Purpose
This page hopes to fill a desperate need. By the beginning of 2019, I wanted to join a math circle. This proved to be rather challenging in India for two primary reasons.
What are math circles and why do they exist?
In case you stumbled onto this page and don't know the answers to the above questions, here's my attempt.
Ironically, we lack a rigorous definition for 'Math Circle.' They vary in structure from place to place, but a general structure is followed. Mathematics in high school and middle school is taught in a linear manner, where the goal is to complete a set of topics in a certain fixed period of time. In fact, at the root of all in high school and middle school curricula is the core desire to complete courses and tick boxes. We often mistake this for true learning. A math circle is an attempt at an idealized version of academic learning, where the core objective is to explore and have fun above all else. There are no tests, quizzes, or grades. There's just the simple desire to learn mathematics. More simplistically, a math circle is a gathering where one can discuss math.
There are a plethora of valuable reasons for why math circles exist. These are my two favorites.
Math Circles in India
Here are the math circles in India. We don't claim that this list is exhaustive. If you know of a math circle not on this list, please do let me know at akashdhiraj2019@gmail.com .