Over 200 Gather at Ballard Estate to Explore Connections Between Math and Music
An evening event exploring the intersection of science, philosophy, and music drew more than 200 attendees to the Ballard Estate centre of New Acropolis Mumbai. The 'Day of the Arts' celebration, themed 'The Beauty and Purpose of Numbers in Nature & Music', brought together mathematicians, philosophers, and musicians to examine how numerical principles underpin both the natural world and artistic expression.
Opening the evening, Sivan Barzilay, Branch Manager of the New Acropolis Mumbai Centre, stated that philosophy, science, and art are "not separate disciplines, but different expressions of the same human quest that aims to better understand reality, reveal truth and create meaning." She described numbers as representing qualities such as order, proportion, rhythm, and relationship.
Prof. Anish Ghosh, Dean of the School of Mathematics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, provided a scientific perspective. He explored the relationship between mathematics and nature, highlighting how mathematical principles are woven into living systems. "Proportion is beauty and mathematics is the pursuit of beauty," Ghosh said.
Philosopher and philanthropist Zarina Screwvala, who spoke in conversation with Ghosh, encouraged participants to look beyond the obvious. Screwvala remarked that there are laws and principles in nature that people often fail to see, suggesting a need to "penetrate that veil to go deeper and see life for the beauty and the wonder that it is."
The discussion then shifted to music, featuring keyboardist Zubin Balaporia, drummer Gino Banks, and tabla maestro Pandit Aditya Kalyaanpur. The artists reflected on how rhythm, discipline, and lifelong practice have shaped their lives, while demonstrating these principles on their instruments.
Balaporia spoke about discipline as a key lesson in music, adding that "Musicians are only discovering the rhythm that already exists." Banks described music as a journey of motivation, discipline, and obsession. Pandit Aditya Kalyaanpur reflected on how decades of riyaaz taught him humility, stating, "You can't play today what you played yesterday; it's gone."
The evening concluded with a collaborative musical performance by the trio, which received a standing ovation. Attendees also explored an exhibition inspired by the Fibonacci sequence and the Golden Ratio, participating in activities such as drawing the golden spiral, examining floral geometry, and joining a percussion circle.
The programme was organized entirely by volunteers as part of New Acropolis' year-long celebrations marking 20 years of the School of Philosophy in India.
