Introduction
Since its inception in 1912, the Department of Pure Mathematics has always been a Department of appreciation by its quality of teaching and level of research.
A galaxy of Mathematics has adorned the Department all the time; men like Prof. Young, Prof. Forsyth, Prof. Ganesh Prasad, Prof. S. D. Mukherjee, Prof. F. W. Levi and many others enhanced the prestige of the Department by their valuable teaching and research.
It is interesting to note that the first lecturer appointed by the University for teaching Mathematics was Mr. C. Little for 1907 – 1909; in fact for a long time appointments in the University was on contract basis. Next to Mr. Little was Mr. D. N. Mallick for 1908 and 1909 respectively for teaching both Mathematics and Physics; the first reader for teaching Mathematics was Mr. C. E. Cullis who was given appointment for 1909 and 1910.
It is interesting again to note that the first two posts of Professors were created in 1912 – one for Mathematics and another for Indian History and Antiquities; at that time the Governor of West Bengal was Lord Hardinge who was himself a distinguished graduate of Mathematics which is why the first Professorship of Mathematics was named ‘Hardinge Professor of Higher Mathematics’; this chair was first offered, for a period of three years, to Prof. M. Frechet whose researches in the field of Pure Mathematics still astound us; unfortunately, for some inavoudable circumstances, Prof. Frechet could not join; but he was kind enough to recommend Dr. W. H. Young, Lecturer of Higher Analysis at the University of Liverpool and some times Fellow of Peter House, Cambridge for the said Professorship. Thus the first Hardinge Professor of Higher Mathematics, to be associated with the Department of Pure Mathematics was Dr. W. H. Young; the name ‘Department of Pure Mathematics’ came in 1912 and the Department was blessed with the leadership of a man like Prof. Young whose researches have enriched the field of Analysis and many of his theorems go without any name in the current books of the said subject.
The first Indian teacher of Pure Mathematics with International accolades was Prof. S. D. Mukherjee whose works in Geometry derive appreciation even now. The Department of Pure Mathematics can boast of its predecessors who have set up such a qualitative pattern that the progeny feels inspired. The Department feels pride for the Geometers like Dr. S. D. Mukherjee, Dr. R. N. Sen, Dr. M. C. Chaki and others; Analysts like Dr. W. H. Young, Dr. Ganesh Prasad, Dr. Haridas Bagchi, Dr. H. M. Senguta, Dr. N. C. Bose, Dr. P. L. Ganguly and others; Algebraists like Dr. F. W. Levi, Dr. R. C. Bose, Dr. S. S. Pillai, Dr. B. C. Chatterjee, Dr. A. C. Chowdhury, Dr. S. P. Bandyopadhyay and others, luminaries in the field of other branches of Mathematics as well.
Along with the vigorous activity in research, the Department does also excel in teaching for almost a century; the Department can live up to the expectations of serious students all the time and in all the days to come.
Present Status :
The Department has twelve teachers at present ( five posts are vacant ) who are trying to promote better teaching, better research and bett3er infrastructure for teaching all the time; under the ‘FIST’ Programme of the department, the Department now possess a very ring computer laboratory. The internet access area computer has been provided to all the teachers and research scholars as well. In general the number of research scholars in the Department varies from 10 to 14 and the average number of Ph.D‘s each year with reference to the last five years is 5.
