Ganesh Prasad: Difference between revisions
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==Early days== |
==Early days== |
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Ganesh Prasad was born on 15 November 1876 at [[Ballia]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]. He obtained the B.A. degree from Muir Central College, Allahabad, M.A. degree from the Universities in Allahabad and Culcutta and the D.Sc. degree from Allahabad University. After teaching |
Ganesh Prasad was born on 15 November 1876 at [[Ballia]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]. He obtained the B.A. degree from Muir Central College, Allahabad, M.A. degree from the Universities in Allahabad and Culcutta and the D.Sc. degree from Allahabad University. After teaching |
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at the Kayasth Pathshala, Allahabad, and at the [[Muir Central College]], Allahabad, for about two years, he proceeded to [[Cambridge]] for higher studies and research. |
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While at [[Cambridge]] he became acquainted with mathematicians like [[E.W. Hobson]] and [[Andrew Forsyth]]. He also sat, though unsuccessfully, for the [[Adams prize]] competition. |
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Later he moved to [[Gottingen]] where he was associated with [[Arnold Sommerfeld]], [[David Hilbert]] and [[Georg Cantor]]. In [[Gottingen]] Prasad showed his paper titled ''On the constitution of matter and the analytical theories of heat'', the one he had submitted for the Adams prize competition, to [[Felix Klein]], who appreciated it very much and got it published in the Gottingen Abhandllingen. Gansh Prasad spent altogether about five years in Europe. |
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==Mathematical career== |
==Mathematical career== |
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Revision as of 01:29, 21 June 2010
Ganesh Prasad | |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 November 1876 |
| Died | 9 March 1935 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Alma mater | University of Allahabad, University of Calcutta |
| Known for | Establishing the culture of organised mathematical research in India |
| Notable work | A Treatise on Spherical Harmonics and the Functions of Bessel and Lame |
| Title | Hardinge Professor of Mathematics |
| Ganesh Prasad : The Father of Mathematical Research in India | |
Ganesh Prasad (1876 - 1935) was an Indian mathematician who specialized in the theory of potentials, theory of functions of a real variable, Fourier series and the theory of surfaces. He was trained at the Universities of Cambridge and Gottingen and on return to India he helped develop the culture of mathematical research in India. The mathematical community of India considers Ganesh Prasad as the Father of Mathematical Research in India.[1] He was also an educator taking special interest in the advancement of primary education in the rural areas of India.
Early days
Ganesh Prasad was born on 15 November 1876 at Ballia, Uttar Pradesh. He obtained the B.A. degree from Muir Central College, Allahabad, M.A. degree from the Universities in Allahabad and Culcutta and the D.Sc. degree from Allahabad University. After teaching at the Kayasth Pathshala, Allahabad, and at the Muir Central College, Allahabad, for about two years, he proceeded to Cambridge for higher studies and research. While at Cambridge he became acquainted with mathematicians like E.W. Hobson and Andrew Forsyth. He also sat, though unsuccessfully, for the Adams prize competition. Later he moved to Gottingen where he was associated with Arnold Sommerfeld, David Hilbert and Georg Cantor. In Gottingen Prasad showed his paper titled On the constitution of matter and the analytical theories of heat, the one he had submitted for the Adams prize competition, to Felix Klein, who appreciated it very much and got it published in the Gottingen Abhandllingen. Gansh Prasad spent altogether about five years in Europe.
Mathematical career
Ganesh Prasad was the Ras Behari Ghosh Chair of Applied Mathematics of Calcutta University (he was the first person to occupy this Chair[2]) from 1914 to 1917 and Hardinge Professor of Mathematics in the same University from 1923 till his death on 9 March 1935. In between these two assignments he served Banaras Hindu University as professor of mathematics. While at Banaras, he helped found the Banaras Mathematical Society. Ganesh Prasad was elected President of the Calcutta Mathematical Society and the Vice-President of the Indian Association for Advancement of Science, Calcutta in 1924 and continued in the same position till his death. He was a founder member of the National Institute of Sciences, India, which has now been rechristened as the Indian National Science Academy. Ganesh Prasad authored 11 books including A Treatise on Spherical Harmonics and the Functions of Bessel and Lame and over fifty reaearch papers in mathematics.
A few notable students
- A.N. Singh[2] : One of the authors of History of Hindu Mathematics : A source book (2 Volumes)[3]
- Gorakh Prasad : A former Professor at Allahabad University
- R.S. Varma[1]
- B.N. Prasad[1] : Founder of the Allahabad mathematical Society[4]
- N.G. Shabde[1]
- R.D. Mishra[1]
Other areas of work
Ganesh Prasad worked hard for the promotion of education in general in the rural areas of Uttar Pradesh. He was instrumental in the introduction of compulsory primary education in villages in Uttar Pradesh. He donated from his private savings an amount of Rs.22,000 for the education of girls in Ballia. He also donated an amount of Rupees two hundred thousand for establishing prizes for the toppers at the M.A. and M.Sc. examinations of the Agra University. He donated large amounts of money to the Allahabad and Banaras Universities also.
References
- ^ a b c d e "Ganesh Prasad : (1876 - 1935)". Indian Mathematical Society. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
- ^ a b Joseph Warren Dauben, Christoph J. Scriba (2002). Writing the history of mathematics: its historical development. Birkhäuser. p. 689. (see p.314)
- ^ B. Datta, B. and A.N. Singh, History of Hindu Mathematics, a source book, Parts 1 and 2, (single volume). Bombay: Asia Publishing House, 1962.
- ^ "Professor B. N. Prasad". Retrieved 21 June 2010.
Further reading
- Singal, M.K. (1974). "Ganesh Prasad". Bulletin of the Mathematical Association of India. 6: 6–8.
- Sen, S.N. (1992). "Factors in the development of scientific research in India during 1906 – 1930" (PDF). Indian Journal of History of Science. 27 (4): 379 &ndash 388. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
- Dale Hoiberg, Indu Ramchandani (2000). Students' Britannica India: Select essays Volume 6. Popular Prakashan. p. 441. ISBN 9780852297629. (see p.333)