Maths mela teaches about the beauty of the subject

In the makeshift mathematics laboratory at Jawahar Bal Bhavan on Charni Road, Shivani Shinde (14) is teaching other eager students who have stopped at her table, about different kinds of solid shapes.

In the makeshift mathematics laboratory at Jawahar Bal Bhavan on Charni Road, Shivani Shinde (14) is teaching other eager students who have stopped at her table, about different kinds of solid shapes.

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“Earlier I used to be nervous when it came to maths,” said the St Columba School student. “But I got over that once I explored it through such practical applications such as these solid shapes.”

On Tuesday, about 600 students trooped into the Bhavan to participate in the second day of the Maths Mela, organised by Prithivi Theatre, British Counil and TIFR, among others. The mela aims to reach out to schoolstudents to engage them with the subject at a conceptual and aesthetic level.

“The abstract aesthetic fascination of a mathematician is very close to that of an artist for the arts,” said Sameera Iyengar, director of projects at Prithvi. “We wanted to share with students the beauty of the subject.”

The mela will travel through various schools, including Jamnabai Narsee School at Juhu, Children’s Academy at Kandivli and Kendriya Vidyalaya at Colaba, but is open to students across schools. The mela’s schedule includes film screenings, performances, readings, juggling, and mridangam performances, among others.