| Prasantha Chandra Mahalanobis (1893 - 1972) |
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Coincidence he died on his birthday. P.C. Mahalanobis was the founder of the Indian Statistical Institute. Mahalanobis had his early education in the Brahmo Boys School in Calcutta and later joined the Presidency College in Calcutta. He passed his B.Sc. examination in 1912 with honors in Physics. In 1913, he left for England, for higher studies. Interested in Mathematics, he later switched to Physics. Having finished his examinations, he made arrangements to work with C.T.R. Wilson at the Cavendish Laboratory.
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Mahalanobis made significant contribution to the field of statistics. Some of his techniques, such as D2 are multivariate analysis; interpenetrating network of samples (IPNS) in sample surveys and fractal graphical analysis are now part of standard statistical methodology. Mahalanobis also served as the Chairman of the United Nations Sub-Commission on Sampling from 1947-51. In 1949, Mahalanobis became the chairman of the Indian National Income Committee and was responsible for the establishment of the National Sample Survey.
He received one of the highest civilian awards Padma Vibhushan from the Government of India for his contribution to science and services to the country.
He died on Jun 28, 1972, a day before his seventy-ninth birthday. Even at this age, he was still active doing research work and discharging his duties as the Secretary and Director of the Indian Statistical Institute and as the Honorary Statistical Advisor to the Cabinet of the Government of India.
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| Category filed under: Scientist |
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