Ramanujan's slate !
My attention was brought to this Hindu article http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/article2137709.ece which shows Prof. Bruce C. Berndt, Michio Suzuki Distinguished Research Professor of Mathematics at the University of Illinois, editor of the Ramanujan Journal, and a recipient of the Steele Prize from the American Mathematical Society (for his work explicating the theorems in Ramanujan's Notebooks) holding a slate that belonged to Srinivasa Ramanujan.
It seems Ramanujan used to work many of his problems on his slate. This made me think of my boyhood days. I always had a slate in the house even when I was studying MSc. I used to practise proofs for many mathematical theorems and derive many formulas in physics on the slate only. In those days paper was quite costly. In the college, I used to buy a ream of white paper and stitch note books with them to save money. Later when I was writing my thesis in IISc, I used the backside of computer outputs for all the initial drafts. As some people on this group remark how economical they are with the use of rangOli powder, I too was with paper. Of course, after coming here, I always feel sad how paper is wasted. If there is one typo on a page, then they print the whole thing (including the properly printed ones) again. Finally they feel happy to recycle them instead of conserving it in the very first place. Not only for practising proofs for problems, the slate is definitely handy for practising rangOlis too. Is the slate still being used in India by the young kids? How many of you practise kOlams on slate?
Regards! - mOhana
Comments
ammuchandhini
Wed, 2011-06-29 19:28
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Nice topic jkm sir...we used to do d same thing like backside of used computer papers for my daughter....I remember our Lakshmi saying that even now she uses a slate for a rough sketch of her designs...(Lakshmi...we miss u)...
Lata
Wed, 2011-06-29 19:32
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I think slates are still used in India, but the wooden ones had been replaced by plastic slates. Slates are more popular in village schools, I guess. I haven't heard of slates being used in the "English medium" schools or in the cities.
rajamma_2
Wed, 2011-06-29 20:04
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Good topic.Yes all old generation people love using slate even today. "slettum ballappamum pole"' "ஸ்லேட்டும் பலப்பமும் போலே"
is the proverb we use often. I often use slate for creating new designs. And I have a set of used computer papers next to my computer to copy the kolams which are challenging . Of course it is fun making use of the waste materiels (rather I call it USED materiels) for decorating my kolams.
rajamma
Suguna Murugesan
Wed, 2011-06-29 20:37
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thanq for ur idea. i have no slate but i'll buy soon!-suguna murugesan
Dr.Rekha Shetty
Wed, 2011-06-29 20:47
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Rao sir i fully agree with u i use the backside of used paper for internal notes .In our office each one of us try to fully utilize the paper properly .At least i try to take the final printouts only after my thorugh corrections .If the note is small then we cut the paper accordindgly and ulilize it .Now my steno also follows the same .If bychance paper get stuck in the printer then we remove that and use for some rough work .If u see my home work i have cut the paper and used for the second one .Regarding slates now we get big black plastic paper which we can use it to practice maths and physics theorum .Many college studenents still use the same in India .
Dr.Rekha Shetty
Wed, 2011-06-29 20:54
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Rao sir i can suggest one more thing when we remove the rangoli the endproduct of multicolourful colour can be used as background or as a shading for the next rangoli .I have tried this before as we get unusal,classic colour whch is difficult to get from mixing .unfortunately i have not clicked the photograph of the same to upload .I request all the members who does the kolam on regular basis can do this (if it is(reusable) allowed in their custom.
vasanthi
Thu, 2011-06-30 00:36
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nowadays city children really miss slate and stick (balpam)..but we have black board (small one) in our house for my son to practice sums, drawings etc...
jkmrao
Thu, 2011-06-30 03:40
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By the way, people in Madras may have a glimpse of the house where Ramanujan lived. It is situated in one of the lanes branching from the southern street of the pond of the pArthasArathy temple at Triplicane. There is a plaque outside the house giving this information. I had seen it from the outside many times.
Regards! - mOhana
umaraja
Fri, 2011-07-01 07:31
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s, but its very soft and bright to write, though they didnt recommend at skool i made papu to write his beginning letters in a slate,
smahalakshmi
Sat, 2011-07-02 23:00
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Rao Sir, Now-a-days, schools in the cities have given laptops for children. My Cousin's kids were studying in PSBB, Millenium. The students are using laptops from second standard onwards. The habit of writing using pen or pencil is gone. Then where is the room to think about slate and slate pencil.
Mahalakshmi
anirudh
Wed, 2011-08-17 10:17
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yes woodden slates have been replaced by plastic ones and plastic ones have been replaced by "classmate pcs". i have one in attic....eventhough i dont use the slate for practicing rangolis, i use my comp table to draw using chalk
.....i still remember using the red-oxide painted walls at my granny's place to draw, practice sums, q&as after all the play, each kid was given one wall to write using balapa :), it was fun learning. now the house has been renovated and those kind of walls are missing.