Who was Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Indian Celebrities Born In June

Also Known As: P. C. Mahalanobis

Died At Age: 78

Indian Men Presidency University

Died on: June 28, 1972

place of death: Kolkata

City: Kolkata, India

Founder/Co-Founder: Indian Statistical Institute, National Sample Survey Organisation

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education: King's College, Cambridge, University of Calcutta, Presidency University, Kolkata, University of Cambridge

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1

What is the significance of the Mahalanobis Distance in statistics?

The Mahalanobis Distance is a measure of the distance between a point and a distribution. It is often used in multivariate analysis to identify outliers and assess the similarity of data points.
2

How did Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis contribute to the field of statistics in India?

Mahalanobis played a crucial role in establishing the Indian Statistical Institute and promoting statistical research and education in India. He is known for developing the Mahalanobis Distance and the concept of "planned economy" in India.
3

Can you explain the concept of the Mahalanobis Taguchi System (MTS) developed by Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis?

The Mahalanobis Taguchi System is a framework for quality improvement that combines the statistical methods of Mahalanobis Distance with the engineering principles of Genichi Taguchi. It aims to optimize product quality by minimizing variation and maximizing performance.
4

What is the role of the Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre (MNCFC) in India?

The MNCFC, established by Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, is responsible for providing timely and accurate forecasts of crop production in India. These forecasts help policymakers, farmers, and other stakeholders make informed decisions related to agriculture and food security.
5

How did Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis influence the development of the Indian economy?

Mahalanobis played a key role in shaping India's economic policies through his advocacy for planned development and the use of statistical tools for policy formulation. His work laid the foundation for the economic planning initiatives undertaken by the Indian government.

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Childhood & Early Life

Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis was born on 29 June 1893, in Calcutta, Bengal, British India to Probodh Chandra and Nirodbashini. He was the eldest of the couple’s six children. His family was a relatively wealthy and influential one.

Prasanta Chandra’s grandfather Gurucharan was actively involved in social movements such as the Brahmo Samaj and had dared to go against the norms of the society by marrying a widow. Gurucharan was also friends with several influential educators and reformers, and thus the young Prasanta grew up in an intellectually stimulating environment.

He received his schooling at the Brahmo Boys School in Calcutta, graduating in 1908. He then enrolled at the Presidency College, Calcutta, where his teachers included Jagadish Chandra Bose and Prafulla Chandra Ray. Meghnad Saha and Subhas Chandra Bose were his juniors at college. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in physics in 1912.

Wishing to study abroad, he went to England in 1913 and joined King's College Chapel. He had an interesting life in England—along with his studies, he also explored cross-country walking and punting on the river. He soon received his Tripos in physics.

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Career

After completing his education he worked for a while at the Cavendish Laboratory with C. T. R. Wilson. The he took a break to go to India where he was asked by the Principal of Presidency College to take classes in physics.

He returned to England after a short stay in India. During this time he discovered the ‘Biometrika’, a journal published by Oxford University Press for the Biometrika Trust which primarily focuses on theoretical statistics. He became fascinated with the subject and was intrigued by the utility of statistics in understanding problems in meteorology and anthropology.

He returned to India and was appointed as Professor of Physics at Presidency College in 1922; he taught physics at the college for the next three decades. But being a Professor of Physics did not deter him from pursuing his new found interest in statistics.

He found a mentor in Acharya Brajendra Nath Seal who encouraged his pursuits in statistics. Initially Mahalanobis began working on analyzing university exam results, anthropometric measurements on Anglo-Indians of Calcutta and some meteorological problems.

He also had many colleagues who were equally passionate about statistical studies. With them, he first set up a Statistical Laboratory in his room at the Presidency College, Calcutta. The formation of this group eventually led to the establishment of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) which was formally registered in 1932.

Initially housed in the Physics Department of the Presidency College, the institute grew with the assistance received through Pitamber Pant, who was a secretary to the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Several of Mahalanobis’ colleagues, including S. S. Bose, J. M. Sengupta, R. C. Bose, S. N. Roy, K. R. Nair, R. R. Bahadur, and Gopinath Kallianpur made pioneering contributions to the institute.

The 1930s saw the institute expand vastly. In 1933, the journal ‘Sankhya’ was founded, and in 1938, a training section was started.

He was also very influential in developments related to large-scale sample surveys. He is credited with the introduction of the concept of pilot surveys, and his early surveys which began between 1937 and 1944 included topics such as consumer expenditure, tea-drinking habits, public opinion, crop acreage and plant disease.

In 1948, the ISI received a major grant from the Indian government which allowed them to set up a separate Research and Training School. The institute continued to flourish under Mahalanobis’ leadership.

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Renowned for his statistical achievements all over the world, he also held several prestigious international positions, including a stint as the chairman of the United Nations Sub-Commission on Sampling from 1947 to 1951.

He established the National Sample Survey in 1950 and also set up the Central Statistical Organization to coordinate statistical activities in India. He became a member of the Planning Commission of India in 1955 and remained a member till 1967. In this position, he helped to formulate strategies to aid the development of heavy industry in India as a part of the Second Five-Year Plan.

Major Works

He founded the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in the early 1930s which later on became recognized as an academic institute of national importance. The institute is today regarded as one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions focused on statistics.

One of his major contributions to statistics was the concept of Mahalanobis distance which he introduced in 1936. A measure of the distance between a point P and a distribution D, it is a multi-dimensional generalization of the idea of measuring how many standard deviations away P is from the mean of D.

Awards & Achievements

He received the Weldon Memorial Prize from the University of Oxford in 1944.

He was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society, UK, in 1954, and of King's College, Cambridge in 1959.

He was honored with two prestigious awards in 1968—Padma Vibhushan and Srinivasa Ramanujam Gold Medal—in recognition of his contributions to statistics.

Personal Life & Legacy

He fell in love with Nirmalkumari, daughter of Herambhachandra Maitra, a leading educationist and member of the Brahmo Samaj, and wanted to marry her. But the girl’s father disapproved the match. Nonetheless, the young couple went ahead and got married on 27 February 1923.

He was totally dedicated to his profession and remained active with his research work till the very end of his life. He died on 28 June 1972, a day before his 79th birthday.

Facts About Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis

Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis was known for his exceptional memory and could recall detailed statistical data from memory with remarkable accuracy.

Mahalanobis was a talented musician and had a deep passion for playing the esraj, a traditional Indian string instrument.

He had a keen interest in linguistics and was fluent in multiple languages, including English, Bengali, French, and Russian.

Mahalanobis was a firm believer in the importance of incorporating interdisciplinary approaches in research, which was ahead of his time in the field of statistics.

He had a quirky habit of always carrying a small notebook with him to jot down ideas and observations, showcasing his dedication to continuous learning and exploration.

Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis Biography

You wanted to know

What is the significance of the Mahalanobis Distance in statistics?

How did Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis contribute to the field of statistics in India?

Can you explain the concept of the Mahalanobis Taguchi System (MTS) developed by Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis?

What is the role of the Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre (MNCFC) in India?

How did Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis influence the development of the Indian economy?