Developed the concept of combinatorial designs, which are used in coding theory, cryptography, and statistical analysis, and made significant contributions to number theory and algebra.
Sharadchandra Shankar Shrikhande is renowned for his groundbreaking work in combinatorial mathematics, particularly for disproving the famous conjecture made by Leonhard Euler in 1782. Along with R. C. Bose and E. T. Parker, Shrikhande's research led to a significant breakthrough in the field, making him a legend in the world of mathematics.
Born on October 19, 1917, in a family of ten siblings, Shrikhande's father worked at a flour mill. He completed his B.Sc. from Government Science College, Nagpur, and pursued further studies at the Indian Statistical Institute. Shrikhande received his Ph.D. in 1950 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill under the supervision of Raj Chandra Bose.
Shrikhande's specialties were combinatorics and statistical designs. The Shrikhande graph, a fundamental concept in statistical design, is named after him. He taught at various universities in the USA and India, including Banaras Hindu University, Banaras, and the University of Mumbai, where he was the founding head of the department of mathematics and the founding director of the Center of Advanced Study in Mathematics, Mumbai.
In 1988, Shrikhande's wife, Shakuntala, passed away, and he moved to the United States. He returned to India in 2009 and turned 100 in October 2017. Shrikhande passed away on April 21, 2020, at the age of 102, leaving behind a legacy in the field of mathematics.
Shrikhande's work has had a significant impact on modern mathematics, and his contributions continue to inspire researchers and students alike. His son, Mohan Shrikhande, is a professor of combinatorial mathematics at Central Michigan University, carrying forward his father's legacy.
Sharadchandra Shankar Shrikhande's incredible journey, spanning over a century, is a testament to his dedication, perseverance, and passion for mathematics. His work will continue to influence and shape the field for generations to come.
Born in 1887
A self-taught genius who made groundbreaking contributions to number theory, discovering innovative formulas and theorems that transformed the field of mathematics.
Born in 1893
Developed the Mahalanobis distance, a statistical measure used in data analysis, and founded the Indian Statistical Institute, a premier research institution. He played a key role in shaping India's economic planning and policy-making.
Born in 1894
This Indian physicist and mathematician is renowned for his groundbreaking work in quantum mechanics, particularly the discovery of the Bose-Einstein statistics and the boson particle.
