The
first public recognition of Ramanujan’s extraordinary prowess
came, in the Porter Hall of Kumbakonam,
when he was awarded a special prize -- the Sri. K. Ranganatha
Rao Prize -- at the annual prize distribution ceremony of the
Town High School, in 1904, for proficiency in mathematics. Ramanujan
passed a competitive examination in English and Mathematics and
secured the Junior Subrahmanyam Scholarship.
He joined the Government Arts college in
Kumbakonam, in the F.A. (First Examination in Arts) class
in 1904. His preoccupation with mathematics
during this time made Prof. P.V.Seshu Iyer advice him not to neglect
subjects other than mathematics. Unfortunately he
did not pass in English and Sanskrit and hece was not promoted
to the Senior F.A. Class in January 1905.
His
mother, who played a domineering role in his life, tried to persuade
the Principal of the Government Arts College to take note of Ramanujan's
extraordinary mathematical ability and appealed for a continuance
of the scholarship, but to no avail.
He
lost his Scholarship. Ramanujan discontinued his studies at Government
Arts College, Kumbakonam, due to this and the poverty of his family.