The Department organizes almost regularly, National and International Seminars and Workshops :
Seminars / Workshops etc. |
Comments |
International Symposium on “MATHEMATICS & ITS APPLICATIONS” was organized by the Department jointly with Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture during November, 13th to 15th, 2002. |
A large number of participants from India and abroad attended the symposium and presented their papers. Some great figures of Mathematics from S. E. Asia, Japan, Europe and India were invited as main speakers and their inspiring lectures highlighted some research areas of Mathematical Analysis, Algebra, Cryptography and Computer Science. |
National Seminar on “RECENT DEVELOPMENT OF PURE MATHEMATICS” was organized in the Department of Pure Mathematics in March, 29 – 30, 2005. |
Many able men of Mathematics from Institutes and Universities of India participated in the Seminar |
National Seminar on “TOPOLOGY AND FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS & THEIR APPLICATIONS” was held in March, 29 – 30 2006. |
Many able Mathematicians participated in this Seminar. |
International Seminar on “LOGIC, NAVYA- NYAYA AND APPLICATIONS” in 2007, organized jointly with the Department of Philosophy, Jadavpur University. |
Many reputed logicians and mathematicians of India & abroad participated in this Seminar. |
| Three National Seminars, one each in 2007, 2008 & 2009 was held in the Department, the titles of the seminars being “DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS & ITS APPLICATIONS, “ALGEBRA, CRYPTOGRAPHY & NUMBER THEORY” & “MATHEMATICS WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON DISCRETE MATHEMATICS” respectively. |
Many able mathematicians of India participated in these Seminars. |
| National Workshop on “DISCRETE MATHEMATICS & ITS APPLICATIONS” was organized in the Department during March 21 – 24, 2005. |
Teachers of colleges & Universities and students as well were participants. A scheme to teach some specific topics was chalked out and the topics were taught successfully by some reputed teachers of universities and research institutes. |
In addition to organization of workshops and seminars in the Department, participations of teachers in seminars in India and abroad deserves mention. In 2006, several teachers visited different universities of Europe, China and India as well.
A research Journal named “JOURNAL OF PURE MATHEMATICS” is being published in the Department once a year for more than 20 years, the journal has drawn attraction of researchers in India and abroad; submission of papers from USA and different parts of India is increasing in numbers.
The Department conducts two courses simultaneously – One is M.Sc. and the other is Post M.Sc. M.Phil course since 1984. The intake of M.Sc. course is 72 and that in M.Phil Course varies from 2 to 6. Some of the dissertations prepared by M.Phil students have already drawn enough appreciation. The courses offered to the M.Phil students vary from year to year and up to date, a large area of Pure Mathematics has been covered.
In addition to Ph.D dissertations in basic Mathematics, there been in recent times, theses in the area of Paste Management. Attempts are being made to induce some more applications of Pure Mathematics, like Cryptography in the curriculum so that research in those fields can be promoted in future. The additions and alterations in the curriculum have in fact, been a regular feature in our Department.
With definite and deep stress on basic Mathematics, efforts are being made to provide exposures, to the students, regarding some special branches of Pure Mathematics.
Almost in every NET ( JOINT CSIR & UGC) and GATE, the success of our students deserves mention; after the completion of M.Sc. Examination, our students are getting successful in examinations like G.R.E. for going abroad, in admission tests for admission to T.I.F.R. , I.S.I. , H.R.I. , I.I.S.C. ; for good scores in GATE, our students are also getting admission in different I.I.T’s as well for pursuing Ph.D programme. In different Universities of India and abroad, the alumni of the Department of Pure Mathematics have made name and fame for themselves and have publicized the glory of the Department wherefrom they had their initial initiation in Pure Mathematics.
Projects at the Department ( 2005 onwards ) :
- CSIR major project entitled “Spectral Properties of an Eigen Value Problem with Eigen Parameter Contained in the Boundary Conditions” for the period July, 2002 to July, 2006. Amount Rs. 4.28 Lakhs.
- Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, Government of India project entitled “Secret Sharing Schemes Using DNA Cryptography” for the period March, 2007 to March, 2009. Amount Rs. 22.94 Lakhs.
The average publication of papers in India and abroad, during last five years of the teachers of the Department is 22 every year. The number of books and study materials written and published by the teachers of the Department during the last five years is 17.
To sum up, it can definitely be said the achievement of the Department is scintillating; the future plans have definite goals and the Department is always in a march for adding to the glory of our alma mater.
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