Mathematics key to develop knowledge power: Super 30 founder, Anand Kumar
Identifying a comprehensive knowledge in mathematics as a must for developing knowledge power, Super 30 founder and mathematician Anand Kumar today mooted a reality show based on brain-teasing sums on the lines of one existing for cricket and film.

"In this era of reality shows, can't we have a reality show based on brain-teasing sums? Cannot we have a mathematician hosting the show and have a role model, as cricket and films, for math and science also," Kumar said speaking at a function on world mathematics day on 126th birth anniversary of mathematics legend Srinivas Ramanujuan.

Last year India had declared this year as the 'year of mathematics' as a mark of respect to the great mathematician.

Maintaining that Ramanujan was special and such legends were always rare, Anand said it was high time India pondered why it could not have another of his type in the last 126 years.

"Perhaps, it is time to take a look into our education system, because interest for mathematics needs to be identified in children. May be, our present education system is not able to identify and preserve the talent. We are too engrossed with who qualifies for IIT or other exams and don't look forward, like America or China.

"Even Serbia has a special school for talented students and they dominate international Olympiads along with China year after year," he added.

Lamenting lack of interest in mathematics among students, he said there was need to make them enjoy.

Anand said growing use of computers and calculators from primary school level was also affecting children's creativity. "Technology can make life easy, but it also tends to nip inventiveness", he said.

Kumar, the founder of super30 is known for providing opportunity to 30 students selected from economically deprived sections of the society to qualify in IITs.

He met Chhattisgarh chief minister Ram Singh yesterday at Raipur who evinced interest in spread of his concept in his state.