A.P. AKADEMI OF SCIENCES.
MEMORIAL JOURNAL.
EDITORIAL
Almost every alternate issue of the Proceedings is publishes as a special issue if the articles relating to any specific discipline accumulate to a reasonable number, or if a senior Fellow of the Akademi accepts to collect and edit information related to any thrust area. The Proceedings also publishes regularly articles describing the life and achievements of distinguished scientists, who have contributed richly to the growth of Science and Technology in India. The present number is brought out as a special issue covering papers in Mathematics . It includes an article on the life and significant contributions of Prof.S.Minakshisundaram , a mathematician of top order and the Founder Fellow of the Akademi.
The inspiration to go in for this special issue was derived from an article of M.S.Raghunathan-(Artless Innocents and Ivory Tower Sophisticates : Some Personalities on the Indian Mathematical Scene, Current Science, 2003, 85, 4, 526-536), which identified about 15 outstanding Inian Mathematicians of the twentieth century. The list starts with Ramanujam and prominently projects Minakshisundaram. Barring Ramanujam , the names in the list are unfamiliar outside the circle of mathematics, despite their outstanding contributions.
Prof.K.L.N.Swamy, who was requested to be the guest editor for the issue, has done a commendable job in inviting papers, arranging refereeing and ensuring their quality.
Most of the distinguished scientists of India have come from humble homes and had their education in rural settings. The earliest articles published in the Proceedings greatly support this inference. Besides his own zeal , dedication and vision, a successful scientist requires prompt recognition, suitable rewards and proper environment for creative work.
The story of Prof.Minakshisundaram is an example of several unsung scientists, whose potential could not be exploited to the fullest extent in the absence of proper environment and lack of timely recognition. His initial outstanding contributions could not earn him a job in the University that awarded him the doctorate. His talents continued to be dormant in Andhra University that provided him a job, until a visiting scientist spotted his potential and arranged facilities abroad.Despite several odds, Prof.Minakshisundaram made distinct contributions, and the utility of his theorems was rediscovered after his death.
The story of Prof.Minakshisundaram also speaks of the consistent downturn of environment in the Indian Universities, that is vital for creative work. Many universities, which were accredited to be excellent research centres in the sixties, have turned out to be mere teaching shops. Research and teaching are being increasingly isolated and research contributions of teachers are rarely rewarded. With proper environment and support, Prof.Minakshisundaram would have made far more useful contributions.
The Editorial Board is glad to be able to come out with this special issue. This issue is dedicated to Prof.Minakshisundaram.
Prof.I.V.Radhakrishna Murthy.
Editor of Publications.
Editor of Publications.
