Famous Indian Mathematicians

Srinivasa Ramanujan, an Indian mathematician, made significant contributions to mathematical analysis, number theory, infinite series, and continued fractions despite little formal training. Initially working in isolation, he sought recognition for his work, leading to a correspondence with G. H. Hardy at the University of Cambridge. Ramanujan's groundbreaking theorems and nearly 3,900 results, many of which were original and unconventional, have had a lasting impact on mathematics. His notebooks continue to inspire research, with new discoveries emerging even decades after his death.

Aryabhata was a prominent mathematician-astronomer and early physicist during the classical age of Indian mathematics and astronomy. His notable works include the Āryabhaṭīya and the Arya-siddhanta. He is recognized for his contributions to understanding the relativity of motion, demonstrating his prowess in both mathematical and physical sciences. Aryabhata's work laid the foundation for advancements in these fields and established him as a leading figure in the scientific community of his time.

Brahmagupta was an esteemed Indian mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics and astronomy during his lifetime. He authored two important works, the Brāhmasphuṭasiddhānta and the Khaṇḍakhādyaka, which provided theoretical and practical insights in these disciplines, respectively. In his works, Brahmagupta described gravity as an attractive force and introduced the term "gurutvākarṣaṇam" in Sanskrit to explain it. He is also recognized for his clear description of the quadratic formula, which remains a foundational concept in mathematics.

Shakuntala Devi, known as the "Human Computer," was an Indian mental calculator, astrologer, and writer. She gained global recognition for her exceptional mathematical abilities, earning a place in The Guinness Book of World Records. Devi was a self-taught prodigy who showcased her talent at a young age. Throughout her career, she focused on simplifying numerical calculations for students and authored several books on mathematics, puzzles, and astrology. Notably, she wrote a groundbreaking study on homosexuality in India, advocating for a positive perspective on the subject and pioneering advancements in the field.

Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar was an Indian-American theoretical physicist known for his significant contributions to the understanding of stellar structure, white dwarfs, black holes, and stellar dynamics. His work on the theoretical processes governing stars and black holes earned him the 1983 Nobel Prize in Physics. Chandrasekhar's research spanned a wide range of topics in physics, including hydrodynamic stability, general relativity, and the theory of colliding gravitational waves. He spent much of his career at the University of Chicago, where he made groundbreaking discoveries in astrophysics and served as a distinguished professor.

Varāhamihira was a renowned astrologer-astronomer who resided in or near Ujjain in present-day Madhya Pradesh, India. He made significant contributions to the fields of astrology and astronomy during the 6th century CE. Varāhamihira's professional life was marked by his expertise in celestial observations and calculations, which earned him recognition as a leading authority in his time. His work and teachings continue to influence the study of astrology and astronomy, establishing him as a prominent figure in the history of these disciplines.

Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan was a prominent librarian and mathematician from India, known for his significant contributions to library science. He formulated the five laws of library science and developed the colon classification system. Ranganathan served as a university librarian and professor of library science at Banaras Hindu University and the University of Delhi. He was the director of the first Indian school of librarianship offering higher degrees and held leadership positions in various library associations, both in India and internationally.

Augustus De Morgan was a prominent British mathematician and logician known for his significant contributions to the field. He is best remembered for formulating De Morgan's laws, which describe the relationships between logical operations. Additionally, he coined the term "mathematical induction" and formalized its underlying principles. De Morgan's work in logic has had a lasting impact on various branches of mathematics, such as set theory and probability theory. His insights continue to be influential in fields like computer science and have solidified his legacy as a pioneering figure in mathematical thought.

Bhāskara II, also known as Bhāskarāchārya, was an Indian polymath, mathematician, astronomer, and engineer. He led a cosmic observatory at Ujjain, which was the main mathematical center of ancient India. His contributions to mathematical and astronomical knowledge in the 12th century were significant. Bhāskara's main work, Siddhānta-Śiromaṇi, is divided into four parts dealing with arithmetic, algebra, planetary mathematics, and spheres. He also authored another treatise named Karaṇā Kautūhala. Bhāskara II is hailed as the greatest mathematician of medieval India.

Harish-Chandra Mehrotra was an Indian-American mathematician and physicist known for his groundbreaking contributions to representation theory, particularly in the field of harmonic analysis on semisimple Lie groups. His work was fundamental in advancing the understanding of these complex mathematical structures. Harish-Chandra's research and discoveries have had a significant impact on various branches of mathematics and theoretical physics, solidifying his reputation as a leading figure in the mathematical community.

