shots like : Harold Edwards (New York University, USA); Ram Murty (Queens University, Canada)…..

2.  Pune, Maharashtra

Pune University

Then I will be visiting Bhaskaracharya Pratishthana [a mathematics research institute registered under University of Pune; Reg. No. MAH/1127/(POONA)(F-967)] for about a month as part of my first summer internship. Pune has over a hundred educational institutes and more than nine deemed universities apart from the University of Pune. Pune has a large number of quality academic and research institutes.

3.  Almora, Uttrakhand

Almora City

I will be in Almora for about two weeks attending : “Undergraduate Summer Workshop on Real Analysis and Algebra” at Centre of Excellence in Mathematical Sciences, SSJ Campus, Kumaon University, Almora. Almora has appropriate environment for attaining calmness and concentrating on mathematics, also as said by Swami Vivekanand:

These mountains are associated with the best memories of our race: Here, therefore, must be one of centres, not merely of activity, but more of calmness of meditation, and of peace and I hope some one to realize it.

4.  New Delhi, Delhi

India Gate

As my fourth destination this summer, I will be at New Delhi to do another summer internship at Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD). AUD was established in 2007 (the same year when NISER was established).

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Then finally after travelling for whole of my summer vacations I will return to my own institute which I believe would have by then shifted to its permanent campus at Jatni.

NISER, Bhubaneswar (Permanent Campus at Jatni)

Expect more updates from me about my journey ……… since it is said:

Sometimes it’s the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination.