In a significant recognition of mathematical excellence, the prestigious 2025 Sastra-Ramanujan Award was conferred upon Dr Alexander Smith from Northwestern University, USA. The ceremony took place at the Sastra Deemed University campus in Kumbakonam, Thanjavur.
A Celebration of Mathematical Genius
The award was presented by Dr N Kailaiselvi, who serves as the Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research for the Government of India and the Director-General of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR). During her address, Dr Kailaiselvi emphasized the unifying power of mathematics across all scientific and technological fields. She stressed its growing importance in cutting-edge areas like quantum computing and multidisciplinary research, stating it is fundamental to building solutions for Viksit Bharat 2047.
Honouring a Legacy Inspired by Ramanujan
Dr Alexander Smith was honoured for his groundbreaking contributions to solving congruent number problems, a complex area of number theory. His research is notably inspired by the legendary Indian mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan. A distinguished academic, Dr Smith is an alumnus of Princeton, Harvard, and Stanford universities.
He now joins an elite group as the 20th recipient of the Sastra-Ramanujan Award. The award has a remarkable history of identifying future luminaries; seven of its past winners have later received the Fields Medal, often described as the Nobel Prize of mathematics. The first awardee in 2005, Dr Manjul Bhargava, is among these distinguished seven.
International Conference on Ramanujan
The award ceremony was part of a larger gathering of mathematical minds. Dr S Vaidhyasubramaniam, the Vice-Chancellor of Sastra University, extended a welcome to researchers from India and abroad who are attending an ongoing international conference dedicated to Srinivasa Ramanujan. This conference commenced on December 20 at the university's Kumbakonam campus, fostering global dialogue on advanced mathematics.
The event underscores India's commitment to fostering world-class scientific research and recognizing global talent, reinforcing the nation's position on the international academic stage. Awards like these not only honour individual achievement but also inspire a new generation of mathematicians to tackle the fundamental questions of science and technology.
