Mathematics deserves patronisation

Good news is rare now-a-days. I read one with amazement under the caption of “Love for maths stands tall” (DS, December 6, 2014). AF Mujibur Rahman Foundation, a charitable trust, built an eight-storey modern building for about 850 students of pure and applied mathematics of the University of Dhaka. The Foundation has been awarding medals and prizes to the students of mathematics departments at Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna and Rajshahi universities. The charity also collaborates with Bangladesh Mathematical Society in sponsoring the National Undergraduate Maths Olympiad.

The AF Mujibur Rahman Foundation is the brain child of Rezaur Rahman, a chartered accountant and worthy son of AF Mujibur Rahman who was placed first in first class in his master's exams in pure mathematics at Kolkata University in 1920, beating the record of Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee, then Vice-Chancellor of the university. AF Mujibur Rahman later joined the Indian civil service.

Rezaur Rahman, who is also the chairman of the foundation, has done a remarkable job. He has donated all his properties to the foundation which has spent Tk 20 crore for the building. Be it for the love of his father or any other reason, Rezaur Rahman has chosen the right subject for patronisation at a time when our younger generation has become apathetic towards studies of mathematics and science.

Mathematics is known as the mother of science. Technology is applied science. In this modern world, we cannot conceive of any development without technology. Mathematics is thus closely linked to the development of a country. Logically, if we want to develop our country, we must study mathematics seriously

We should give credit to the AF Mujibur Rahman Foundation for providing both incentives and facilities to our university students for studying mathematics. What is important here is that such incentives should be extended to school levels to build a solid foundation for studying mathematics among school children. This will attract more students to study mathematics and science at higher levels.

Some students often get scared of studying mathematics. They try to memorise different formulae and theorems without understanding. In many western countries, mathematics is taught without any need for memorisation. We need properly trained teachers to make mathematics interesting and attractive to the students.

It is hoped that like the AF Mujibur Rahman Foundation, other charities or individual philanthropists will come forward with scholarships, prizes and other incentives for school students securing the highest grades in mathematics in annual examinations. This will help to popularise mathematics among school children. It will not cost millions. A donation of Tk 10,000 per annum for a school should be enough. Is it difficult for a well-to-do alumnus/alumna to donate this amount to his/her old school?

The writer is a senior nuclear engineer.