Diogenes and me (Ramanujan updated!)

Diogenes of Sinope was a famous Greek philosopher who belonged to the class commonly referred to as the 'Cynics'. He was a pupil to one of the descendants of Socrates and was introduced to the ascetic way of life by his master. Infact he was imposed to such a severely austere way of life during his initiation years by his master's will that it almost hung over the edge of brutality. It was probably these years of extreme disregard for all attachments, not only at the metaphysical level, but also at extreme physical levels that Diogenes evolved as a major amplification of his master's image, and became the epitome of cynicism and austerity in the Greek legends. All his life he lived in a tub, had raw onions for his meals and slept over a bed of bones.


In due time, Diogenes only intensified his practice austerity. He gave up his clothes and in no time was left with only a single possession- A cup for drinking water out of the fountain. It is said that he once observed a dog licking water from the same fountain in its usual way and that made him realise the futility of the cup that he kept. He threw his last possession away too. When asked how to avoid sexual temptation he began masturbating. Later on he remarked on hunger, "If only I could soothe my belly by rubbing it."

A couple more fables of Diogenes are famous, one that gives us a peep into his philosophy of cynicism. It is said that he used to roam around in broad daylight with a lighted torch in his hand and when asked what he was doing, he'd say, "I'm looking for a honest man!" It is said that, once Alexander, the great himself came to meet Diogenes, having heard about his legend and remarkability. Impressed by his outspokenness and wit, Alexander asked Diogenes to demand any boon he desired for; to which Diogenes requested the great emperor to stand out of the way of his sunlight!

Alexander is known to have remarked, "If I would not have been Alexander, I should have liked to be Diogenes!". Both Alexander and Diogenes incidentally died on the same day. Alexander was 33 and Diogenes was 90.

Diogenes was sometimes a man with singularly gross habits, and the word that comes to my mind when I picture the way he would have lived each of those disgustingly happy days spanning 90 years of his lifetime is- 'grotesque'. Infact, the citizens commonly referred to him as "The Dog". But I know for sure, that he would have spat on my face if he saw me make this miserable analysis of his life; like he did on the face of a 'charitable' man who invited him to his house for dinner among the aristocrats. But Diogenes was a happy man. And he probably found what he was looking for in those 90 long years living naked on a pile of bones and feeding on onions.

(monograph on Ramanujan shall be continued...bit by bit in dollops in the same place!)