Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Biography of P.C Mahalanobis:
Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, commonly known as P.C. Mahalanobis, was an eminent Indian scientist and statistician who made significant contributions to the field of statistics and economic planning in India. He was born on June 29, 1893, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), British India, and he passed away on June 28, 1972.
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Here is a brief biography of P.C. Mahalanobis:
Early Life and Education:
P.C. Mahalanobis belonged to a distinguished family in Kolkata. His father, Prabodh Chandra Mahalanobis, was a renowned educationist and the first Indian member of the London Stock Exchange.
Mahalanobis completed his schooling at the Brahmo Boys School in Calcutta and later pursued higher education in physics at Presidency College.
In 1913, he went to the University of Cambridge to study mathematics and physics, where he came under the influence of eminent statisticians and mathematicians.
P.C Mahalanobis's Contributions to Statistics:
Mahalanobis made significant contributions to statistics and is best known for developing the Mahalanobis distance, a measure used in multivariate statistics.
In 1931, he founded the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in Kolkata, which became a premier institution for research and training in statistics. He served as the Honorary Secretary of ISI until 1943 and later as its Director until 1967.
Mahalanobis played a crucial role in shaping statistical planning in India. He emphasized the importance of statistics in guiding policy decisions and advocated the use of statistical methods in various fields.
National Planning:
During World War II, Mahalanobis was involved in planning for the Indian economy, particularly in the areas of agriculture and industry.
After independence, he played a key role in the formulation of India's first five-year plan (1951-1956). His statistical expertise and planning initiatives were instrumental in shaping India's economic policies.
Recognition and Honors to P.C Mahalanobis:
P.C. Mahalanobis received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to statistics and planning. He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1945.
In 1968, he was honored with the Padma Vibhushan, one of the highest civilian awards in India.
Legacy:
The Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre (MNCFC) was established in his honor, focusing on agricultural statistics and crop forecasting.
His work continues to influence the fields of statistics and economics, and the Indian Statistical Institute remains a prestigious institution for research and education in these domains.
P.C. Mahalanobis's multidisciplinary approach to statistics and his commitment to using statistical methods for social and economic development left a lasting impact on the scientific community in India and beyond.