V Sivashankara Sastry: Bridging the worlds of logic and creativity

Nemichandra narrates an initiative in Kolar that uses everyday objects to explain various complex maths concepts, making learning effortless.

On December 26, 2021, during a programme at Kolar, I happened to meet and interact with V Sivashankara Sastry, who invited me to visit his home later that day.

As I entered his house, painted in Warli design, I felt as though I had stepped into a mini museum. The house was full of his personal collections.

There were so many items that sparked my curiosity — fossils collected during his field trips and treks, a number of mathematical toys, simple tools and mechanisms designed by him for science demonstrations and books on a wide range of subjects.

Origami and paper models were scattered all around. There were bugs too. But on a closer look, I realised they were not real — they were life-like models made out of waste wedding cards.

Science communicator VSS Sastry conducts workshops on mathematics and science. His sessions ‘Maths through Origami’ are popular among children.

I wondered how a person could have so many interests and be good at each one of them. “Sir, what did you work as?” I asked in amazement.

Sastry was a bank employee for more than three decades. However, that is not his only identity. Born in 1955 in Kolar, he grew up amidst picturesque rocky surroundings.

His first collection of fossils dates back to his school days, when he would roam around the granite rocks and caves of Antaragange hills.

Later on, as his interest in mathematics deepened, he began demonstrating even intricate mathematical equations effortlessly, with simple toys. I never knew a mathematical formula could be so beautifully represented and lucidly explained. 

It is difficult to introduce a person like VSS Sastry. He is a science and mathematics communicator, a science writer, translator, modeller and origamian. But even that is not a complete list of what he is.

He has immense interest and deep knowledge in diverse fields including paleography, which is the study of ancient and historical handwriting. 

Even while working as a bank employee, he involved school students, particularly the underprivileged ones, in workshops where he taught them the basic concepts of science and mathematics, a mission he has continued till today. 

Making a difference

What makes him different is the use of everyday objects and inexpensive materials such as paper, sticks, marbles and threads to explain astronomical events, and mathematical 3D abstractions. He has even designed costless experiments to illustrate the principles of aerodynamics.

VSS Sastry.

He combines the art of origami with the science of mathematics and this has made his ‘Maths through Origami’ a hit among children. 

He is also a national resource person for Vigyan Prasar, an organisation that promotes scientific literacy and awareness in the country. 

Until now, he has conducted more than 850 workshops. Now 70 years old, he travels to schools, colleges and other organisations on invitations and happily takes sessions for children.

He expects nothing in return but the joy of reaching out to them and making maths fun to learn. 

Cancer visited him in 2017, but he battled it bravely and continued his work. While most of the patients around him were depressed and stuck in the ‘why me?’ groove, Sastry cheerfully went around saying, “Cancer is just like an accident — it can happen to anyone.” He kept himself busy in the hospital with reading, writing, translating and sketching. 

Mind behind the Math Park

He is also the designer of the interactive Math Park installations at the Agastya Foundation, which I had visited earlier at Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh. I had marveled at them then, unaware that the mind behind them was Sastry.

Sastry has authored more than 30 books in Kannada and English, an extension of his mission to spread maths and science awareness which is critical as the world gears up for an AI revolution.

VSS Sastry.