P.C. Mahalanobis

             P.C. Mahalanobis 

A well-known Indian statistician and scientist, Mahalanobis is greatly popular for introducing new methods of sampling. His most significant contribution in the field of statistics was the 'Mahalanobis Distance'. Besides, he had also made pioneering studies in the field of anthropometry and had founded the Indian Statistical Institute. 

Originally, the family of Mahalanobis belonged to Bikrampur, Bangladesh. As a child. Mahalanobis grew up in an environment surrounded by socially active refoemers and intellectuals. He had his initial education from Brahmo Boys School Calcutta. Further, he enrolled himself into Presidency College and got a BSc degree with specialisation in physics. In 1913, Mahalanobis left for England for ther stodies and came in contact with S. Ramanujan, the famous mathematician from India. After completion of his studies. he returned to India and was invited by the Principal of Presidency College to take classes in physics. Soon he was introduced to the importance of statistics and realized that it was very useful in solving problems related to meteorology and anthropology. Many of his colleagues took interest in statistics and as a result in his room in the Presidency College. a small statistical laboratory grew up where scholars like Pramatha Nath Banerji, Nikhil Ranjan Sen, and Sir RN. Mukherji actively participated in all discussions. The meetings and discussions led to the formal establishment of the Indian Statistical Institute which was formally registered on 28 April 1932. Initially, the Institute was in the Physics Department of Presidency College, but later with passing time the institute expanded.

 The most important contributions of Mahalanobis are related to large-scale sample surveys. He had pioneered the concept of pilot surveys and sampling methods. He also introduced a method of measuring crop yields. In the later stage of his life, Mahalanobis became a member of the Planning Commission of India. During his tenure a member of the Planning Commission of India, he significantly contributed to the Five Year Plans of India.

 

The Mahaianobis Model was implemented in the second Five Year Plan of India and it assisted in the rapid industrialization of the country. He had also corrected some of the errors of the census methodology in India. Besides statistics, Mahalanobis had a cultural bend of mind. He had worked as secretary to Rabindranath Tagore, particularly during the foreign visits of the great poet and also worked in the Visva Bharati University. Mahalanobis was honoured with the second highest civilian award of the country, the Padma Vibhushan, for his immense contribution to the field of statistical science. 

Mahalanobis died on 28 June 1972 at the age of 78, Even in his last years he continued research work and discharged all his duties perfectly. In the year 2006, the Government of India declared 29 June, the birthday of Mahalanobis, as the National Statistical Day.