A Visionary Mathematician and Architect of Modern Mathematical Research in India

Prof. Madabusi Santanam Raghunathan, FRS is one of India’s most distinguished mathematicians and a globally recognised authority in the theory of Lie groups. With a remarkable academic journey spanning more than six decades, he has made transformative contributions to mathematical research, education, and institution-building, shaping the landscape of mathematics in India.

He currently serves as a Distinguished Professor of Mathematics at the Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (CEBS), Mumbai. Prior to this, he served as Head of the National Centre for Mathematics (NCM) at IIT Bombay and held the prestigious Homi Bhabha Chair at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), where he served for many decades as a leading figure of the institute.

Early Life and Education

Born on 11 August 1941 in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, Prof. Raghunathan grew up in Chennai in a family deeply rooted in scholarship and intellectual tradition. His father, Santanam, was an early student of the Indian Institute of Science before entering the family business, while his mother came from a family with a strong academic legacy.

He completed his schooling in Chennai at P.S. High School, Mylapore and Madras Christian College High School, earning his SSLC in 1955. He pursued intermediate studies at St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore (1955–57), followed by a B.A. (Hons.) in Mathematics from Vivekananda College, Chennai.

In 1960, he joined TIFR for advanced research training under the supervision of Prof. M. S. Narasimhan. He solved his first deep research problem by 1963 and completed his Ph.D. from the University of Bombay in 1966. He later spent a year at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, and subsequently held many prestigious visiting positions across the United States, Europe, and Japan.

Research Contributions

Prof. Raghunathan’s work has been foundational in the study of discrete subgroups of Lie groups, influencing core developments in rigidity and arithmeticity theory. His prolific research output includes landmark papers in some of the world’s most respected mathematical journals, including Annals of Mathematics and Inventiones Mathematicae.

His 1972 monograph, Discrete Subgroups of Lie Groups (Springer-Verlag) remains a seminal text in the field and continues to be widely cited. The book has been translated into Russian and includes an appendix by Fields Medalist Grigory Margulis.

In recognition of his contributions, he was an Invited Speaker at the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) 1970 in Nice, one of the highest honours in mathematics.

Leadership and Institution Building

Prof. Raghunathan’s impact extends far beyond scholarly research. His leadership has played a pivotal role in nurturing India’s mathematical ecosystem. One of his most enduring contributions has been through the National Board for Higher Mathematics (NBHM), where he has served since its inception in 1983 and continues as Chairman since 1987.

Under his leadership, NBHM has significantly expanded opportunities for mathematical research, scholarships, Olympiad training, library development, and national talent programmes such as:

• Mathematical Olympiad programme

• Mathematics Training and Talent Search (MTTS)

• NBHM Scholarships and Fellowships

• Postdoctoral and doctoral support frameworks

• The innovative Nurture Programme
  
  

He played a key role in organising the Ramanujan Centenary Celebrations (1987) and was instrumental in bringing the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM 2010) to India for the first time.

Since 2016, he has also served on the Infosys Prize Jury in Mathematical Sciences, shaping the recognition of excellence in contemporary mathematics.

Honours and International Recognition

Prof. Raghunathan has been honoured with many of India’s and the world’s most prestigious scientific distinctions, including:

Civilian Honours

• Padma Bhushan (Government of India)

• Padma Shri (Government of India)
  
  

Academic Fellowships

• Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS)

• Fellow, Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)

• Fellow, American Mathematical Society (AMS)

• Fellow, Indian National Science Academy (INSA)

• Fellow, Indian Academy of Sciences (IASc)
  
  

Major Awards

• Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize (1977)

• Srinivasa Ramanujan Medal (1991)

• TWAS Prize for Mathematics (1991)
  
  

Legacy

Prof. M. S. Raghunathan stands today not only as a pioneering mathematical thinker but also as a nation-builder in the world of science. His scholarship, mentorship, and institutional leadership have inspired generations of mathematicians and elevated India’s global presence in mathematical research.

He remains an enduring symbol of intellectual excellence, curiosity, and service — a true architect of modern mathematics in India.