Sankyarakshasan makes mathematics interesting

KOCHI: ‘Sankyarakshasan’ by Anjali S, a faculty member of Maharaja’s College, can lure any child with mathematics phobia into the world of numbers with its wonders and amazement. Anjali’s Malayalam translation of Hans Magnus Enzensberger’s ‘Number Devil’ is a delight for any child, especially for those who have a fear of mathematics. In a simple language and style she shows how maths can be interesting.The book opens with the amusing dreams of a little boy, Robert. Perpetually he saw a dirty fish swallowing him every night. Moreover, he saw whatever he craved deeply in his dreams till he became immune to them. But one day he sees a stranger, the ‘Sankyrakshasan’, in his dreams who in the long run changes his perception of mathematics. Robert tells Sankyrakshasan about his maths teacher, Bockel who cannot inspire the students or tap their skills as he is more interested in his biscuits. Gradually Sankyrakshasan takes him on a fantasy-filled journey through the maths world which he comes to enjoy. The black-bearded devil (rakshasan) and Robert solve many a problem at the mental, physical and psychological levels. He makes addition, subtraction, multiplication and division more interesting. The book reveals how an interesting subject such as mathematics loses its sheen in the hands of the wrong teachers. Robert who looked at the devil with skepticism changes his stance after meeting him every day in his dream. As you turn over the pages, Robert stops seeing the devil in his dreams but his passion for maths becomes a reality.  The book is layered with symbols. Robert represents the students, Bockel the teacher, and the mother, any parent. Bockel and the parent do not understand the child’s intellectual experience while Sankyarakshasan is more like a mentor who is passionate about maths and is never able to understand why students can’t delight in it. Robert in turn begins to enjoy maths and thanks the rakshasan in his mind. Published by Poorna publications, the book which has many illustrations, also of maths problems, is priced at `150.