Madhava of Sangamagrama was an Indian mathematician and astronomer credited with founding the Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics. He made significant contributions to various fields including infinite series, calculus, trigonometry, geometry, and algebra. Madhava was known for his pioneering use of infinite series approximations for trigonometric functions, marking a crucial advancement in mathematics by transitioning from finite procedures to dealing with limits approaching infinity. His work laid the foundation for future developments in these mathematical disciplines.

Bhāskara I was a 7th-century Indian mathematician and astronomer known for his contributions to the development of the Hindu-Arabic decimal system. He introduced the use of a circle to represent zero and provided a significant rational approximation of the sine function. His commentary on Aryabhata's work is one of the oldest known prose works in Sanskrit on mathematics and astronomy. Bhāskara I also authored two important astronomical works, the Mahābhāskarīya and the Laghubhāskarīya, following in the footsteps of Aryabhata's school. His legacy was honored when the Indian Space Research Organisation launched the Bhāskara I satellite in 1979.

Śrīdhara, also known as Śrīdharācārya, was an esteemed Indian mathematician during the 8th and 9th centuries. He is renowned for his significant contributions to arithmetic and practical mathematics through his surviving works, Pāṭīgaṇita and Pāṭīgaṇita-sāra. Additionally, he authored a notable treatise on algebra called Bījagaṇita, although this work has unfortunately been lost to history. Śrīdhara's professional life was dedicated to advancing mathematical knowledge and education, leaving a lasting impact on the field of mathematics.

S. R. Srinivasa Varadhan is an Indian American mathematician renowned for his significant contributions to probability theory, particularly for his creation of a unified theory of large deviations. He is esteemed for his work in the theory of diffusion processes and the advancement of Itô’s stochastic calculus. In 2007, he made history by becoming the first Asian to receive the prestigious Abel Prize for his outstanding achievements in mathematics, solidifying his reputation as a pioneer in the field.

Raj Chandra Bose was an Indian American mathematician and statistician known for his significant contributions to design theory, finite geometry, and error-correcting codes. He introduced key concepts like partial geometry, association scheme, and strongly regular graph. Bose, along with collaborators, made a notable impact by disproving a conjecture by Euler. His work with S. S. Shrikhande and E. T. Parker on mutually orthogonal Latin squares was groundbreaking. Bose's research laid a foundation for advancements in mathematics and coding theory, leaving a lasting legacy in the field.

Hemachandra, a 12th-century Indian polymath in various fields such as mathematics, philosophy, grammar, law, history, and poetry. Known for his exceptional intellect, he was titled kalikālasarvajña, denoting his vast knowledge. Ordained in the Jain tradition, he served as an advisor to King Kumarapala, contributing to political literature with works like Arhanniti. His literary masterpiece, Trishashti-shalaka-purusha-charita, chronicles the lives of important Jain figures. Renowned as the father of the Gujarati language, Hemachandra's legacy continues to inspire scholars and enthusiasts across disciplines.

Mahan Mj, also known as Swami Vidyanathananda, is an Indian mathematician and monk of the Ramakrishna Order. He holds the position of Professor of Mathematics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai. Mahan Mj has received prestigious awards in the field of mathematical sciences, including the 2011 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award and the Infosys Prize in 2015. He is renowned for his contributions to hyperbolic geometry, geometric group theory, low-dimensional topology, and complex geometry.

S. Ramanan is a prominent Indian mathematician specializing in algebraic geometry, moduli spaces, and Lie groups. Renowned for his expertise in algebraic geometry, especially moduli problems, he has made significant contributions to the field. His collaborative work on universal connections in differential geometry has had a substantial impact, leading to the introduction of the Chern-Simons invariant by SS Chern and B Simons, which has proven valuable in theoretical physics. Ramanan's professional career is marked by his leadership in mathematics and his influential research in various mathematical areas.

Manindra Agrawal is an accomplished Indian computer scientist and director at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. He holds a professorship in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the same institute. Agrawal has received prestigious accolades such as the first Infosys Prize for Mathematics, the Godel Prize in 2006, and the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in Mathematical Sciences in 2003. He was also honored with the Padma Shri, India's 4th highest civilian award, in 2013 for his significant contributions to the field.

Narendra Krishna Karmarkar is an esteemed Indian mathematician known for developing Karmarkar's algorithm, a pivotal contribution in linear programming. His invention of one of the earliest polynomial time algorithms for linear programming, specifically the interior point method, has had a lasting impact on the field. Karmarkar gained recognition for his groundbreaking work published in 1984 during his tenure at Bell Laboratories in New Jersey. He is highly regarded as an ISI highly cited researcher and continues to influence the mathematical community with his innovative algorithms and research.

