Simply put, I try to explain some challenging topics in maths in the simplest language possible.
I have been fascinated by the world of maths since my childhood. In a world of subjectivities, maths provided a clarity, a certainty, a set of rules to adhere to. I loved spending hours on a problem, often getting lost in the process. It was an escape from a reality where I faced constant rejection.
Something which started as a fascination slowly turned into an aspiration – the desire to unravel the complexities of universe, my surroundings and my mind using the language of maths. However, the biggest challenge for me has always been decoding the language that mathematicians use. Within a few symbols, you could find the work of a lifetime. Its dense, makes you think and when you understand it, it alters your state of mind.
I come from a very small town where one can feel the richness of its history coexisting with a dismal present – Patna, the capital of the state of Bihar, India. Having spent my early childhood playing on streets, which could very well be classified by some as modern slums, my basic nature adapted to the rustic upbringing those lanes (“galis”) provided me. My language, my expressions were far from refined. They were simple impatient filled with wisdom of the local idioms. No one communicated patiently with me and I learnt the same. Words were spoken, often expressing feelings but with no intent.
As a result, I also had a fundamental conflict with the very subject I loved. I lacked the patience to delve into the complexities of a language where everything had to mean something. Imagine exploring an unending vortex – you go 50 metres deep and then lose patience. You want to go deeper but have no patience to do so. How do you continue your journey? You do not return back – you loaf around the 50 metre mark. You love and at the same time hate the depth of this vortex… It pulls you inside and yet it challenges you to overcome your superficial, impatient nature before you are allowed in.
Anyways… enough of self-indulegence! What I am trying to say is that – we often hide what we feel and it hinders our understanding of a complex subject. Over the years, I have realized that its ok to be not smart enough; to try hard and fail; to struggle to grasp something which could be obvious to others. Struggling to unravel the mysteries hidden in the mathematical symbold while at the same time remaining true to my limited potential – this would be underlying writing style you would find if you have unknowingly stumbled upon this blog.
I will try my best to remain true to the language I learnt as a child – the language that common folks around me spoke to understand some of the most advanced topics in mathematics and statistics. And I know I will fail – and when I do so, I hope someone else will communicate these topics in a much simpler way – for only then do you know that they have truly mastered the subject.
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