The book The Man Who Knew Infinity by Robert Kanigel, widely reviewed in India, is a biography of which legendary Indian mathematician?

Introduction / Context:
Biographies of scientists and mathematicians often appear in competitive exam questions, and The Man Who Knew Infinity is one of the most celebrated books of this type. Written by Robert Kanigel, it explores the life and genius of a famous Indian mathematician. This question checks your ability to match that title with the correct personality, an important part of science and biography related general knowledge.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The book title is The Man Who Knew Infinity.
• The author is Robert Kanigel.
• The options list several major Indian scientists: Srinivasa Ramanujan, Vikram Sarabhai, Sir Homi J Bhabha, Sir C V Raman, and Satyendra Nath Bose.
• We assume familiarity with at least the major contributions of these scientists.

Concept / Approach:
The book focuses on Srinivasa Ramanujan, a self taught mathematical genius from India whose work in number theory and infinite series was revolutionary. He later collaborated with the British mathematician G H Hardy at Cambridge. The title The Man Who Knew Infinity symbolically refers to Ramanujan's intuitive understanding of infinite series and complex mathematical relationships. The other scientists listed are eminent figures in physics and space science, but they are not the subject of this particular biography.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise the association of the phrase The Man Who Knew Infinity with mathematics and infinite series. Step 2: Recall that Srinivasa Ramanujan is the Indian mathematician whose life story is told in this book. Step 3: Note that Vikram Sarabhai is known as the father of the Indian space programme, Homi J Bhabha for nuclear science, C V Raman for the Raman effect, and S N Bose for quantum statistics. Step 4: Eliminate these other scientists since the book in question is clearly about a mathematician, not a physicist or space scientist. Step 5: Choose “Srinivasa Ramanujan” as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification is easy: movie adaptations, book reviews, and exam notes all agree that The Man Who Knew Infinity is a biography of Srinivasa Ramanujan. The film of the same name reinforces the association between the title and Ramanujan's life. No major source connects this title with the other scientists listed, which confirms that the answer is uniquely linked to Ramanujan.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Vikram Sarabhai: Pioneer of India's space programme, not the central figure of this biography.
Sir Homi J Bhabha: Nuclear physicist and key figure in atomic energy, associated with other biographies, not this one.
Sir C V Raman: Nobel Prize winning physicist known for the Raman effect, not the subject of The Man Who Knew Infinity.
Satyendra Nath Bose: Theoretical physicist whose work led to the concept of bosons, but again not the focus of Kanigel's book.

Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to confuse this book with other science biographies or to assume it might be about a more widely known Nobel laureate like C V Raman. Another pitfall is not noticing that the title emphasises infinity, hinting at infinite series and number theory, which are directly linked with Ramanujan. Remembering this association will help you avoid such mix ups.

Final Answer:
The book The Man Who Knew Infinity is a biography of Srinivasa Ramanujan.