Author: Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
Publication: The Hindustan Times
Date: August 15, 2009
URL: http://www.hindustantimes.com/News/india/Tribute-to-a-truly-inspired-mind/Article1-443443.aspx
I am happy that Hindustan Times has brought
out the India Inspired series showcasing innovations and creative thinking,
which can transform the lives of many in the country.
Such innovative spirit has to become a part
of life of every young mind in the nation. I would like to present to the
readers two great minds who have nurtured creativity and innovation even in
the most difficult circumstances and both of them are remembered for their
work.
Birth of Creativity in a difficult situation
Mario Capecchi had a difficult and challenging childhood. For nearly four
years, Capecchi lived with his mother in a chalet in the Italian Alps.
When World War II broke out, his mother, along
with other Bohemians, was sent to Dachau as a political prisoner. Anticipating
her arrest by the Gestapo, she had sold all her possessions and given the
money to friends to help raise her son on their farm.
On the farm, he had to grow own wheat, harvest;
take it to miller to be ground. Then, the money which his mother left for
him ran out and at the age of four and half years, he started sometimes living
in the streets, sometimes joining gangs of other homeless children, sometimes
living in orphanages and most of the time hungry.
He spent the last year in the city of Reggio
Emelia, hospitalised for malnutrition where his mother found him on his ninth
birthday after a year of searching. Within weeks, Capecchi and his mother
sailed to America to join his uncle and aunt.
He started third grade afresh and studied
political science. But he didn't find it interesting and changed into science,
became a mathematics graduate in 1961 with a double major in Physics and Chemistry.
Although he really liked Physics, its elegance
and simplicity, he switched to molecular biology in graduate school, on the
advice of James D Watson, who advised him that he should not be bothered about
small things, since such pursuits are likely to produce only small answers.
His objective was to do gene targeting. The
experiments started in 1980 and by 1984, Capecchi had clear success.
Three years later, he applied the technology
to mice. In 1989, he developed the first mice with targeted mutations. The
technology created by Doctor Capecchi allows researchers to create specific
gene mutations anywhere they choose in the genetic code of a mouse. By manipulating
gene sequences in this way, researchers are able to mimic human disease conditions
on animal subjects. What the research of Mario Capecchi means for human health
is nothing short of amazing, his work with mice could lead to cures for Alzheimer's
disease or even Cancer. The innovations in genetics that Mario Capecchi achieved
won him the Nobel Prize in 2007. The message we learn from Mario Capecchi:
"When you wish upon a star, Makes no
difference who you are Anything your heart desires Will come to you"
A genius well ahead of his time, Ramanujan,
born and raised in Erode, Tamil Nadu, first encountered formal mathematics
at the age of 10. He demonstrated a natural ability at mathematics, and was
given books on advanced trigonometry by SL Loney.
He mastered this book by age thirteen, and
even discovered theorems of his own. He demonstrated unusual mathematical
skills at school, winning many awards.
By the age of seventeen, Ramanujan was conducting
his own mathematical research on Bernoulli numbers and the Euler-Mascheroni
constant. He received a scholarship to study at Government College in Kumbakonam.
He failed his non-mathematical coursework, and lost his scholarship. Srinivasa
Ramanujan lived only for 33 years and did not have formal higher education
or means of living.
Yet, his inexhaustible spirit and love for
his subject made him contribute to the treasure house of mathematical research
- some of which are still under serious study and engaging allavailable world
mathematicians' efforts to establish formal proofs.
Ramanujan was a unique Indian genius who could
melt the heart of the most hardened and outstanding Cambridge mathematician
Prof G H Hardy. In fact, it is not an exaggeration to say that it was Professor
Hardy who discovered Ramanujan for the world. Professor Hardy rated various
geniuses on a scale of 100.
While most of the mathematicians got a rating
of around 30 with rare exceptions reaching to 60, Ramanujan got a rating of
100. There cannot be any better tribute to either Ramanujan or to Indian heritage.
One of the tributes to Ramanujan says that, 'every Integer is a personal friend
of Ramanujan'.
Ramanujan used to say "An equation means
nothing to me unless it expresses a thought of God". For him the understanding
of numbers was a process of spiritual revelation and connection.
In his investigations into pure mathematics,
he drew extraordinary conclusions that mystified his colleagues, but were
usually proven, eventually, to be right. He opened a universe of theory that
still today is reaping applications. The landscape of the infinite was to
Ramanujan a reality of both mathematics and spirit.
Dear readers you saw, how great innovative
minds even in difficult circumstances, challenged the problems to succeed
through the instrument of knowledge and creativity.
Dear readers, when I we see the great lives
of Mario Capecchi and Ramanujan, very important traits emanate for achievements
are: Inventions and discoveries have emanated from creative minds that have
been constantly working and imaging the outcome in the mind. With imaging
and constant effort, all the forces of the universe work for that inspired
mind, thereby leading to inventions or discoveries. Higher the number of creative
minds in the country, the best results of innovation in all the three sectors
of the economy will emerge.
Inventions and discoveries is possible only
through inspired minds. Inspired minds will elevate the nation in thinking
and action… May I wish the people of our nation a happy, prosperous,
peaceful and dynamic life. On this Independence day, let us all take the independence
day oath:
"My national Flag flies in my heart and
I will bring glory to my nation".