Nilakantha Somayaji was a prominent mathematician and astronomer of the Kerala school, known for his influential works such as the Tantrasamgraha and the Aryabhatiya Bhasya. He made significant contributions to trigonometry, algebra, and spherical geometry by discussing infinite series expansions of trigonometric functions. Additionally, his manual Grahapariksakrama detailed the methods for making accurate astronomical observations using contemporary instruments. Nilakantha Somayaji's professional life was characterized by his dedication to advancing the fields of astronomy and mathematics through his research and writings.

Sir Ziauddin Ahmad was a prominent Indian mathematician, parliamentarian, logician, natural philosopher, politician, political theorist, educationist, and scholar. He played a significant role in the Aligarh Movement and held various positions at Aligarh Muslim University, including professor, principal, pro vice-chancellor, vice chancellor, and rector. He served as vice chancellor for three terms and was involved in important commissions such as the Calcutta University Commission, Skeen Committee, and Shea Commission, contributing to the Indianisation of the British Indian Army.

J. H. C. Whitehead was a British mathematician known for his significant contributions to homotopy theory. He played a key role in the development of this branch of mathematics and was recognized as one of its founders. Whitehead's work has had a lasting impact on the field, particularly in the study of algebraic topology. Throughout his career, he made important discoveries and advancements in mathematics, leaving a legacy that continues to influence researchers and mathematicians around the world.

Shripati, an eleventh-century Indian mathematician and astronomer, is renowned for his contributions to astral science. His notable works, including Dhikotidakarana and Siddhantasekhara, covered various areas such as algebra, horoscopic astrology, and mathematics. However, he gained significant recognition for his astrological writings, particularly the text Jyotisaratnamala. Through his prolific writings and deep expertise in astral science, Shripati made a lasting impact on the field, leaving behind a rich legacy that continues to inspire and educate scholars and enthusiasts alike.

Ramchundra was a British Indian mathematician known for his book, Treatise on Problems of Maxima and Minima, promoted by mathematician Augustus De Morgan. Self-taught and highly skilled, he caught De Morgan's attention with his work in 1850. De Morgan arranged for the book's republication in London, aiming to introduce Ramchundra to the European scientific community. Ramchundra was also a teacher of science at Delhi College, served as a headmaster at Thomason Civil Engineering College (now IIT Roorkee), and later at a school in Delhi.

Bapudeva Sastri, an Indian scholar, made significant contributions to mathematics and Sanskrit. His notable achievement includes the translation of the Siddhānta Shiromani, a mathematical treatise by Bhaskaracharya from the 12th century. In 1891, he published the translated version of this treatise, showcasing his expertise and dedication to preserving and disseminating mathematical knowledge. Sastri's professional life was marked by his scholarly pursuits, particularly in the fields of mathematics and Sanskrit, which solidified his reputation as a respected figure in academia and mathematical circles.

Raghunath Dhondo Karve was a professor of mathematics who became a prominent figure in the fields of sex education and social reform in India. He faced opposition for his progressive views on family planning and women's rights, leading him to resign from his professorship and focus on advocating for these causes. In 1921, Karve founded the first birth control clinic in India, a pioneering effort that aligned with his commitment to promoting population control and sexual health awareness.

R. P. Paranjpe, also known as Wrangler Paranjpye, was an esteemed Indian mathematician and diplomat. He made history as the first Indian to attain the prestigious title of Senior Wrangler at the University of Cambridge. His career also saw him serve as the 1st High Commissioner of India to Australia from 1945 to 1947, marking a significant diplomatic achievement. Paranjpe's contributions extended to academia, where he held the position of Vice Chancellor at several Indian universities, leaving a lasting impact on the field of mathematics and international relations.

Ganesh Prasad was an esteemed Indian mathematician renowned for his expertise in the theory of potentials, functions of a real variable, Fourier series, and surfaces. Trained at prestigious universities in Cambridge and Göttingen, he played a pivotal role in fostering mathematical research in India. Revered as the "Father of Mathematical Research in India," Prasad was not only a prolific researcher but also a dedicated educator, particularly focused on improving primary education in rural areas of the country. His contributions have left a lasting impact on the mathematical community in India.

Komaravolu Chandrasekharan was a renowned mathematician known for his contributions to number theory and summability. He held prestigious positions at institutions such as ETH Zurich and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR). Throughout his career, he received several accolades including the Padma Shri, the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award, and the Ramanujan Medal. Chandrasekharan also served as the president of the International Mathematical Union (IMU) from 1971 to 1974, further solidifying his impact and influence within the mathematical community.