Kerala   

A way with numbers

.

Passion for maths: Palliyara Sreedharan

For 57-year-old Palliyara Sreedharan, teaching mathematics is a passion. He continues to teach his students even after he voluntarily retired from teaching service. After his retirement, he spends his time writing books on mathematics with a creative flair aimed at making the subject interesting.

Mr. Sreedharan, who served as a school teacher for 27 years, has written 70 books, including 12 in English. Most of these are on mathematics and can be categorised as stories, biographies of mathematicians, reference books and technical books. His 500-page ‘Ganitha Vigyana Kosham’ (Maths encyclopaedia) is a reference book. Some of the titles of his books in English show his obsession to make Maths teaching and learning interesting.

Enjoy With Maths, Mathematics a Great Wonder, Fascinating Problems in Mathematics, Easy Ways in Mathematics, Mathematics and Magic Pot, Magic of Numbers, Magic Squares and Puzzles in Maths are the titles of some of his books that highlight his view that Maths is a treasure of thousands of interesting puzzles.

“Maths can be taught as an interesting subject if some easy ways are followed,” he says. Most people loathe Maths due to the complexity of steps usually followed, he says adding that his books are an attempt to introduce easy ways in which the subject can be taught.

Mr. Sreedharan’s 50th book Ganithasasthra Prathibhakal (a book on great mathematicians) won the best science book award of the Kerala Science, Technology and Environment Department.

His Poojyathinte Katha (the story of zero) won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi endowment award for best children’s literature. Biographies of Aryabhata, Pythagoras and Ramanujam have also been widely appreciated.

A member of the governing body of the State Institution of Children’s Literature of the State Government, Mr. Sreedharan says he has made his contribution to making mathematics interesting for students.

He earlier served as member of the Government committees for syllabus reforms and textbook production.

He is a life member of the New Delhi-based Indian Society for History of Mathematics and the Chennai-based Association of Mathematics Teachers in India.

Mr. Sreedharan claimed that no other writer in the State has penned as many books on mathematics. He is now planning to compile all his works in one volume.

Mohamed Nazeer

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Kerala Chief Secretary seeks voluntary retirement
Central varsity for Kerala soon
A month of spiritual purification
Agents of change
From pots to computers
Need for a little coordination
Kochi beckons
A way with numbers
NIE programme launched
Fiery protest
Engagement: Palakkad
IUML seeks Benoy Viswom’s expulsion
Pushed to the brink
Taking a break
Plastic menace
Retirement age up
Officials made scapegoats: Chandy
Pages 6 & 8
Campus notes

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu